The Court Musician Has Arrived for the Royal Concert. He's a Tabby.
A violin rests gracefully in one gloved paw, the bow in the other, and a silver tabby gazes out with calm, golden-green eyes. This court musician is dressed for a royal concert: a deep navy velvet coat with gleaming gold epaulettes, a richly embroidered golden waistcoat and a frothy white cravat tied neatly at the throat. Bold tabby stripes swirl across his face, and his whiskers are perfectly groomed. Behind him, a carved stone pillar with a laurel wreath and heavy green drapery set the stage for an evening performance.
The gray tabby pattern is one of the most familiar looks among domestic shorthair cats. Tabby is not a breed but a coat pattern, recognized by stripes, swirls or spots, and many tabbies have a distinctive M-shaped marking on the forehead. Domestic shorthairs are wonderfully varied in personality, from mellow lap cats to curious adventurers. Interestingly, many cats respond to music, and some seem calmer with soft, gentle sounds playing nearby, while loud noises can stress them. If you share your home with a cat, keeping volume moderate and giving them a quiet retreat is always considerate.
Musicians held a special place at royal courts in the early nineteenth century, and portraits of the era often showed them with their instruments as a mark of skill and status.
One can only imagine the concert: elegant, refined, and with at least one break for a nap in the sun.
