Silver Tabby Cat: 10 Fascinating Lesser-Known Facts

Discover the beauty of Silver Tabby Cats. Their amazing-looking coat patterns are because of their unique tabby design and a one-of-a-kind gene that changes their fur color.

With a diverse range of tabby patterns, from classic to mackerel, spotted to ticked, these captivating felines offer a variety that knows no bounds. This comprehensive blog lets you learn about their exciting past, discover what makes them unique, and other interesting facts.

Silver Tabby Cat In A Nutshell

Interesting Facts About Silver Tabby Cat

Some Fascinating facts about silver tabby cats are:

1. Ancient Egypt Revered Silver Tabby Cats as Divine Beings

Silver tabby cats are a stunning and distinctive breed of cat. They are initially from the UK known for their strikingly silver fur and mesmerizing green eyes. 

People might think that cats in medieval times were tabbies because the tabby pattern is typical in wild cats. But one writer disagreed, especially for England. John Aubrey, a thinker, talked about William Laud, the Archbishop of Canterbury, getting some cats. 

He said he remembered regular English cats being white with a bit of grey, not tabbies. Even though he said this, many old drawings and paintings of cats from that time show them as tabbies.

Silver tabbies were highly regarded in ancient Egypt. They were treated as gods in their own right because the Egyptians believed they possessed divine abilities. In medieval Europe, silver tabbies had a fascinating reputation. 

It was thought that they had magical powers that captivated the attention of royalty. These beautiful feline companions were said to have the extraordinary ability to transform milk into creamy goodness, while their fur was believed to have anti-ailment healing properties.

Also See : Silver Bengal Cats – Everything You Need To Know.

2. Silver Tabby Cat Is Not A Breed

Many people believe Tabbies are a distinct cat breed, but you can own a Tabby cat from various breeds. Since the term “Tabby” actually refers to the cat’s pattern, there are silver tabby Maine Coons as well as silver tabby Bengals – you can have a Tabby cat of almost any breed and in a variety of colors.

3. Silver Tabby Cats Come In Both Sexes

There are not many female orange Tabbies, which is a well-known fact. Female orange Tabby cats are uncommon because male orange  Tabby cats make up about 80% of the population. Likewise, the possibility of a male cat is rare in tortoiseshell cats.

But with silver Tabbies, that’s not the case. You have a 50% chance of getting either gender since Silver Tabbies can be male or female.

4. Silver Tabby Cats Are Loving

Overall, silver tabby cats are loving and affectionate. They can form strong bonds with their owners sooner than expected. However, each cat has a unique personality, and the degree to which they are friendly or aggressive can vary greatly. The University of California, Davis investigated whether a cat’s coat color impacts behavior. 

They asked cat owners to describe how their cats behaved in various circumstances. While the study discovered some minor variations in aggression among the different coat colors, the more prominent variations were associated with the cat’s gender rather than its coat.

A different study found no discernible connection between a cat’s behavior and coat pattern. However, occasionally people make assumptions about cats based on their color, such as that orange cats are gregarious and white cats are reserved. Then, even if it has nothing to do with the coat, people may notice things that support those ideas.

Also See : Meet the Tabby Bengal Cat – Exotic Elegance of a Hybrid Cat

5. There Are 5 Patterns of Tabbies

A silver tabby cat can have different patterns, such as:

• Mackerel Tabby Pattern: The mackerel tabby has thin, curving stripes on the body’s sides. It often features ‘M’ shapes on the forehead and dark lines near the eyes and cheeks.
• Classic Tabby Pattern: Known as blotched tabby, this pattern has swirls or bullseye marks on the body sides. Light “butterfly” patterns appear on the shoulders, with three thin stripes along the spine. Legs, tail, and cheeks have thick stripes.
• Ticked Tabby Pattern: Ticked tabbies show even agouti hairs, creating a salt-and-pepper look. Some residual ghost striping, an ‘M’ shape, and a dark line on the spine can be seen. These patterns may not be visible among the silver tabby kittens, but as they grow up, the patterns also become more visible. 
• Spotted Tabby Pattern: Spotted tabbies result from a modifier gene, breaking patterns into distinct spots. These can be small or large spots, similar to mackerel or classic tabbies. Breeds like Australian Mist, Bengal, and Serengeti display these variations, often keeping forehead ‘M’ marks and classic limb and tail patterns.
• Patched Tabby Pattern: Tabby cats with patches on their coats are known as Tortoiseshell Tabbies. 

6. Silver Tabby Cats Are Healthy

The general opinion of a silver tabby cat is that it is healthy and free of any particular ailments. The best action is to have your cat examined by a veterinarian every month, though.

7. Silver Tabby Cats Are Low Maintenance

A Silver tabby cat is a simple breed to care for. They are healthy and happy pets with no inherited conditions or dietary restrictions. They make excellent house cats because they are resilient, intelligent, and loving.

The following advice will help you care for your Silver tabby cat:

• Give your tabby a balanced diet
• Always have clean water available
• Clean up your Silver tabby’s litter box
• Regularly brush your cat’s fur
• Visit the vet frequently for checkups on your Silver tabby

8. Tabbies Come In A Variety Of Colors

Tabby cats come in a variety of colors. These are: 

Silver Tabby Cat

Silver tabby cats have black stripes on a silver background. Their fur may also have a hint of light gray or white. Another name for this color is a silver classic tabby. 

Blue Silver Tabby Cat

Blue Silver tabby cats have black stripes on a grayish-blue background. Gray tabbies is another name for them.

Black Tabby Cat

The background and stripes on the black tabbies are both black. On their forehead, they frequently have an identifying M-shaped marking. There are rare black tabby cats, and they are hard to find.

Brown Tabby Cat

Brown tabbies have black stripes on a brown background. Additionally, their fur may have a red or ginger undertone.

Red Tabby Cat

The background and stripes of red tabbies are red. They are occasionally known as ginger tabbies.

Cream Tabby Cat

Cream tabbies have black stripes on a cream background. Additionally, their fur may have a slight beige or light brown tint.

9. Silver Tabby Cats Have A Long Lifespan

A silver tabby cat can live up to 18 years if dieted properly. This is longer than most breeds of cats.

10. Silver Tabby Cat Have Gray Or Red Pads

A silver Tabby cat’s paw has a 50/50 chance of having gray or red pads when you lift it. Although all of the pads on a single cat will be the same color, these cats’ feet can have pads of either color.

Silver Tabby Cat Price

The price of a silver tabby cat can vary depending on the breed and location. For instance, breeders charge $1,500 to $3,000 for a silver tabby British Shorthair kitten. On the other hand, websites that sell Silver Bengal Cats & Kittens charge from $3,000 to $4,800.

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