What does the M mean on my cat?

Cats with 'M' on forehead: the mark of a true tabby cat
One story has it 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.

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What is the M shaped mark on a cat?

The distinct 'M' marking on a Tabby's forehead is thought by some to stand for either 'Mau,' which is the Egyptian word for 'cat,' the Virgin Mary, or also Mohammed, who is said to have loved Tabbies. Other Tabby patterns came about from selective breeding and mutations of mackerel Tabby cats.

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Do all cats have an M on their face?

One of the most distinctive markings on a tabby cat is an “M” on the forehead. Why tabbies have an “M” is unknown, but there are some interesting legends about how they got this unique marking. Even if your kitty isn't considered a tabby, a faint “M” can often be seen – but you may have to squint really hard to see it.

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What cats have the letter M on their head?

A tabby is any domestic cat (Felis catus) with a distinctive 'M'-shaped marking on its forehead; stripes by its eyes and across its cheeks, along its back, and around its legs and tail; and (differing by tabby type), characteristic striped, dotted, lined, flecked, banded, or swirled patterns on the body—neck, shoulders ...

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Do all ginger cats have an M on their forehead?

All ginger cats are tabbies as they all have the “agouti” gene, but all tabbies are not orange. One characteristic to look for in tabby cats is an “M” marking on their forehead. Tabbies are also often referred to as “tigers” for obvious reasons. Notice the "M" marking on this orange kitty's forehead.

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How To Tell Your Cat Not to Do Something

26 related questions found

Why are tabby cats so special?

Tabbies are very good at expressing their feelings and will let you know if they are sad, angry, happy, or playful. They are known for being friendly, affectionate, and playful, so their human families are in for quite the treat.

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Are tabby cats rare?

Are tabby cats common or rare? Tabby cats are considered the most common cats around. That's because many different cat breeds are tabbies. Regardless of their fur colour or breed type, if they have tabby patterns running through their fur, they're considered tabby cats.

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Do all orange cats have an M?

M is for “Meow.” While this distinctive feature may be more or less pronounced on individual cats, tabbies — including our beloved orange ones — are known to have an M-shaped marking on their foreheads. They tend to be snuggly.

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Does the M on a cat mean Maine Coon?

You may have also seen an 'M' mark on the forehead of a Main Coon and concluded that it is a defining feature of Maine Coons. But is that what the 'M' really means? This distinctive feature actually means that the cat is a tabby cat! Tabby is the most common cat color pattern there is.

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What is the rarest feline?

The Sokoke cat is said to be the rarest cat in the world. Rather than being a man-created breed, the Sosoke is a naturally occurring, tiny wildcat that can be found only in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Preserve in Kenya (Africa).

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Can my cat see my face?

Cats cannot differentiate between human faces and do not care how you look like. Unlike dogs, they would not even try to differentiate human faces. In an experiment conducted by an American university, the kitties could recognize their handlers less than 50 percent of the time.

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What is the rarest tabby cat?

The Ticked Tabby

"This is due to their hair having multiple colors on each strand which 'dilutes' the distinct tabby markings." Lyons identifies the ticked tabby as the rarest of the group, with an Abyssinian—or "tabby Aby"— being a good example of the ticked trait in action.

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What are rare cat eyes?

Orange/Copper/Amber is the Rarest Eye Color for Cats

These darkest of cat eyes are also the rarest type, with blue (in adults) taking the second-rarest slot.

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Are tabby cats expensive?

Here are a few pointers when it comes to tabby cats' price: “Randomly” bred tabby cats can cost as little as $100 or less. Purebred tabbies can set you back with $700-$1500. Designer tabbies like the Bengal cost around $2k and more.

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Are tabby cats friendly?

Regardless of the breed or coat color, if you have a cat with tabby markings — it's called a tabby cat. What are some of the most common tabby personality traits? They're usually friendly, intelligent, affectionate, vocal, active, and quiet. Tabby owners can live happily with their kitties in homes of all sizes.

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Do Maine Coons have an M on their head?

When answering the question 'do all Maine Coons have an M on their forehead? ', it is safe to say that they do not. Instead, this striking marking is only visible on tabby patterned Maine Coon cats. Tabby is not a color, but instead a pattern.

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Is my cat a Maine Coon or tabby?

In comparison, Maine Coons are popular large breed cats with a rectangular-shaped bodies, long, thick fur, stocky legs, large ears, and expressive eyes with big personalities, while tabby cats are cats with distinctive 'M' shaped markings on their forehead.

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How long do tabby cats live?

On average, tabby cats live between 12-18 years. This is relatively long when compared to outdoor cats. Cats that live out on the streets have been known to survive for 2-5 years at best. This is due to the numerous hazards that a cat may face when living outside.

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Are girl orange cats rare?

Orange tabby cats are usually male.

In fact, up to 80 percent of orange tabbies are male, making orange female cats a bit of a rarity. According to the BBC's Focus Magazine, the ginger gene in cats works a little differently compared to humans; it is on the X chromosome.

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What type of cat is Garfield?

Garfield is an orange tabby cat of an unspecified breed. The official word from his creator, Jim Davis, is that Garfield isn't one particular breed or even based off of a singular cat. Some people theorize that he could be a Persian, British Shorthair, or Maine Coon.

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Why are orange cats so rare?

The gene for orange color is carried on the X chromosome, making it sex-linked. This means that males only have to have one copy of it to be orange. Females must have two copies to be orange.

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Are tabby cats lucky?

spiritualdesk.com Tabby cats are often thought to be lucky symbols. In many cultures, they are believed to bring good luck and fortune to their owners. Tabby cats are also associated with fertility and motherhood. In some cultures, it is believed that tabby cats can help women conceive and have healthy pregnancies.

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Are 3 colored cats always female?

The actual, scientific fact of the matter is that most calicos and torties are female. There are some rare exceptions! According to a study by the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, only about 1 in 3,000 calico cats are male!

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How loyal are tabby cats?

A tabby cat is a loyal and loving companion. They'll love to spend time with you, curled up on your knee or playing with their toys. They just adore being by your side like a little shadow and will certainly appreciate a cosy cat bed placed next to your chair or on your desk so they can be with you as much as possible.

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