Often a mackerel tabby with a broken pattern resembles a spotted tabby. These spots can be large or small, and sometimes appear to be broken mackerel stripes. They branch out from one stripe that runs along the top of the cat’s back down the spine, resembling fish skeleton - which is why the term “mackerel” is used to describe it.Ī spotted tabby has spots all over his sides. Ideally the stripes are non-broken lines evenly spaced. This is what some people refer to as a “tiger cat.” The body has narrow stripes running down the sides in a vertical pattern. The pattern of circular blotches (or smudges) on the classic tabby’s body closely resembles a bullseye.Ī mackerel tabby has narrow stripes that run in parallel down its sides. It is called a “blotched tabby” in some regions. The classic tabby has bold, swirling patterns on its sides - much like a marble cake. See if you can figure out which tabby your cat is: There are five types of tabby coat patterns - each possessing its own unique markings. And have you ever seen a solid red or orange or cream cat without the familiar tabby markings? You won’t, because the gene that makes a cat red or cream also makes the tabby markings visible.Īll tabbies thin pencil lines on the face, expressive markings around the eyes, and the letter “M” on their forehead which some believe is the blessing of the Virgin Mary. Sometimes you can see those faint tabby markings on a solid-color cat who is sitting in the bright sun. Other colors and/or patterns may hide those tabby markings, but they’re always present. Technically speaking, no matter what color or markings you see on your cat, all felines possess the tabby gene. And in fact, it is the most common of all the feline coat patterns. People sometimes call the average domestic cat a Tabby, but tabby is not a breed - it is actually the pattern of kitty’s coat.
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