Once upon a time a little girl was born who loved cats. She loved not only cats, but stories about cats and books about cats. She also started drawing cats when she was 3 years old.
As soon as she was able, she made sure that cats were always in her life and of course she learned to take care of them. Her best friend in the world was a cat for most of her childhood. Today, she’s fostered cats, rescued cats and supported cat rescue associations, often by donations of paintings of cats. She even managed to raise two wild rambunctious sons with perfect cat taming and handling skills. I know, enough about cats. But I figured someone might want to know what the story was behind the name Mimitabby.
And onto tabbies. Tabbies are cats with stripes or spots, one of the most common markings found on felis domesticus. While I’m at it, there is also a word in Italian that describes exactly a dark tabby cat. That word is soriano. I’ll bet you’re glad you know that now.
Models for these paintings include Aggie, Barbie, Nutmeg and Enza (oh, and Mimi). Featured here either in personality or actual portraits are many of the cats that I had the pleasure of sharing my life with in the past. While I was painting these cats I had several of them posing for me, purring at me, watching me, and letting me know it was time to feed them. Special thanks to Arabella for giving me the idea for this painting.
9 responses to “What is a MimiTabby?”
Yes, tabbies come with spots, stripes or bullseye patterns. there is also the agouti pattern seen in Abyssinian cats and a lot of wild animals like deer.
Dear Mimi,
I’m certain you can illustrate children picture books!!
Cheers, wink, wink, Sadami
That story reminds me of myself yet I’m not quite there yet. When I get my own place, I’ll have lots of cats. I’m going to be the crazy cat lady! And I’ll actually take care of them all too. What is life without a cat, right?
I love this painting too. 😀
Wonderful, and I loved reading about Mimitabby!
I love your portrait and the great story that goes with it 🙂
maria isabel
(blog me ,baby Swap)
I just love this! All those wonderful tabbies! I still have the book (which you disdain, I treasure) bout the little girl in quest of a cat adoptee.
Who was this cat? “Her best friend in the world was a cat for most of her childhood.”
The painting is so interesting — cats surrounding you and your favorite on your lap. Well done, well composed, bellisimo!
Tabbies have spots?
Ahh! The yellow tabbies remind me of my sweet (well, not really, but I loved him anyway!) George – gone these last l6 years, but never forgotten!
Interesting inspiration for a picture
Oh, how beautiful! I love all those tiny tigers! My last cat had tabby bits in her coat, together with ginger bits and white bits. It was a mixture of colours – hence her name, Muddle. Also known as Mud Pie, Muddsie, Queen Mudds, The Fuss Mugger, and The Furry-Faced Terrorist. You’ve probably got by now that I’m a cat woman too!!