A tabby is any domestic cat (Felis catus) that has a coat featuring distinctive stripes, dots, lines or swirling patterns, always together with a mark resembling an 'M' on its forehead. Tabbies are not a cat breed. The tabby pattern is found in many breeds, and is a genetic landrace common among the general mixed-breed population. Harrison William Weir (May 5, 1824 - January 31, 1906) was an English gentleman and artist. In 1889, he wrote Our Cats and All About Them describing and illustrating the pedigree varieties of the time.