Nature breaks through
the eyes of the cat.
...Irish Proverb
A portrait of my kitty, Katniss. Nice on Black.
Tabby cats are not actually a breed. Tabby cat patterns can be found on many breeds. Though I have had a DNA test done on Katniss (just for fun) to find out if she has a specific breed, the verdict is still out. My guess would be some Norwegian Forest or Siberian Forest but she may be a domestic long haired cat of mixed ancestry. She came to us as a pregnant stray, 4 years ago. We are madly in love with her.
Katniss is a classic tabby. The classic tabby has the 'M' pattern on the forehead but the body markings, rather than primarily thin stripes or spots, are thick curving bands in a whirled or swirled pattern with a distinctive mark on each side of the body resembling a bullseye. Usually, the tabby cat has green eyes too.
One story is that the 'M' is related to the word 'mau' which in Ancient Egypt meant 'cat'. In Christian folklore, a tabby cat dutifully showed up to comfort baby Jesus. In gratitude, his mother Mary stroked the cat's head and left an 'M' mark on its forehead.
