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The tabby coat pattern and colour on cat can be incredibly varied! The "Tabby" term means dark markings (stripes, swirls, spots) on a paler background. The stripe colour is solid (goes right to the hair root), but the background colour is banded with colour on each individual hair.

There are actually four "types" of the tabby pattern: Ticked, Mackerel, Classic, and Spotted. There are variations on each of these types, and the Mackerel pattern usually has stripes all over the body, whereas a Classic pattern usually just has stripes on the tail and legs, with swirls and blotched patterns on the flanks. The Marbled pattern, for example, is a variation of the Classic pattern.

As well as patterns, the tabby coat can come in many colours:

  • Blue Tabby - Cream/ivory-blue base, slate blue markings.
  • Brown Tabby - Coppery-brown base, black markings.
  • Cameo Tabby - Cream base, pale red markings.
  • Chocolate Tabby - Ivory/white base, medium-dark brown markings.
  • Cream Tabby - Pale cream base, fawn/buff markings.
  • Lavender (Lilac) Tabby - Milky cream base, frosty grey markings.
  • Red Tabby - Pale red (ginger) base, deep red (ginger) markings.
  • Silver Tabby - Silver base, black markings. Silver Tabbies with coloured markings on a silvery background are called Blue Silver, Red Silver (aka Cameo Tabby) etc.
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Where did tabby cats come from?

Tabby is a naturally-occurring color pattern within cats. It has developed on its own over time, and while humans may have encouraged it by breeding cats for the tabby patter, it originally came from nature.


Tell you 8 types of cats?

Persian, Siamese, Manx, Cornish Rex, Silver tabby, red tabby, cobby, slender


Can tabby cats hunt?

Seeing as the term "Tabby" is coat pattern found on some cats and in several breeds, the size and personality of a tabby cat can be incredibly varied. A cat's hunting skill depends on the individual; some cats are very skilled in hunting, whereas other cats are not.


Cats with stripes?

Yes, cats can have stripes. This coat pattern is called "Tabby". "Tabby" is the only coat pattern found in domestic cats that can have stripes. The Tabby patterning is found on many cats: Dark markings (stripes, swirls, spots) on a paler background. The stripe colour is solid (goes right to the hair root), but the background colour is banded with colour on each individual hair. There are four basic types of tabby (ticked, mackerel, classic, spotted) with variations on each of these types, and the Mackerel pattern usually has stripes all over the body, whereas a Classic pattern usually just has stripes on the tail and legs, with swirls and blotched patterns on the flanks.


Can a cat be both a tabby and a tortoiseshell?

Cats with the Tabby coat pattern are incredibly common. The majority of moggies have some variation of the Tabby pattern, so it is safe to say there are far more Tabby cats than tigers in the world.

Related Questions

How many types of cat are there in the world and what are there names?

Tabby cats


How rare are female tabby cats compared to male tabby cats?

Female tabby cats are not necessarily rarer than male tabby cats, as the ratio of male to female tabby cats is generally equal.


Do tabby cats rock?

Yes Tabby cats rock...they are the best


How rare are female tabby cats?

Female tabby cats are not rare, as tabby coat patterns can occur in both male and female cats.


Are girl tabby cats rare?

No, girl tabby cats are not rare. Tabby cats can be male or female, and their gender does not affect their coloring or pattern.


Tabby cats are known for what types of distinctive marks?

They are known for the distinctive mark of an "M" on their forehead


Is this correct your red tabby is the more playfull of your three cats?

My red tabby is the playfulest of my three cats


How rare are female orange tabby cats?

Female orange tabby cats are relatively rare, as the orange coat color is more commonly found in male cats. Only about 20 of orange tabby cats are female.


Are Tabby cats a mix of cat breeds?

No, Tabby is a coat pattern


How can you tell the difference between a female and male tabby cat?

You can determine if a tabby cat is male or female by its color. Ginger tabby cats tend to be male while tortoiseshell tabby cats are female.


What type of cats?

there ar4e many types like Siamese, tabby, moggy (black and white) and Ginger etc!


How common are tabby cats?

Tabby cats are incredibly common. The tabby coat pattern can be found on many breeds of cat, but is particularly common in moggies/Domestic Shorthairs.