Tabby is a type of dark-striped coat pattern found in both domestic and wild cats. Its appearance can vary from stripes and spots to spirals and more.
There are four distinct coat patterns found on tabby cats and a fifth one formed by any four basic markings in a patched pattern. Let’s take a look at each one.
Classic Tabby
The classic tabby has a marble coat coloring. It’s frequently referred to as having swirled or bulls-eye patterns.
The stripes on these tabbies are wider than the mackerel tabby’s stripes and have a circular pattern on their sides.
Mackerel Tabby
These kitties have vertical stripes running parallel on either side of their bodies. There is usually one large stripe going down the cat’s spine and several thinner lines.
These felines also have rings around their tails and legs, and bands of stripes around their bodies. It may look like your kitty is wearing pinstripe pajamas – how adorable!
Ticked Tabby
A ticked tabby (otherwise known as an agouti tabby cat) has no stripes or spots on its coat. However, if you look closely at their individual hairs, you’ll notice that each of them has bands of dark and light coloring on it.
Spotted Tabby
Spotted tabbies don’t have stripes but rather spots. If your fur baby’s spots have a dark outline with a lighter color in the center, these spots are called rosettes.