Tabby Cats: Stripes, Swirls, Spots and the M on the Forehead

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 20, 20264 min read

If you picture a typical cat, you are probably thinking of a tabby. This pattern is the most common among domestic cats and is thought to be the original coat pattern of the species. It is the camouflage that helped the wild ancestors of our cats to hide in grass and shadows, and it has remained a favorite.

What is a tabby?

A tabby cat has a coat marked with stripes, swirls, spots or tiny speckles. The pattern comes from the agouti gene, which causes each hair to be banded with light and dark color. The tabby pattern is not a breed. It appears in domestic shorthairs, domestic longhairs and many breeds, such as the Maine Coon, American Shorthair, British Shorthair and Bengal. See domestic shorthair.

The word tabby may come from the name of a district in Baghdad where striped silk, called attabi, was made.

Features all tabbies share

• The M on the forehead. A marking like the letter M above the eyes. Folklore links it to the prophet Muhammad, the Virgin Mary or other legends, but it simply seems to be part of the pattern.
• Eyeliner markings around the eyes, and lines on the cheeks.
• Rings on the tail and often on the legs.
• Agouti hairs, with bands of color.

The five types of tabby

Mackerel. The most common type, with thin, parallel stripes running down the sides, like the bones of a fish. See also orange tabby cats.

Classic (blotched). Broad swirls, often forming a bullseye on the side. The classic pattern is common in the British Shorthair and in cats in the UK and parts of the US.

Spotted. Spots in place of stripes, as in the Bengal, Egyptian Mau and Ocicat. See the Egyptian Mau and Ocicat profiles.

Ticked (Abyssinian tabby). Each hair is banded, giving a speckled, sandy coat with few stripes except on the face, legs and tail. See the Abyssinian profile.

Patched (torbie). A tabby pattern mixed with patches of orange or cream, which gives a tortoiseshell look with stripes. See tortoiseshell cats and calico cats for related patterns.

Colors

Tabby patterns come in many colors: brown (black) tabby, blue (gray) tabby, red (orange) tabby, cream, silver, chocolate and cinnamon. See cat coat colors and patterns.

Do tabbies have a special personality?

Owners often describe tabbies as friendly, outgoing and easygoing, but there is no firm evidence that coat pattern determines temperament. Because tabbies are so common, they cover the full range of personalities. Orange tabbies in particular have a reputation for being affectionate, but it is anecdotal. See orange tabby cats and cat personality types.

Care and health

Tabbies need the same care as any cat. Their health depends on breed and ancestry, not coat. Provide a good diet, vaccines and vet care. See cat vaccination schedule and how much should I feed my cat. Groom according to coat length. See how to brush a cat.

Finding a tabby

Tabbies are plentiful in shelters and rescues. Meet the cat, and choose for personality. See adopting a cat from a shelter and how to choose a kitten.

Famous and historic tabbies

Because the tabby pattern is so common, it has appeared in art, stories and homes for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian paintings show striped cats, and the pattern has been found in cats in nearly every region where people have kept them. Genetic studies suggest the blotched or classic pattern spread more recently, while the mackerel pattern is the older wild type. That is why mackerel tabbies look so much like small wildcats. Many famous cartoon and storybook cats are tabbies, which helps explain why the word is used almost as a stand-in for the typical house cat. If you are choosing a cat, remember that all these colors and patterns are simply different versions of the same animal, and each one has the full range of personalities, from shy to bold, from lap cat to explorer.

Tabby kittens and changing patterns

Tabby kittens often look different from the adults they become. Their stripes may be faint at first, the M on the forehead is clear from birth, and coat color can deepen over the first year. Longhaired tabbies may seem to lose their stripes under fluffy fur, and ticked tabbies can look solid until the light catches them. If you are choosing a kitten, remember that the pattern you see at eight weeks may shift, but temperament shows through in play and handling. Watch how the kitten responds to people, noise and new toys. See kitten growth and development week by week to know what to expect as your kitten grows, and plan its first checkup early.

When to see a vet

See a vet within a few days of adoption and whenever your cat seems unwell. Use the US vet directory to find a clinic.