Famous Felines: Celebrating The Tabby Cats Among Us

Tabby cats are not a breed but are distinguished by their coats, which feature an 'M' shape on their forehead and stripes by their eyes, on their cheeks, and across their body. Tabby cats have been featured in comic strips, TV shows, and movies, with several real-life tabbies also becoming famous on YouTube and social media. Here are some of the most famous tabby cats:

- Think Think, one of two cats belonging to the former President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen

- The Ithaca Kitty, a grey tabby cat with seven toes on each front foot that inspired one of the first mass-produced stuffed toys

- Morris the Cat, an orange tabby and advertising mascot for 9Lives cat food

- Maru, a Japanese tabby and one of the most popular cats on the internet

- Orangey, an orange tabby who won two PATSY awards for his roles in The Diary of Anne Frank and Breakfast at Tiffany's

- Larry, a former stray tabby who became Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street

- Bob, who played himself in the film A Street Cat Named Bob

- Marmalade, part of the internet-famous cat duo, Cole and Marmalade

- Milo, one of the main characters in the film The Adventures of Milo and Otis

- Tigger, the energetic tiger from Winnie the Pooh

- Crookshanks, Hermione Granger's pet cat in the Harry Potter series

- Puss in Boots, an animated cat from the Shrek series

Famous fictional tabby cats

Tabby cats are not a breed but are distinguished by their coat pattern. Tabby cats are common in literature, films, and television. Here are some of the most famous fictional tabby cats:

Garfield

Garfield is a fictional tabby cat and the protagonist of the comic strip series of the same name. He is known for his laziness, love of food, and hatred of Mondays. Garfield also starred in several television shows and movies, becoming a household name.

Heathcliff

Heathcliff is a fictional cartoon tabby cat and the protagonist of the comic strip series "Heathcliff" and the animated children's television series "Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats." He is known for his mischievous and street-smart personality.

Thomasina

Thomasina is a fictional ginger tabby cat and the protagonist of the novel and film "The Three Lives of Thomasina." In the story, Thomasina is injured and euthanized, but she is brought back to life by an animal healer.

Crookshanks

Crookshanks is a fictional tabby cat in the Harry Potter series. He is Hermione Granger's pet cat and is depicted as half-Kneazle, a magical beast similar to a cat with enhanced intelligence and the ability to detect untrustworthy people.

Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots is a fictional tabby cat who first appeared in the "Shrek" film series as a partner and helper to the main characters, Shrek and Donkey. He later starred in his own spin-off movie and Netflix series.

Morris

Morris is a fictional tabby cat and the advertising mascot for the 9Lives cat food brand. He is known as "the world's most finicky cat," and his character has been portrayed in various commercials, books, and films, advocating for cat adoption.

The list goes on...

Other well-known fictional tabby cats include Bob from "A Street Cat Named Bob," Marmalade from "Cole and Marmalade," Jonesy from "Alien," Milo from "The Adventures of Milo and Otis," and Tonto from "Harry and Tonto."

Famous real-life tabby cats

Tabby cats are not a separate breed but are distinguished by their coat pattern, which includes an M-shaped marking on their forehead and stripes on their body. They are extremely common and can be found in every breed, from Persian to Siamese. Here are some of the most famous real-life tabby cats:

Think Think

Think Think is one of two cats belonging to the former President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen.

The Ithaca Kitty

The Ithaca Kitty was a grey tabby cat with seven toes on each front foot. It inspired one of the first mass-produced stuffed toys.

Morris the Cat

An orange tabby, Morris has been the advertising mascot for 9Lives cat food since 1969. He has appeared in over 50 commercials and even starred in the film Shamus with Burt Reynolds.

Maru

Maru is a Japanese tabby who once held the Guinness World Record for the most-watched animal on YouTube.

Orangey

Orangey, also known as "Cat", is an orange tabby who starred in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. He won two PATSY Awards for his roles.

Larry

Larry is a former stray tabby who became Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street after being rescued by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Freya

Freya is a tabby cat who belongs to former British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

All Ball

All Ball was the beloved companion of Coco the gorilla.

Tabby

Tabby was the First Pet to President Abraham Lincoln.

Thomasina

Thomasina is a ginger cat who starred in the 1963 film The Three Lives of Thomasina.

Heathcliff

Heathcliff is a cartoon tabby cat from the animated children's television series Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats.

Garfield

Garfield is an orange tabby and the star of the comic strip and television series of the same name. He is known for his love of food and hatred of Mondays.

Famous tabby cats on social media

Tabby cats are not a breed but are distinguished by their coat pattern, which includes an "M" marking on their forehead and stripes on their body. Tabby cats are extremely common, and many famous cats fall into this category. Here are some of the most famous tabby cats on social media:

Maru

Maru is a tabby cat from Japan and is one of the most popular cats on the internet. He previously held the Guinness World Record for the most-watched animal on YouTube. Maru is known for his adorable YouTube videos, which have garnered him a massive online following.

Matilda

Matilda is an Instagram-famous tabby cat with a rare eye condition that makes her eyes appear alien-like. Her unique appearance has gained her a large following on social media, with many people captivated by her striking and unusual features.

Maccha

Maccha is a famous Scottish Fold tabby cat with a significant online presence. His adorable appearance and distinctive folded ears have made him a popular figure on social media, with many people following his adventures and cute photos.

Morris the Cat

Morris the Cat is an advertising mascot for 9Lives cat food and has been featured in numerous commercials since the 1960s. He is an orange tabby cat and has become an iconic figure in popular culture, even running for president to raise awareness for cat adoption. Morris has also authored books and starred in films, leveraging his fame to advocate for cat-related causes.

Garfield

Garfield is a fictional orange tabby cat and the star of the comic strip and television show of the same name. Known for his love of lasagna and coffee and his hatred of Mondays, Garfield has become a household name. He even held the Guinness World Record for the most syndicated comic strip globally, showcasing his immense popularity.

Think Think

Think Think is one of two cats belonging to the former President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen. As the pet of a prominent political figure, Think Think has gained significant attention and has become well-known on social media.

These famous tabby cats have captivated audiences worldwide through their online presence, charming personalities, and unique appearances. They have become internet celebrities, with dedicated fan bases that follow their every move and adventure.

Famous tabby cats in art

Tabby cats have been a popular subject in art for centuries, with their distinctive markings and curious nature providing inspiration for artists. Here is a selection of famous tabby cats in art:

Woman with a Cat by Pablo Picasso (1902)

Pablo Picasso's "Woman with a Cat" is an iconic Cubist masterpiece that portrays a woman seated with a cat on her lap. The fragmented forms and geometric shapes of this painting challenge conventional perspectives and showcase Picasso's revolutionary approach to art.

The Sleeping Cat by Édouard Manet (1862)

Édouard Manet's "The Sleeping Cat" is a realist masterpiece that delicately captures the serene repose of a sleeping tabby cat. Manet's skillful brushstrokes render the soft fur and relaxed posture of the feline subject, adding depth and realism to the composition.

The Cat by Henri Matisse (1910)

Henri Matisse's "The Cat" is a Fauvist masterpiece that encapsulates the playful spirit of its tabby cat subject. With bold outlines and vibrant, non-representational colours, Matisse employs a simplified yet expressive style. The cat's dynamic pose and the artist's use of colour evoke a sense of spontaneity and joy.

The Cat with the Ball of Yarn by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1868)

William-Adolphe Bouguereau's "The Cat with the Ball of Yarn" is an exquisite academic painting that captures the playful charm of a mischievous tabby cat. Bouguereau's meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the realistic rendering of the cat's fur and expressive eyes, brings the scene to life.

The Cat in the Red Chair by Frida Kahlo (1944)

Frida Kahlo's "The Cat in the Red Chair" is a captivating Surrealist creation that stars a black tabby cat on a vibrant red chair amidst symbolic elements. Kahlo's bold colour palette and personal symbolism infuse the composition with intrigue and mystery, with the cat serving as a focal point of introspection and symbolism within her complex artistic tapestry.

White and Tabby Cats by Suzanne Valadon (early 20th century)

Suzanne Valadon's "White and Tabby Cats" is an enchanting painting that showcases the artist's love for feline subjects. Created in the early 20th century, this work captures the essence of domesticity, emphasising the companionship and grace of tabby cats. Valadon's use of colour and form reflects her mastery of technique, and the scene exudes a quiet warmth.

Famous tabby cats in politics

Tabby cats are not a specific breed but are distinguished by their characteristic coat patterns and markings. Tabbies can be brown, grey, orange, or even black, and their coats may be striped, spotted, whorled, or banded. They typically have an "M"-shaped mark on their foreheads.

Tabbies are extremely common among non-pedigree cats worldwide, and their patterning is connected to the coats of their direct ancestors and close relatives: the African wildcat, the European wildcat, and the Asiatic wildcat. The tabby pattern is also the original coat found on domesticated cats, making them the colour of the very first domestic cats.

Think Think

Think Think is one of two cats belonging to former President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen.

Larry

Larry is a former stray tabby who was rescued by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and went on to become Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street.

Tango and Mickey

Sir Winston Churchill, one of Great Britain's most famous Prime Ministers, had two favourite tabby cats, Tango and Mickey. They often accompanied him to formal luncheons and dinners, where they received bits of salmon under the table.

Tabby

Tabby was the first pet cat to reside in the White House with President Abraham Lincoln.

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