
Brown Mackerel Tabbies also usually have a dark end color for their tail.


The brown shade may also look like bronze at some point because it is a combination of dark brown (that resembles black) and light brown (which is kind of like cream or tan). It’s easy to spot them because of their frequency in a clowder (a group of cats). The Brown Mackerel Tabby is probably one of the most common colors that you’ll see in the streets. This color might be a bit confusing to describe, but it does exist as a Mackerel Tabby color out there. Technically, breeders call them “blue” despite the gray color appearance. Sometimes called a Gray Mackerel Tabby Cat, this coat has a mix of light gray and dark with slight hints of cream and tan on their undercoat. The Mackerel Tabby Cat often comes in these prominent colors: Blue So, how do you know if you have a Mackerel Tabby Cat? Well, the chances of having this cat are very likely since they are quite common and are seen in a variety of breeds (not just mixed breeds or shorthairs). You’ll also see the M-shaped markings on the forehead of the cat. The patterns may come in various colors and some of them might be a bit darker than others. This coat pattern is characterized by a fishbone design due to its stripes, which is the raison d’être for its name. Mackerel Tabby Cats aren’t exactly a breed – they’re a coat pattern that’s commonly found in the Domestic Shorthair (also known as puspin in the Philippines or moggies in the UK). Many cats can develop liver and kidney troubles as they get older so it’s important to visit a vet regularly in order to make sure they are in good health.You may find an association between cats and fish – the Mackerel Tabby Cat is, surprisingly, one of them, due to how they’re named. It’s also a good idea to bathe cats during shedding season. Most cats are very clean and enjoy being well-groomed but it is wise to regularly brush and pet the cat to remove dead fur and debris. But tabby cat owners can usually expect a very friendly cat who enjoys daily attention from their owners and does not like to be left alone for long periods of time. Most breeds of tabby have tails that are tapered lightly and have soft fur although certain breeds will have bushier tails and others strong, stiff tails.Ĭats are known to be very curious and aloof but tabby cats can present a variety of personality traits dependent on their breed, early socialization and their home environment. The eye and ear shape and color will vary with the breed, so they can each look very different from each other. Their coats, as mentioned above, will be a blend of swirls, whorls and stripes. No matter what the particular breed, an adult cat will usually not grow to be more than 18 pounds. Tabby cats can range in size according to the breed. In other words, they have been around for thousands of years! The Maine Coon and Abyssinian cats are very much known for showing the tabby pattern and it is thought that up to half of the domesticated cats in the world could be counted as tabby cats. The color variation often causes them to shimmer in the sunlight.Įven cats that appear to be solid colored if you see them in the sun will often have some tabby striping on them. This means different bands of color down the length of the cat’s individual hairs. Spotted: Some tabbies will have a spotted color pattern that is close to the look of an American Bobtail.Īgouti: Agouti hairs are present in most tabby cats, although more prominent in some than others. You can usually find bands of solid or broken stripes running down the sides of their bodies as well. This usually involves striped rings around their tail and legs and a necklace or stripes around the front of their chests. Mackerel: The most common type of tabby pattern is the Mackerel, or striped. Often there is a very high color contrast here. There are a few different types of tabby patterns:Ĭlassic: The classic tabby pattern will typically have whirls ending in a target on the side of a cat. Many different cat breeds sport a tabby-type coat, such as a calico or tortoiseshell cat with tabby patches.

Tabby is a color pattern that usually presents in stripes but can also be stripes and whirls of color or even spots and stripes. The name “tabby cat” brings to mind many different things - but the fact is that they are not actually a breed in and of themselves.
