Through conversation along the way, I have heard that the marking just above the cat's eyes (looks like the letter "m") is associated with Jesus; what exactly does it represent?
2006-08-29 16:39:29 · 8 answers · asked by thespecialladybug 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Many tabbies have a distinct 'M' marking on their forehead. There are several legends about where this came from. One relates that the Virgin Mary bestowed an M on a tabby's head after it helped keep the baby Jesus warm. In another legend, the prophet Mohammed bestowed the marking upon his beloved cat's brow after it warned him of danger, and the M remains today to remind us of Mohammed's blessings upon cats.[1] In reality, neither of these figures would have used a Latin 'M': Mary spoke Aramaic and the first letter of her name is the Hebrew letter Mem (מ), and Mohammed's name begins with the Arabic letter Miim(م).
2006-08-29 16:42:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That distinctive "M" is part of the fur pattern in tabbies. It is a genetic feature passed on from generation to generation. But being the fascinating creatures cats are, we've woven a myth around this physical feature.
An Italian legend says a cat gave birth in the stable in Bethlehem at exactly the same moment Mary gave birth to Christ. As the Christ child lay in the manager, no animal could soothe him to sleep----not even the gentle donkey or the faithful shepherd dog. But when the little tabby jumped into the manger and began to purr, the infant responded as if to a lullaby and soon fell asleep. Ever since, all tabbies' foreheads have been marked with an " M" as a symbol of the Madonna's gratitude.
2006-08-29 18:01:58 · answer #2 · answered by Turtle 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1
2016-12-25 17:08:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your cat has stripes, it is a "tabby." (Some people call these "tiger cats.") All tabbies have thin pencil lines on the face, expressive markings around the eyes, and a tabby "M" on the forehead. If you look up close at the light parts of a tabby's coat, you will see that the individual hairs are striped with alternating light and dark bands, like the fur of a rabbit or a squirrel. This banding is called "agouti." Tabby is thought to be the "wild type" (the original color) of domesticated cats.
2016-03-17 04:29:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the M mark is the mark of mary the mother of jesus. it is said tht she put her mark on a cat in the manger after christ was born... you'll notice almost all cat have the M on thier forehead.
2006-08-29 16:51:58 · answer #5 · answered by twoowls1977 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
theres no reall reason for the M on a cats forehead other than its a marking thats standard for a tabby cat
2006-08-29 16:45:13 · answer #6 · answered by fuzzycakes 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It just means the cat is a tabby
2006-08-29 18:21:55 · answer #7 · answered by Fuzzy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always thought it meant the cat's name should be "Morris"
2006-08-29 17:00:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its actually the mark of mary (virgin mary) and if your cat is a tabby and most calicos they have this marking they are blessed
2006-08-29 16:45:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋