Cat Breeds Mackerel Tabby
The first tabby pattern to appear in domestic cats was the mackerel tabby.
Cat breeds mackerel tabby. From the norwegian forest cat to the maine coon. People sometimes call the average domestic cat a tabby but tabby is not a cat breed it is actually the pattern of kitty s coat. Tanned tabby cats can also come in varying patterns such as classic mackerel and even dotted. So a mackerel tabby cat pattern can appear on many different cat breeds.
The characteristic m mark can be found on their forehead. It is believed to have originated from the european wildcat and the african wildcat both of which have a faint striped tabby pattern. However many cats of distinguished breeding boast the striking tabby coat. And it happens to be the most common of all the feline coat.
When these breeds were mixed the mackerel tabby coat became more distinct and was available in all domestic cats. Tabby cats are some of the most common cats in the world. Tabby cats with gray markings are also pretty common and equally striking because of the m on their foreheads. American bobtails persians scottish folds norwegian forest cats and munchkins are among the most likely breeds to have tabby coloring.
The colorpoint shorthair was a breed created by crossing siamese with abyssinian and other red coated domestic cats. The breed comes in many color points including lynx points that are also known as tabby. Domestic shorthairs the most common of non pedigreed housecats often have tabby markings as well. There are interlacing dark thinner lines that mimic the look of fish bones which is where the term mackerel derives from.
Tabby cats with orange markings are most prevalent amongst male cats. The manx cat the scottish fold cat the american short hair british short hair oriental short hair cat siberian cat exotic short hair cat and the persian cat. A tabby is any domestic cat felis catus with a distinctive m shaped marking on its forehead stripes by its eyes and across its cheeks along its back and around its legs and tail and differing by tabby type characteristic striped dotted lined flecked banded or swirled patterns on the body neck shoulders sides flanks chest and abdomen. The mackerel tabby is a domestic type of feline that sports a fur coat pattern that begins with a dark background of gray or orange hue with darker stripes that run vertically down the torso of the cat s body.
The tail as well as the legs of the classic tabbies usually have broad bands and their belly or stomach contains a row of vest button blotches.