And, that’s how this kitty got mackerel in its name! You will often find Maine Coon cats with mackerel tabby cat markings. To some, these lines resemble the ribs of a fish skeleton. Mackerels (also known as striped tabbies) have thin lines that run vertically down their sides, legs, and even tail. So, how do you recognize a mackerel tabby? It may not be called the ‘classic tabby,’ but the mackerel tabby is actually the most common tabby pattern. That means it takes two cats with the classic tabby traits to make this kitty. These lines extend down Tabby’s spine as well.įun fact: Despite its ‘classic tabby’ name, this kind of tabby is actually caused by a recessive gene. Sometimes, these swirly lines can even look like a bullseye.Ī classic tabby also has three broad lines around its neck that some call a necklace. These swirling patterns are dark and bold, making a clear contrast on a kitty’s fur. What Are The Different Types of Tabby Cat Markings?Īlso known as a ‘blotched’ tabby, the classic tabby has distinct ‘whorls’ on its sides. These genes do not affect a tabby’s personality – these genes are solely expressed in a kitty’s fur patterns. Yet, only certain cats show certain tabby cat genes. Technically speaking, all cats are tabbies. What we do know for sure is that a Tabbies genetics tell us these are ancient kitties. While others believe it has religious origins – standing for Mohammed the Prophet or Mother Mary. Some say it stands for ‘Mau,’ or cat in Egyptian. This mark is what makes tabbies exceptionally unique.

To know if a cat is for sure a tabby, you have to search for the letter M on its forehead. From the Persian to the Turkish Angora, cats with Tabby markings have existed all over the world. Wild cats have long had the tabby pattern, evolving from their ancestor’s classic stripes. Tabby cats have been around for centuries. So what are the different types of tabby cat markings? And, how did they evolve? Let’s dive into all the fun tabby cat facts. That’s how you can identify a true tabby cat.

Yet, what makes Tabby cats unique is the letter M pattern on their forehead. What may be confusing is that many breeds have these Tabby markings. In fact, there are 5 different kinds of tabby cat markings.

The Tabby refers to the specific coat pattern on a cat. With so many of them, many people assume the Tabby is a cat breed on its own.

Classic tabby