Hobbies And Interests
Color and Pattern
Every subspecies of tiger is striped. No two tigers have the same striped pattern. The Bengal tiger is orange and white with black stripes. Some tigers have a genetic mutation and are purely white with dark stripes. In contrast, the tabby comes in a variety of patterns. The mackerel tabby is striped, while the blotched tabby has a marbled pattern. The Abyssinian tabby has a ticked pattern, with rings around the tail and legs.
Size
Tabby cats and tigers differ significantly in size. The tiger subspecies are the largest of the big four cats. The Siberian tiger is the largest cat in the world, measuring up to 10 3/4 feet in length. The tabby cat is much smaller in size, averaging 28 inches in length for an adult.
Habitat and Water
A tabby is a domesticated animal. It can adapt to living in a remote island or a bustling industrialized city. It usually lives in its owner's home and spends its time exploring the surrounding area. A wild tiger has a natural environment. Depending on the species, you can find them in sub-tropical forests, freshwater swamps, temperate forests or in a mountainous habitat. Also, a tiger is the only type of cat that likes to swim. All other types of cats, including a tabby, do not like water.
Feeding Habits
Both cats are carnivores. However, the diet of a tabby depends on what its owner feeds it, while the tiger has to look for its own food. A tabby likes raw meat and fish, as well as manufactured cat food. A tiger will hunt for its food in the wild and eats animals including elk and boars.
Relationship with Humans
An important difference between a tabby and a tiger is its relationship with humans. If a tabby cat is domesticated, it will have a good relationship with a human and show affection. Cats have been domesticated for 5,000 years. On the other hand, a tiger is a loner. It shuns interaction with people, and has been known to kill humans.