Mackerel Tabbies Are Associated With Witchcraft Image Credit: Sa Ka, Pixabay Later, tabbies traveled on merchant ships alongside the crew to help reduce stowaway rodents at sea. Tabbies were often kept in granaries and silos to hunt down the vermin population.

Ancient farmers quickly discovered the benefits of keeping their hard-earned grain rodent-free and saw that tabbies were great mousers. They were believed to be pets and assistants to Mediterranean farmers. The first of these domesticated cats were working animals. And of that particular genetic strain, tabbies were the first to become tame. In nature, there are five different genetic strains of a wildcat, and mankind has only succeeded in domesticating one. Tabby Cats Were Among the Very First Domesticated Cats When the word finally made the jump across the channel to England, the name was eventually translated into the recognized term today: tabby. This was translated over via 14 th century middle French as “atabis”, then shortened to “tabis”. The markings and coat of the tabby are so luxurious they were once commonly compared to fine silk from Baghdad that originated in the Attabiy district. But you’ll find this marking on every mackerel tabby that you’ll ever meet. Other stories equate the pattern to blessings from Islamic prophets or a blessed Christian virgin mother. Their “M” marking goes back to the times of the ancient Egyptians where it was once worshipped as sacred iconography. The “M” pattern is actually coded into their DNA. If you look at any mackerel tabby’s face and forehead, you’ll notice that they have a distinct “M” that runs from eye to eye. Mackerel Tabbies Have a Distinct “M” Shape on Their Foreheads Patched tabbies can show any of the patterns mentioned above, but it’s usually only along the face and head in areas much larger than ticks. Ticked tabbies are generally one color, however, you’ll find that they have small marks (or ticks) along with their facial structure. Spotted tabbies are spotted like leopards either on one part of their bodies or all over. Classic tabbies have bold, circular, and swirling patterns as if they had a large bullseye painted on them. Mackerel tabbies are among the most recognizable because of their narrow tiger-striped pattern. Tabbies can come in 5 unique color patterns. And there isn’t just one type of tabby cat either. Tabbies are found across many breeds such as the Maine Coon or Norwegian Forest Cat. Tabby simply refers to the color and pattern of their coats. Tabby Refers to a Cat’s Coat, Not the Breed Image Credit: Amaya Eguizábal, Pixabay The 10 Fascinating Facts About Mackerel Tabby Cats 1.

Long haired brown tabby