Because of the common mackerel tabby pattern, many tabby cats are often named Tiger. This cat is a Brown Mackerel Tabby Maine Coon Cat. The solid stripes on the body go from the spine to the belly. This pattern does not have a butterfly, but it does have thinner spine lines than a Classic Tabby. Other tabby cats may be completely covered in their distinct pattern without an ounce of white. The Mackerel Tabby pattern is defined by stripes instead of swirls. Tabby cats are the most common cats you may see walking around your neighborhood and some have white bellies or a white muzzle with their tabby coat primarily on their back and tail. They are sweet and gentle by nature but can become angry if they don’t get their way. Many people adore the M head and markings that tabby cats have and describe the tabby cats as an intelligent, cuddly, and friendly cat. Tabby cats are usually domestic short-haired cats and can come in a variety of colors and sizes. Abyssinian cats have the ticked pattern on their fur. Each of the individual hairs will have a change in the color from the root to the tip. There is a ghost-like strip or barring that is often seen on the lower legs, face, and belly. Ticked tabby pattern is a pattern where the hairs have distinct bands of color of them that break up the pattern into a salt and pepper appearance. There are large and small spots that you can see on certain breeds like the Egyptian Mau and Ocicat. There is a central line that runs along the spine of the cat. Mackerel tabby cat: The resemblance with a fish skeleton is the reason why cat owners call it mackerel tabby. They are popularly known as a blotched tabby cat in some regions.

It may be thought of a modification to the mackerel pattern so the stripes appear more as spots. Most of the American shorthair cats show this type of pattern. For example, a cat can be orange and white bicolor with tabby stripes (as seen below.

The spotted pattern may not feel or look like a true pattern on a cat. Patterns can appear in many colors, and cats can have multiple patterns. Other colors do not change names, but all have distinct red or cream undertones. The legs and tails are often heavily barred and the pattern varies with the width of the bands. Cinnamon tabby is called sorrel, and is red with cinnamon ticking. It is the most common pattern.Ĭlassic tabbies also have a “M” forehead but the body markings are whirls and swirls with wide stripes that are sometimes described as a butterfly pattern. The colors of red or cream are intermingled. Mackerels sometimes have a peppered nose, black spots that appear along the pink tip of the nose. The patched tabby pattern occurs in female cats that are first of all, mackerel, classic, spotted or ticked tabbies. There is also often an “M” shape on the forehead of the cat. The stripes are narrow and may break into spots or smaller bars on the stomach and flanks. The mackerel patter is vertical curving stripes on the side of the body.

Mackerel tabby cat white belly