How to Adopt a Tabby Cat in the United States | PetzLover

Why are there so many tabby cats for adoption?

Alley Cat Allies explains that the genes behind tabby coats are dominant, which is why tabbies are the most common cats. The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) adds that tabby is a pattern, not a color and not a breed, and that every tabby has an "M" marking on its forehead. Shelters fill up too: ASPCA figures from Shelter Animals Count show about 3 million cats entering US shelters and rescues in 2025, about 2.2 million adopted and about 277,000 euthanized.

A shelter profile may describe a cat simply by coat length and pattern. A brown mackerel tabby, a silver classic tabby with swirls, an orange tabby or a patched tabby (tabby with red or cream patches) can each be a house cat or, occasionally, a breed such as an American Shorthair or Maine Coon. Without registration papers nobody can confirm a breed, and for a pet you do not need one.

Shelter, rescue or owner listing: where should you adopt a tabby?

You can search tabby cats for adoption on PetzLover, filter by location and save the search for alerts when new cats are listed. Owners also offer cats directly; taking in a rehomed tabby cat covers the history questions to ask.

How do you choose the right tabby cat?

Look past the stripes. A 2012 survey study by a UC Berkeley researcher, published in Anthrozoos, found people rate orange cats as friendly and tortoiseshells as intolerant, yet the researcher said there is little evidence these differences actually exist. Coverage of the study also cited earlier research that black and brown cats are less likely to be adopted, so do not overlook a plain brown tabby.

• Kittens are playful and adaptable but need time, supervision and kitten-proofing.
• Adult cats have known personalities: you can see whether a tabby likes being held, tolerates children or lives happily with a dog. Many are already spayed or neutered and litter trained.
• Senior cats are often calm and affectionate and suit quieter homes; ask about ongoing medical needs.
• Bonded pairs are usually placed together and keep each other company while you are out.

Ask staff or the foster how the cat behaves day to day, and spend time with it. Most orange tabbies are male (Kyushu University, 2025), so if you want a female orange, be flexible on color rather than temperament.

How does adopting a tabby cat work?

1. Read each cat's profile: age, health, personality and the home it needs.
2. Apply or message. Expect questions about your home, other pets, children, landlord, work hours and past pets.
3. Meet the cat, hold it if it allows and ask how it behaves day to day.
4. Some rescues do a home visit or video tour and call your landlord or vet as a reference.
5. Read and sign the adoption contract; many require indoor living, no declawing and returning the cat to the group if you cannot keep it.
6. Pay the fee and collect the records: vaccines, test results, spay or neuter certificate and microchip number.

What does it cost to adopt a tabby?

Fees vary by group, area and age, and kittens often cost more than adults. Petful's 2026 guide puts typical shelter and rescue fees at about $50 to $200. The fee usually bundles vet work the ASPCA estimates at about $150 for spay or neuter, $175 for initial medical costs and $20 for a microchip. After adoption, the ASPCA estimates about $1,149 a year for food, litter and routine care.

Ask whether the cat has been tested for FeLV and FIV. In a study of 62,301 cats in the United States and Canada (Burling and colleagues, 2017), 3.1% were positive for feline leukemia virus and 3.6% for feline immunodeficiency virus. A positive cat can still be adopted into the right home, but you need to know before it meets other cats.

How do you help an adopted tabby settle in?

• Prepare one quiet room with food, water, a litter box, a scratching post, a hiding place and a bed.
• Let the cat come to you; many hide for the first days.
• See a vet in the first week or two and bring the adoption records. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) advises testing newly acquired cats for FeLV and FIV as soon as possible if not done.
• Update the microchip registration and photograph the cat's markings, face and any white patches; tabbies look alike, and good photos help if it is ever lost.
• Introduce other pets slowly, scent first, then short supervised meetings.
• Keep the cat indoors while it settles; the AAFP favors indoor living or controlled outdoor access such as an enclosure or harness.

If you are placing a cat yourself, see how to list a tabby cat for adoption. If an owner is giving kittens away, getting a free tabby kitten safely covers the extra checks.