Brown Tabby Cat - Rare?

[jan]

Hi all,
I was intrigued to read an article in a magazine a few weeks ago regarding a womans search for a brown tabby cat. She states that she took nearly nine years to find one which she then began a business breeding from. She says that whilst you would think it an easy thing to find a brown tabby, as they were very common and on every street corner when she was a child, it was actually nearly impossible. I must admit I was surprised but I suppose on reflection, a lot of tabbys are silver tabby s today.

I have had brown tabby s in the past, real brown and cream, with spots on their tums and the stripes on their backs, but without realising my last tabby was indeed a silver tabby. So, anybody, have you got a good old brown tabby cat? :roll: Jan x

[Moli]

Very interesting Jan, I though most Tabbies were brown, will have to look more closely in future...

[Erin]

Think Jerry would be classed as a brown tabby -

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w17/looby_loo83/Jerry/Jerry006.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w17/looby_loo83/Jerry/Jerry014.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w17/looby_loo83/Jerry/CatDog001.jpg

He's not a silver tabby anyway

[angieh]

He's one stripy handsome baby Erin. I would think random's Anakin is one as was my dear old Merlin.

[calismum]

yes, that is what I would describe as a brown tabby - and a very handsome one too.

[alexgirl73]

who cares what he is, he's GORGEOUS!!! lol :lol:

[Erin]

Thanks all :)
Like Moli, I thought most Tabbies were brown :? I didnt think they were rare, a few of my friends have brown Tabbies, and yes Angie not for getting dear old Merlin and baby Anakin

[Moli]

He is a beauty Erin, always had a real soft spot for Jerry....:)

[random]

I have had 1 and one with wee white paddy paws and currently have one, i'd say silver tabbies were less common than brown but neither 'rare'. :?

JMO.

Ani, 18 months old next month would you Adam and Eve it? :shock:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/randoms_pix/Cats/18-01-09001.jpg

Tabs and Nipper, God bless:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/randoms_pix/Cats/12-5-06005.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/randoms_pix/Cats/kasabian002.jpg

[angieh]

Love that Ani-pani! :smt049 (with love from his dotty auntie xxx) 18 months old? Sweetheart!

[Erin]

They are all gorgeous Kel :D I cant believe he's 18 months alread..wheres the time gone?!

[random]

Aye 18 months, who knows where the time goes? :shock:

[dandysmom]

My friend Carolyn's late cat Kate, a brown mackerel tabby. We lost her to CRF last year, RIP sweetie.

http://www.catsey.com/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d117/dandysmom/Other%20cats/42958352.jpg%5B/IMG%5Dhttp://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d117/dandysmom/Other%20cats/42958352.jpg

[jan]

Well, I admit I am confused and just been googling -

Tabby Cats and their beautiful patterns...

Tabby cats are often mistakenly thought of as being a particular breed of cat, but it is the coat pattern that is known as "tabby", and this pattern can occur in all breeds of domestic cat.


Mackerel

Mackerel tabby markings closely correspond to the patterns seen on African wild cats. Some people suggest that mackerel tabbies should have been called classic, because their coat pattern was the original, and more reminiscent of the domestic cats origins.

Mackerel tabbies have narrow striped rings around their tail and legs, solid or broken stripes down their sides and one or more 'necklaces' on the front of their chests. Along the belly of the mackerel tabby you will find a double row of 'vest buttons.'

The sides, shoulders and haunches can show fine parallel lines or markings somewhat like the bones of a fish, which is how they came to be called mackerel tabby cats, (they are also sometimes known as tiger tabbies.)


Spotted

The dark blotches of the coat pattern of some tabbies are formed into oval or round spots. Sometimes the spots run in lines, this is often known as the interrupted mackerel pattern, however whether these spots developed from mackerel tabbies, or are a completely separate mutation remains unknown.

Spotted tabbies usually show a faint trace of a necklace and have a line of spots, or sometimes blotches, running from the neck to the very tip of their tail.



Ticked

Cats with ticked coat markings do not display the usual stripes, blotches or swirls of the tabby pattern and do not at first glance seem to be tabby cats at all. A closer look will show that the hairs are in fact striped with light and dark colored bands, these are known as agouti hairs, most tabbies will have some agouti hairs that make up part of their coat pattern.

The faces of ticked (or agouti) tabbies will show the traditional 'M' marking, and ticked tabbies may show a faint necklace.

The Abyssinian cat is a very good example of a ticked tabby and their coats often appear to shimmer in the sunlight due to the agouti hairs.




Patched

Cats that have random patches of different colors are known as tortoiseshell (tortie), if the markings are tabby, the cats are called patched tabbies (torbie). Mackerel, spotted, ticked or classic markings can show in the patches, and the tabby pattern usually shows more distinctly on the head and legs.

Brown patched tabbies have patches of deep brown tabby markings and patches of red (orange or ginger) tabby markings. Blue patched tabbies have patches of soft blue (gray) tabby markings and patches of cream tabby markings.


All tabbies have an 'M' marking on their forehead, and on some this mark is very distinct. The 'M' is often referred to as 'the mark of the true tabby'.

Well, not sure if that really answers my question but its interesting stuff ! Jan x;)

[Luke]

I confess to no longer really seeing that luxurious golden brown tabby colour that we now commonly associate with bengals, around anymore...