| Cabbit | |
|---|---|
 Composite Image Created from Public Domain Wikimedia Commons Images | |
|
Real Name |
Cabbit |
|
Earliest Recorded Appearance |
An Historical and Statistical Account of the Isle of Man (1845) by Joseph Train |
|
Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
The cabbit is a mythical creature combining the features of a cat and a rabbit - a name coined from the portmanteau of "cat" and "rabbit." Such hybrids never existed in reality; alleged sightings are either hoaxes or misidentified Manx cats with taillessness and hopping gait due to genetic mutations.
The earliest mention dates back to 1845, when antiquarian and poet Joseph Train speculated that Manx cats were cat–rabbit hybrids; an incorrect assertion considering it is biologically impossible for cats and rabbits to interbreed due to vast genetic differences. In the 1970s, a "cabbit" surfaced in New Mexico and was showcased on The Tonight Show, later explained as a cat with a deformed pelvis.
Other odd reports and media features persisted, but none provided real biological validation.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Cabbits from before January 1, 1931 are public domain in the US.
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- An Historical and Statistical Account of the Isle of Man (1845)
Notes[]
- Ryo‑Ohki from the sci-fi/harem manga series Tenchi Muyo! is probably the most iconic cabbit in pop culture. Other appearances include the video game character Klonoa published by Namco Limited, Berry Shirayuki of Tokyo Mew Mew, and the 2010 supernatural drama series Lost Girl.
- The creature gained Internet fame in late 2019 when Instagram artist @koty_vezde posted an image of a gray cat-rabbit hybrid (identified as a "cunny").