The characteristic features of the Tabbies reside in their markings, or the transverse stripes, though some Tabbies are spotted; but whether striped or spotted, sharpness of markings constitutes the ideal of beauty. These markings probably represent, or are the legacy of, the primary stock, from which the domestic cat has been evolved.

The ground or body colour may be either white, red, yellow, silver, blue, grey, brown, or chocolate, and opinions are at variance as to which of these constitutes the best for body colour, and the only answer that the writer can give is, individuality of taste. White markings on coloured grounds of Tabby cats are faulty.

The Red Tabby

The markings or the spots stand prominently out in contrast to the lighter ground colour; in fact, deep transverse markings or spots are essentials for the show pen, though there is a certain difficulty in breeding the ideal in this respect.

Another important feature is that of having the transverse bands of less width than the intervening self colour. In short, the Striped Tabby should have narrow, deep, and regular stripings, without any one space being wider than the rest.

The correct shade is really an intense orange, striped with a mahogany tan.

The Brown Tabby

The Brown Tabby is a popular variety, and the classes at shows are usually well filled.

The ground colour should be a deep brown with darker shadings.

The Spotted Tabby

The ground colour varies just as with the striped varieties, but the essential feature is the presence of spots of deeper intensity. Regularity, uniformity of size, general distribution, and sharpness of definition are the necessary requisites in a Spotted Tabby's fur. Irregularly distributed spots; fusion of spots and feebleness of the same, together with lack of definition, are the common faults.

Distribution of spots on the face materially enhances the beauty of a Spotted Tabby. White markings are objectionable.

The Silver Tabby

This may be either striped or spotted with a silver ground colour, and the dark markings confer a degree of beauty - probably not exceeded in any other variety.

When the writer bred Silver Tabbies, he found that the chief difficulty consisted in obtaining sharply defined markings, as the silver body colour seems to give much more trouble for clearness of definition - no matter whether of spots or transverse stripes.

The colour of the eyes has been compared to that of the emerald, a light green eye being most detrimental to type.