The Tabby Through HistoryĪs ubiquitous as the Tabby pattern is in modern cats, it did not exist until the Middle Ages.

Technically, all Abys are Tabbies already, although Tabby cats can come from many breeds. Few breeds have the Ticked Tabby pattern, but Abyssinians and the closely related longhaired Somali cat breed both sports this particular color type. The fourth pattern is called the Abyssinian or ticked pattern and looks less like a classic striped cat but instead the sort of coat on a wild animal. The three distinctive Tabby patterns are Mackerel, Classic, and Spotted. The Tabby patterns are associated with at least two and likely three unique loci. Tabby isn’t a breed but a color pattern, and there are different types of Tabby patterns. Although the British refined the breed, colonists and merchants may have brought the earliest Abyssinians in the country after they acquired cats at seaports in Calcutta. The stuffed cat dates back before 1834 and is labeled Patrie, Domestica India. In Holland, a taxidermied exhibit Abyssinian is the earliest identifiable Aby. The most recent theory about the origin of the Abyssinian is based on genetic evidence that the breed originated in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean coast. Some British Breeders believe the modern breed originated from crosses of native brown and silver Tabbies with British “Bunny” ticked cats.

Although individual cats were imported and attributed to Ethiopia, then called Abyssinia, no written records connect the early Abyssinians to those imported cats. The Abyssinian cat’s history is difficult to piece together. Abyssinians grew in popularity through the Twentieth Century and continue to gain fans because of their beauty and playful personalities. They have an ancient look, like historical cats from long-gone civilizations. Regardless of shade, the Aby’s ticked coat is warm and glowing. Abyssinians are one of the few “ticked” breeds, with coats that have a salt-and-pepper appearance, much like the coat of a wild rabbit. The Abyssinian looks much like the cats depicted in Ancient Egypt’s art. In the case of the Abyssinian Tabby cross, most breeds with the visible Tabby pattern will not be closely related to the Abyssinian. Knowing about the two parent breeds will help you understand your kitten’s personality traits and health issues you’ll need to monitor. When two distinct breeds are crossed, the desired result is a healthy cat without many genetically linked health problems. Ironically, the Abyssinian is a specific color type of Tabby that shows no distinct striping.

Many breeds have Tabby as an approved color. Tabby, of course, is not a breed but a genetically determined color pattern. The earliest references we have to the breed discuss them as coming from Abyssinia, the former name for Ethiopia. They are one of the oldest cat breeds, but their exact origin is unknown. When you buy something through one of the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Ībyssinians look like they could have stepped out of the pages of history or, more specifically, off the walls of an ancient Egyptian tomb.

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