National Tabby Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Events

National Tabby Day occurs on April 30 worldwide and honours these beautiful variegated cats. Tabby is not a breed of cat, despite popular belief. It is a coat pattern found on the majority of domestic cats. There are four recognised patterns on the coats of these tabbies: classic, mackerel, spotted, and ticking. Also, the orange tabby is a variant of these patterns. There is a preconception that orange tabbies are lazier than other cats. It’s likely due to the popularity of a fictional cat who, among other things, dislikes Mondays and enjoys lasagna and napping.

The background of National Tabby Day

National Tabby Day was first observed by the Mayor’s Alliance for New York City’s Animals, Bideawee, and Triumph Books on April 30, 2016. It is to honour tabby cats and inform the public that tabbies are not a breed of cat but rather a coat pattern. The first event included a book signing and cat adoption to benefit Bideawee and a shelter for cats and canines. The title of the book was “Making the Most of All Nine Lives: The Extraordinary Life of Buffy the Cat” and it was written by pet lifestyle expert and author Sandy Robins and oral surgeon and photojournalist Paul Smulson.

A tabby cat is not a species of cat. It is a common coat pattern among domestic cats. The tabby pattern is associated with the tabby’s close relatives, which include the African wildcat, Asian wildcat, and European wildcat. Tabby cats are distinguished by the M-shaped insignia on their foreheads. Tabbies have four distinct coat patterns, one of which is orange tabby. There is a preconception that orange tabby cats are more sedentary than other cats. In fact, the majority of orange tabbies are male and have an adventurous disposition.

The four tabby coat patterns consist of classic tabby with undulating patterns, mackerel tabby with narrow tiger stripes, spotted tabby with large or small spots, and ticked tabby with tabby markings on the face and agouti hairs on the body, with few or no stripes. According to popular belief, tabby cats are typically sociable and nonaggressive. And, among all tabby varieties, orange tabbies are typically the most affectionate. This conclusion is based on three distinct factors, including daily handling, human interactions, and veterinary visits.

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National Tabby Day Events

Adopt a pet

If you haven’t already, today is likely the ideal opportunity to adopt a tabby cat. Adopting a cat is beneficial not only for the cat, but also for your ability to manage tension, anxiety, and loneliness.

Donate time to a sanctuary

Consider volunteering at an animal shelter such as Bideawee if you are interested in assisting cats and canines in need. Fostering, walking canines, socialising cats, and providing administrative assistance are all options.

Give to a sanctuary.

National Tabby Day is also an opportunity to contribute to an animal shelter. Buffy the Cat would appreciate your concern for his companion animals.

5 fascinating facts about tabby cats

Due to their exceptional hunting abilities, tabby cats can readily catch birds, rats, and mice.

Tabby cats will establish colonies for survival in the wild.

A tabby cat will do something to get your attention because it desires it.

Tabby cats can be taught to avoid furniture and retrieve a toy.

60 to 70 percent of all domestic cats worldwide are tabby.

NATIONAL TABBY DAY DATES