Grey Tabby Cat – Facts And Fun About Your Tabby

Despite a common misconception, a grey tabby cat is not a breed of cat, but a color and pattern that can be observed on many breeds. I’ve always loved grey tabbies ever since my parents read me the Mog The Cat books by Judith Kerr as a child, and the idea of one day having my own Mog is very appealing. But where should I look to find a pet who fits the bill, and what do I need to know about the health and temperament of kittens with silver striped coats? In this article I’ve compiled all the most recent expertise on how this pattern does and doesn’t affect the cats that bear it.

Contents

• The wonderful types of grey tabby cat
• Why are there so many grey tabbies?
• Do grey tabbies have great temperaments?
• Health and longevity
• Is this the right pet for you?

Types of Grey Tabby Cat

Are you surprised to hear that a grey tabby isn’t just one type of cat? It’s true! There isn’t a ‘grey tabby cat’ breed. Instead, lots of purebred, crossbred and cats of unknown mixed ancestry can have stripey silver coats. What’s more, grey tabby cats can be organized by their exact color and stripe type, as well as (or instead of) their pedigree. But don’t worry if that sounds a bit exhausting, we’ll make it simple now!

Breed

Lots of well known and not-so-well-known cat breeds can have grey tabby coats. For example:

• American Bobtails
• American Wirehairs
• British Shorthairs
• Bengals
• Maine Coons
• Manx
• Norwegian Forest Cats
• Persians

So can many crossbreed cats, and cats of unknown mixed ancestry (a.k.a. domestic short hairs and domestic long hairs). In fact, it’s estimated that over 9 in 10 pet cats are crossbred, so most gray tabbies will fall into this category too.

Color

Grey tabby cats can have:

• Black stripes on a dark grey background.
• Black stripes on a light grey background (also known as silver tabby).
• Dark grey stripes on a light grey background (also known as blue silver tabby).

They can even have white patches too, or be one of the color point breeds, such as a Siamese cat. Grey tabby color point cats only have a visible tabby pattern on their face, legs and tail.

Type of stripe

Finally, it’s possible to group grey tabby cats by the types of stripe they have. The four possibilities are:

• Mackerel
• Ticked
• Blotched
• Spotted

Mackerel stripes are the most common, whilst ticked and spotted stripes are usually only seen in specific breeds. They are all recognizable as tabby patterns though, because they all include a characteristic dark ‘M’ on the cat’s forehead.

Why Are There So Many Grey Tabbies?

So, these pretty kitties come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and there’s lots of potential for variation in their exact color, and the pattern of their stripes. But how did the grey tabby pattern come to be so diverse and widespread? Part of the reason is that the brown-and-grey mackerel tabby was the ‘original’ cat coat. In other words, it is the coat of all domestic cats’ most recent wild ancestor – the African wild cat. So, tabby stripes and grey pigmentation became predictably widespread among pet cats too.

Since then, random genetic mutations have resulted in variations of the layout of their stripes, and also eliminated the production of red pigment, so that once-brown fur becomes grey instead. And these mutations have spread, in part, because we love them and find them beautiful. So we’ve gone out of our way to reproduce them in new generations of kittens.

Grey Tabby Cat Temperament

All tabby cats have a personality which is as unique as their stripes. While there are some cats who adore contact and cuddling, and even learn tricks, others prefer independence, exploration, and observing their human families from high perches. Intriguingly, researchers have looked for links between feline coat color and temperament. One study reported that grey and white cats are amongst those most likely to be aggressive towards humans during handling, everyday interactions, and vet visits. But another survey didn’t associate gray fur or even tabby stripes with a significant increase in any type of behavior.

So the matter of whether grey tabby cats have any specific personality traits is still unresolved. And some scientists are convinced that predictable differences in feline behavior can be more accurately attributed to their breed, than their color.

Grey Tabby Cat Health

Grey tabbies come from all walks of life, and their health and life expectancy reflect that. To the best of my knowledge, there’s no evidence that their coat puts them at a higher risk of any specific ailments. Since lots of types of cat can be grey tabbies, some interesting patterns in feline health more generally are:

• The most common health problems of cats presented at veterinary clinics are tooth and gum disease, flea infestation, obesity, traumatic injuries, and skin disorders.
• Non-pedigree cats are more likely to be diagnosed with abscesses and hyperthyroidism than pedigree cats.
• Whereas pedigree cats are more likely to be diagnosed with coat disorders than domestic shorthairs and longhairs.
• But overall, neither group has a higher rate of illness generally.
• In terms of life expectancy, crossbred cats have the edge. Pets with mixed ancestry live 14 years on average, vs 12.5 years for pedigree cats.

We also know that important determinants of any cat’s health are:

• Eating a high quality, age-appropriate diet.
• Maintaining a health weight.
• Physical exercise.
• Mental stimulation.
• Opportunities to practice natural behaviors, like scratching.
• Regular preventative healthcare, such as flea and worming treatments.

Is A Grey Tabby Cat Right For You?

Since this coat is possible in so many types of cat, I think there is probably a grey tabby who’s right for any cat-loving household!

Whilst they have a reputation for being aloof and independent, it’s smart to be mindful of the fact that some cat breeds are quite the opposite. Persians are generally very affectionate for example. And Bengal and Siamese cats are frequently described as almost dog-like in their love of human interaction and playing games. So, consider how self-sufficient you want or need your cat to be, before committing to a specific breed.

I also think that the specific health problems of some pedigree cats deserves some special consideration. For example Manx cats are known to experience a higher frequency of spinal disorders stemming from their lack of tail. And flat faced cats, such as Persians, have a higher incidence of breathing difficulty, eye injuries, and dental problems.

For more help deciding if you’re ready for a cat, and choosing the perfect one, visit us here.

Your Grey Tabby Cat

What is your favorite breed of grey tabby cat? Tell us your thoughts below in the comment section below!

More On Feline Coats And Colors

• Does a tortoiseshell coat affect life expectancy?
• More grey Bengal cat facts
• Everything you need to know about black and white cats

References

• Color Prefix Charts. Cat Fanciers’ Association. Accessed December 2022.
• Ishida, Y, et al. A Homozygous Single-Base Deletion in MLPH Causes the Dilute Coat Color Phenotype in the Domestic Cat. Genomics. 2006.
• Evans et al. The purrfect match: The influence of personality on owner satisfaction with their domestic cat. Personality & Individual Differences. 2019.
• Kaelin & Barsch. Genetics of Pigmentation in Dogs and Cats. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences. 2013.
• O’Neill et al. Longevity and mortality of cats attending primary care veterinary practices in England. Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery. 2014.
• O’Neill et al. Prevalence of disorders recorded in cats attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. The Veterinary Journal. 2014.
• Stelow et al. The Relationship Between Coat Color and Aggressive Behaviors in the Domestic Cat. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. 2016.
• Wilhelmy et al. Behavioral associations with breed, coat type, and eye color in single-breed cats. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 2016.