There’s no denying that the tabby cat is quintessential to the felis domesticus lineup. Where in the world would we be without our swirled, spotted, and striped kitties? Let’s take a look at some of the interesting facts and the millennia of folklore surrounding the tabby cat.
Reminder: Tabby isn’t a breed
Some of you may be surprised to learn that the term “tabby” does not refer to a type of breed. Instead, “tabby” encompasses all cats that share the agouti gene, which results in one of four distinct coat patterns. The tabby pattern is so ubiquitous, however, that it can be found in a number of recognized cat breeds today. Tabbies also come in many different colors, the most common of which include orange (also called ginger or red), grey, brown, and cream.
Mackerel tabby cat
Striped, a.k.a.“mackerel,” is the most common tabby pattern. Narrow stripes run parallel on the cat’s body coat, sometimes gently curving, other times breaking up into bars and spots. Sometimes referred to as “tiger” cats, mackerel tabbies also feature an “M” shape on the center of the forehead.
Associated breeds: Domestic Shorthair, European Shorthair, Maine Coon, Toyger
Classic tabby cat
The classic tabby pattern is swirled, blotched, or marbled, giving the cat a tie-dyed or bullseye look. Like the mackerel tabby, the classic tabby has dark bars on the legs, tail, and cheeks, along with the telltale “M” shape on the forehead.
Associated breeds: American Shorthair, Domestic Shorthair, Maine Coon
Ticked tabby cat
The ticked tabby is stripeless. Instead, the coat features agouti hairs, or individual hairs that are striped with alternating light and dark bands, that give the cat a “salt-and-pepper” or “sand” appearance. The ticked pattern is primarily displayed on Abyssinian cats.
Associated breeds: Abyssinian, British Shorthair, Devon Rex, Domestic Shorthair, Oriental Shorthair, Scottish Fold, Somali
Spotted tabby cat
The spotted tabby features a mackerel or classic pattern where the stripes are broken up into random spots all over the back and flanks. These spots can be large or small, and are almost always darker than the background fur.
Associated breeds: Bengal, Domestic Shorthair, Egyptian Mau, Ocicat, Pixie-bob, Savannah
Bonus: Patched tabby cat
What do you get when you cross a tabby and tortie cat, or a tabby and calico? A “torbie” and a “caliby,” respectively. The patched tabby typically features patches of brown and orange tabby patterns, with markings often more apparent on the legs and head.
Associated breeds: American Shorthair, Birman, British Shorthair, Cornish Rex, Domestic Shorthair, Exotic Shorthair, Japanese Bobtail, Manx, Norwegian Forest Cat, Persian, Siberian, Turkish Van
How do tabby patterns form?
A 2021 study published in Nature Communications answers the question that has puzzled geneticists for decades: how do cats get their stripes, spots, and swirls?
Researchers discovered that the gene Dkk4 actually “maps” a pattern of thick and thin skin during fetal cat development. Thick patches with more Dkk4 expression are later covered with darker fur, while thin patches with less Dkk4 expression are later covered with lighter fur. This thick-thin skin variation can be detected even before embryos develop hair follicles!
Remember how the “ticked” tabby pattern is primarily displayed on Abyssinian cats? This happens because mutations in the gene Dkk4 result in shorter, thinner strokes of color.
These findings likely explain how coat patterns are formed on big cats, too, such as tiger stripes, cheetah spots, and cougar ticks.
Tabbies may be the world’s “original” cats
According to Catster, feline geneticists confirmed “five genetic clusters, or lineages, of wildcats from various parts of the world (such as Africa, Europe, China, Central Asia, and the Middle East) and dating back some 10,000 years to be the ancestors of today’s ubiquitous domestic tabbies.”
It’s no big stretch to say that these wildcats’ built-in camouflage of spots and stripes helped pave the way for their continued existence and evolution. Tabbies descended with these important physical traits intact. (Important for the outdoor tabbies, anyway!)
What does the “M” mean on a tabby cat?
One of the most distinctive aspects of the tabby cat is the “M” shape on the forehead. A curious amount of folklore exists around this particular feature, stretching back thousands of years.
Mark of Mau
Ancient Egyptians called cats “Mau” (sounds suspiciously like “meow,” does it not?). These ancients believed the “M” was a reference to Mau, or that the mark represented the sacred scarab beetle.
Away in a manger
There are a few variations of a Christian legend involving a tabby cat, the baby Jesus, and the Virgin Mary. One says that when the baby Jesus wouldn’t stop crying in his manger, a tabby cat climbed inside and started to purr, giving him warmth and comfort so that he could sleep; in thanks, Mary marked the tabby’s forehead with the first letter of her name. Another tells the story of Mary once again marking a tabby in this way, except it was because the cat killed a venomous snake that had been sent to bite the baby Jesus. Still others say Mary was not involved at all—that the tabby is simply blessed for comforting a child in need.
Muhammad’s sleeve
One tale involving the prophet Muhammad speaks of a tabby cat that fell asleep on the prophet’s sleeve. Rather than disturb the sleeping feline, he cut off his sleeve when he went to pray. The cat later warned him of danger, so Muhammad blessed him in thanks, thus marking the tabbies with an “M”. Legend also claims that Muhammad gave cats the ability to always land on their feet. Even today, cats are generally protected and respected in the Islamic world, and are even permitted inside mosques.
Simply frown lines?
Finally, others suggest that the “M” is a set of frown lines—the result of a cat staring at a mousehole in concentration, waiting for a mouse to emerge. Whatever the case, we love this striking yet adorable tabby cat feature!
What is a tabby cat’s personality?
Coat patterns are unlikely to influence a cat’s personality. Therefore, a tabby cat can have any personality under the sun! You’ll likely see certain personality traits depending on a tabby cat’s breed. For example, we know that Abyssinians, American Shorthairs, Bengals, British Shorthairs, Devon Rexes, Maine Coons, Savannahs, and Scottish Folds are commonly considered tabbies. Let’s break down each of those by typical personality traits:
- Abyssinian cat personality: Energetic, loyal, affectionate, but not a lap cat
- American Shorthair cat personality: Adaptable, moderately active, sociable
- Bengal cat personality: Highly active, intelligent, talkative, friendly
- British Shorthair cat personality: Mellow, easygoing, devoted, but not a lap cat
- Devon Rex cat personality: Attention-seeking, smart, moderately active, mischievous
- Maine Coon cat personality: Good-natured, adaptable, friendly, but not a lap cat
- Savannah cat personality: Active, adventurous, confident, friendly, clever
- Scottish Fold cat personality: Sweet, smart, cuddly, moderately active
What are the best tabby cat names?
If you’re looking for tabby cat names, you can’t go wrong with “Tabby” (the name of one of Abraham Lincoln’s White House-residing cats!) or “Tabitha.” You could also name your tabby after their coat pattern, like “Stripes,” “Tiger,” “Spot,” “Swirl,” “Sand,” “Marble,” “Patch,” or “Mack” (for mackerel). Or you could name your cat after a well-known tabby in pop culture! (More on that below.)
Tabby cats in pop culture
Tabby cats (particularly orange tabbies) commonly appear in movies, TV series, and even comic books. Check out some of our favorite tabby cat cameos below.
Tabby cats in comics/comic books:
- Garfield, Garfield
- Chewie, Captain Marvel
- Hobbes, Calvin and Hobbes
Tabby cats on TV:
- “Phoebe’s Mom,” Friends
- Spot, Star Trek
- Bast, American Gods
- Orange tabby from The Sopranos finale
Tabby cats in movies:
- Captain Marvel (2019)
- Coco (2017)
- Darkest Hour (2017)
- Keanu (2016)
- Inside Out (2015)
- The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014)
- Puss in Boots (2011)
- No Country for Old Men (2007)
- The Incredibles (2004)
- Men in Black (1997)
- Ghost (1990)
- The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986)
- Alien (1979)
- The Godfather (1972)
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
- Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
Can’t get enough of tabby cats? Check out our blog post on orange tabby cat facts.
The tabby pattern—which can include stripes, spots, swirls, and ticking—is relatively common among cats, particularly certain cat breeds.
Coat patterns are unlikely to influence a cat’s personality. You may see certain personality traits depending on a tabby cat’s breed. However, most cats have friendly personalities if they are exposed to human contact by 4-6 weeks of age.
Common cat breeds that display tabby patterns include the Domestic Shorthair, American Shorthair, Bengal, Maine Coon, Savannah, and Scottish Fold.
