My very first pair were unrelated tabbies. Catster is a cat magazine and cat website where cat lovers come together and get expert advice about cat behavior, cat health and cat news. A brown tabby has black stripes against a brown and gray background; it's your typical "tiger cat" and the wild type coloration of the wildcat. It will also have black outlines around its nose and eyes. Am I a gray tabby? So how do our cats get that beautiful tabby pattern? There are quite a few varieties of tabby patterns (see all of them here! Note: in this part, I will dive into the genetics behind the tortie color. So, today we will only touch on those that create the tabby pattern and brown color. She is the most adventurous playful cat I have ever had. Cats called brown tabby are genetically black tabby, Image of an agouti hair By Kersti - CC BY 2.5, The nose is pinkish and outlined with darker pigment. Your email address will not be published. He sticks to us like Velcro and just dozes when I file his nails. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Mine are black tabbys and Ive never seen it before and Ive been searching trying to find out. Many tabby cats have the trademark M created by the stripes on the tabbys forehead. These dog training tips will help you get started. The Happy Cat Site is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, The Happy Cat Site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Swirls, spots, and stripesoh my! While they often arent considered necessary, cat trees are absolutely recommended for any cat. The mackerel pattern has narrow stripes that look similar to the bones of a fish - hence the name of the pattern. The most common health conditions reported by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance pet parents with Tabby cats are hyperthyroidism, vomiting, urinary trouble, upset stomach, and weight loss. Your email address will not be published. at that time I had 7 Mackerel adult Cats and another male of another breed, then 3 kitten Mackerel's. While they may be referred to as tiger cats, the actual coat coloring of a tiger, an orange ground with black stripes, does not appear on Felis catus, or domestic cats. Brown mackerel tabbies have black patterns over a heat brown or bronze base shade. As with tigers and their stripes or cheetahs and their spots, domestic tabby cats, too, are known for their distinct coat patterns. 2. Please view our privacy policy for details on how we use your information. However, if you breed two agouti cats, its possible to get solid kittens.As explained in this article on red cats, the orange gene is dominant over the non-agouti genotype. Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties: I know my cat is a tabby, I just dont know what color tabby he is. only way i can actually describe my two tabbies. In the typical form, there are separate patches of brown tabby and red tabby on the same animal. Bella: The ticked tabby has bands of stripes on each individual fur. This is the term used to describe a tortoiseshell (also called tortie) tabby. All Rights Reserved. And just like the saying, a tiger cant change his stripes, its impossible to resist the cuteness thats at the core of all mackerel tabby cats. Am I a brown tabby? Depending on their size and age, theyll need around 20-30 minutes of interactive exercise per day. The ticked pattern is displayed prominently in Abyssinians but also appears in mixed breeds. Siouxsie: Then theres the orange tabby, sometimes known as a marmalade cat, which has very bright orange-reddish stripes on a medium orange background. Give us your guesses in the comments and tell us about the tabby cats youve known and loved. Patches may be mingled or distinct. ExcitedCats is reader-supported. Due to their natural tabby pattern, these cats are excellent at hiding behind foliage. Dimock says an "M" shape on the forehead is characteristic of all tabby cats. I have 9 cats all together lol theyre all rescues, but only 4 are tabbies. TheKitschyCorner. Drinking dirty water can make us sick, so if the water smells bad or stale, we might avoid it. The tabby pattern can sometimes still be seen on some solid-color cats, especially on kittens, and its referred to as ghost markings. It stands for "Me". 'in)F4|B2*>|!#($z!$D}HkEIeAWBQ?6c4ccP<%^i[(}HsQ~)E3\"p[XPP#LLj$JIy0}QZa}Q(#}CEn_MH&. 7 Genes that Control Your Cats Fur Color, Cat Genetics: Facts on 6 Unusual Coat Colors and Patterns. If you have a mackerel brown tabby, we would love to hear more about your kitty. Loads of different breeds, and mixed breeds, can have the tabby coat pattern. Right, but while they are not agouti (they don't have any agouti hairs), they still genetically carry a tabby pattern!In fact, there are different genes at play in tabby cats: one that determines if the cat is agouti or solid, and others that determine the tabby pattern of the cat. Not so fast! He was trapped in a community of feral cats cleanup. In one litter, there are extremely friendly tabbies, extremely shy tabbies and everything in between. Siouxsie: Youd think it would be easy to tell what color a cat is, but everybody seems to see a different color when they look at a tabby cat. Still others believe it is the blessing of the Virgin Mary. Brown ticked tabby (without legs and tail banding) from @patrickcatson, On the left a blue solid and on the right a blue mackerel tabby from @loki.mojo. tzc-u56UA/^W0[>!|6Kw^Us_kzW+wyvv>;GV?Z\?`xB~);f9Ce|L'HLtmMWj"y%!MO~a0.sKf"!S!C{p69*Nl~uTfqa~?#!jF4{4$,~ZAOGWitc5}n (GWxe94uvsaDn-}sb`h'?a;On E ^s)o}Dn[cWi7rSwAsz rQb_}2+d{:(~j9aN{q1 See if you can figure out which tabby your cat is: The classic tabby has bold, swirling patterns along his sides much like a marble cake. "Because of this, most cat breeds today have tabby genes even if they do not show any tabby patterning.". My Wendy was one too! Or better yet socialize them early to avoid wrecking items too easily when theyre older! My best companion, even over my husband Dont tell him. Gorgeous Pair of Vintage Cat Lover Mugs ~ Brown Mackerel Tabby Siberian and Abyssinian. The French called it tabis and in the early 17th century, it made its way to English as tabby. She was said to be a bullseye tabby, as she had stripes in big spirals on her sides. The Mackerel tabby is by far the most common cat coat pattern with the brown Mackerel tabby being the one you'll spot the most. I see a lot more mackerel tabbies than blotched tabbies! Eizirik, Eduardo et al. Tabby is a striped pattern that occurs in multiple colors. The patterns may come in various colors and some of them might be a bit darker than others. The best way to get a healthy cat is to choose a reputable breeder. A Bengal black smoke with rosette ghost marking from @leap_of_faith_bengals. I learned a lot and we just connected with our temporary Mackerel Tabby's forever family (for the last 5 years), so they could bring their kitty home. 7. Like most tabby cats, the Mackerel Tabby has an M-shaped pattern on their forehead, which has a lot of origin stories. Brown tabbies have a warm brown or bronze tone to their background color with black stripes. If you are interested in learning more about Caring for your cat is easier said than done. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms. They also have the characteristic M marking on their forehead, along with dark stripes crossing vertically up toward their ears and dark lines crossing from the corners of their eyes. We make no pretense of being veterinarians and we don't know anything about your specific cat's health or behavior history. A plus: she has a great sense of humor. Many people wonder whether a cats coat color and pattern will have an impact on its health. 8 Reasons for This Behavior, Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food? Others think the M stands for Mohammed, who loved tabbies. Siouxsie: Speaking of stripes, tabby cats with narrow stripes like Thomas are called mackerel tabbies or tiger cats back in New England where we came from. Grey tabbies are known for their lovely temperament and adorable appearance. One a tuxedo the other a Russian Blue type with muted stripes. Paws and Effect will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Tortoise Shell Colorations Random color distribution among varying shades of red, black, and cream. A way to extend your cats lifespan is to keep them indoors most of the time with proper pampering. 0 It consists of narrow stripes that start at the dark stripe along their spines and run vertically down towards their tummies. Classic tabby blotching is caused by the Tb gene, and ticking is caused by Ta. The owners and operators of Paws and Effect will not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages or loss in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing, performance, or use of the instructions, suggestions or products on this website. Still, certain cat breeds are more known for their tabby patterns than others. All the others went to a local no kill shelter, just broke my heart. 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 bodyneck, shoulders, sides, flanks, chest, and abdomen. read more about these historical debates here. 184,1 (2010): 267-75. doi:10.1534/genetics.109.109629, Kaelin, Christopher B et al. A Mackerel Tabby was once the world's fattest cat The Guinness Book of World Records once awarded Himmy, an Australian Mackerel Tabby, as the world's fattest cat. When a cat has a tabby pattern, the dark markings are made of solid hairs of the . However, many cats of distinguished breeding boast the striking tabby coat: from the Norwegian Forest Cat to the Maine Coon. Amazing little boy and it was an amazing rescue. Although deafness has been linked to white color coats in cats, the brown mackerel pattern has not been linked to an increased risk in health conditions. This is incorrect. Cat Nail Biting: What to Do If Your Cat Chews & Pulls His Claws, Why Is My Kitten So Hyper? The Tabby cat locus maps to feline chromosome B1.Animal geneticsvol. What You Need to Know! Tabby cats need plenty of fresh, clean water. There are four tabby patterns recognized: mackerel, classic, spotted and ticked. Get tips and exclusive deals. On the left a black ticked tabby (with legs banding) and on the a black tortie tabby from @twomanylegs. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Tabbies can also be a part of another basic coat pattern such as calico or tortoiseshell. We are working in fattening him up. The Science Behind the Fur: What Makes Black Cats Black? JJ (female) was a silver tabby, also with beige striping. Of course, Tabby markings can occur in almost any breed, so this is somewhat of a generalization, but most Tabby owners will attest to their uniquely loving and affectionate behavior! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/269a195f69a4a6debc4766b163198a9831335213ba2390ae6c47c53b948e8754.jpg, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/79b9537097df6018a831799d1b29a7c7f43b612a7eefef5fd920c966ddef417f.jpg, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/79b9537097df6018a831799d1b29a7c7f43b612a7eefef5fd920c966ddef417f.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/49b1598c208b233526104e4d73b258020833472e0276e70260664ea89a031707.jpg, This was very helpful. It was a joy for us to get to know him over the last 3 months or so. "This is due to their hair having multiple colors on each strand which 'dilutes' the distinct tabby markings.". Siouxsie: If you want to learn some cool stuff about the genetics behind cat fur, check out these articles Mama wrote for Catster: My first 2 were tabbies. Other colours include cream tabbies and blue tabbies. This breed has an additional tabby pattern because it was hybridized with wild cats: this brought new genes for the new tabby pattern. So, as A is dominant, if the cat is A/A or A/a, it will be agouti. Generally, tabbies are known for being sweet, outgoing, and social. And it happens to be the most common of all the feline coat patterns. Black Tabby Cat Black tabbies come in a range of darker and lighter shades of black, always with the stripes being a darker black than the coat. 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). Let Catster answer all of your most baffling feline questions! Heres what you need to know about why cats purr and what your cat may be telling you when her motor is running. Youll also see the M-shaped markings on the forehead of the cat. It is not known whether these spots developed from a mackerel tabby or come from a separate gene. The mackerel tabby pattern is the most common type of tabby pattern. It reads All orange cats are tabby cats and vice versa.. We want to hear about him/her! We do our best to help you better understand your cats, but the information on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. A tortie who also carries the tabby gene is often called a torbie. I advise that you first read the introduction to genetics in this article. We can get dehydrated just like you. But, ticking is dominant over mackerel stripes. I never play with her with my hands so knew there was a reason! Siouxsie: And the spotted tabby looks a lot like a wild cat. The markings are usually more apparent on the legs and head. Think of it as a diluted brown tabby. A silver tabby usually has striking black stripes (unlike the gray tabby) against a much lighter gray or white background, but with no brown/red coloration in the coat (unlike the brown tabby) Hoss is all black; Cookie is a mackerel tabby with black markings over a golden tan base that is ticked with silver on the ends. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The term tabby refers to their striped fur pattern. Tabby cat personality traits. JJ was mostly a gray with silver and tan in her stripes. 300+ Cute Cat Names for Every Kind of Kitty. I just like the idea of being a black cat, thats all. These cookies do not store any personal information. They were mine for nearly 16 years, and died within 9 months of each other. So, how do you know if you have a Mackerel Tabby Cat? Brown mackerel tabbies will have black markings over a warm brown or bronze base color. So, mackerel is just one type of tabby pattern that cats can have. There are 4 distinct tabby patterns: Classic Tabby, Mackerel Tabby, Spotted Tabby and the Ticked Tabby. The Red Mackerel Tabby is yet another common color among pet owners who take and rescue cats from being strays. "M" marks the spot! The price depends on the pedigree of tabbies living conditions breed and health condition. Patched mackerel tabbies can have that mackerel pattern, but also patches of other color. If the cat has black stripes, its not a gray tabby, its a brown or silver tabby. I was told she was part Siamese. "A tabby cat generally refers to a randomly bred cat that has a pattern of stripes, swirls, spots, or blotches of coloration in the fur coat," Lyons says. Lets dive into tabby genetics. The tiger-stripe tabby pattern was dubbed mackerel because the stripes coming off of the cats spine resemble a fish skeleton. These are just a handful of shortcuts to identify a tabby cat, but they're not an exact set of rules: some ticked tabby, for example, don't have any leg and tail banding. She was the smartest, canniest cat Ive ever known. Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food? this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. If the cat is a/a, it will be solid. by The Paws and Effect Gang | Dec 28, 2014 | Fun Cat Facts | 16 comments. 6xSJ;v75KUj6H;Yx ~pO.DIY9mt;]/l. When your cat is often indoors, its easy to tell if theyre sick so that you can take them to the vet right away or give them first aid. This can give a salt-and-pepper effect to the coat.Nevertheless, residual bandings on the legs, tails, and torso might be present in some ticked tabbies. So mine are definitely grey tabbies. Note: Before reading this article, I recommend that you read the first article in the series on solid cat colors, as some of the genetic explanations are useful to understand this article.The previous articles in the series covered: A tabby cat is a cat that has agouti hairs. But mackerel tabbies can also come in the following colors: So, how does the brown mackerel tabby pattern come about? link to British Shorthair Vs Maine Coon Cat. But you can read more about these historical debates here. The Tabby pattern is caused by the agouti gene, which is characterized by individual hairs having bands of light and dark coloring, which can result in stripes, spots, or a combination of both. Eumelanin is the one we need to focus on. Thomas: Some tabbies have big, wide stripes that form round shapes on their sides. Ha Ha. Mackerel pattern tabbies have narrow stripes, reminiscent of a fish skeleton because they run parallel to one another. And, of course, theyre all individually lovable. Here are pictures of Katie who is darker gray and Spencer who was lighter gray. Siouxsie: The silver tabby has black stripes like a gray tabby, but the background color is a very light gray. Grooming Needs You have to regularly brush Mackerel tabbies to prevent mat and to distribute the oil through their fur so that they don't shed their undercoat fur. Nice article discussing the different basic tabby variants! Classic Tabbies usually have light-colored butterfly markings on their shoulders, with three distinctive stripes running down their backs along their spine, with the center stripe often being thicker and darker than the other two. Doesnt stop her from putting me in my place. Patched tabbies can show any one of the above four distinct tabby patterns. Red tabby: Dark red spots, stripes and whorls on a light red/cream background. Were focusing on the brown mackerel tabby today. This means that there are no distinct dark-colored markings on the cat's body. This site collects information via the use of cookies and through our email subscription form. From classic to celeb-inspired and funny to food-based, this list of cute cat names is sure to inspire your naming adventures. Definitely has the catitude and still acts feral. $24.99 (10% off) FREE shipping. Like all Tabbies, they have the characteristic M marking on their forehead, usually matching the color of the bands of darker color throughout their bodies. She was left behind from a neighborhood sweep that gathered and altered for adoption. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Maine coons often sport mackerel tabby coats, which, tabby or not, require monthly if not weekly bathing to stay silky and smooth. Insurance for dogs, cats, and other household animals can run as low as $20 a month, but that cost can add up over time. However, the information found on Excited Cats should not be viewed as veterinary advice. This tabby is called a blotched tabby in some regions. The grey tabby cat is one of the most recognizable domestic cats out there. Knows what they want . %%EOF Sometimes you can see those faint tabby markings on a solid-colored cat who is sitting in the bright sun. The poster child of the ticked tabby, the "tabby Aby" Abyssinian is lithe, elegant, and graceful, gliding through life eagerly at your heels. This feline sports the familiar tabby pattern as well as the "M-shaped" marking on the forehead; that's why they are also called tiger cats. Mackerel stripes are determined by the Tm gene at the T locus. Tabby patterns get determined by genes at the T locus. Tabby occurs in several colours, the most common are brown tabby, silver (grey) and orange . Are you embarrassed to have stripes? There is still much to learn about the genetic behind the different tabby patterns! The mark often looks like a bullseye and seen from above it can look like a butterfly pattern. Your email address will not be published. I cant see a way to post a pic, We got Cookie & her sister Hoss as 16 week old semi-feral siblings who were used to having food put out by humans but had never been handled. Now I know shes a brown tabby. The Classic Tabby and Mackerel Tabby are two popular and commonly found Tabby patterns, and in this article, well take a look at the unique differences between the two. So, if you simply want to get rodents out of the house, call a Mackerel Tabby Cat to do the job (and dont forget to reward them with the appropriate food afterward). A year ago on the 26th of this month, I had a house fire. Featured Image Credit: CNuisin, Shutterstock. Of all the tabby variations, the one most associated with traditional tabby markings is the mackerel tabby pattern. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Our litter-box needs to be big enough to use, and kept clean enough that we won't go elsewhere. All orange cats might be tabby cats, but not all tabby cats are orange cats. Overall, randomly bred mackerel tabby kittens will cost $100 or even less. For more information about our privacy practices please go here. You will find tabby cats in a vast array of coat colors as well, ranging including cream, cameo, lilac, seal, gray, silver, red, brown, golden, cinnamon, chocolate, blue and black smoke. Nonetheless, this is regarded by most veterinarians as a record thats not worth getting for because it compromises the cats overall health. Don't panic: the spotted Bengal may seem like she came straight from the jungle, but only part of her lineage came from a wild cat parent. If a cat is sp/sp, it has a normal mackerel or blotched tabby pattern. Some people were adamant to me that there was no such thing as a gray Tabby that theyre all brown tabbies. They are generally easy to train and can be house-trained in no time. If you look up close at the lighter parts of a tabbys coat, you will see that the individual hairs are striped with alternating light and dark bands, known as the agouti hairs. These cats are generally gentle, affectionate, and loving animals that have a long history of being close to humans. Brown Mackerel Tabby & White Devon Rex Female 2021-22 show season: International: 2nd Best of Breed GC, DW MAUREX PRINCE HAMI. Mackerel tabbies, or popularly known as "fishbone tabbies", are characterized with vertical stripes on the sides. The health of Tabby cats can vary depending on their breed, but their average life expectancy can be upward of 15 years. Although thoroughly researched, articles are not written or edited by a veterinarian. I think she's past the trauma of the fire, unlike me. These are kitties who have the same mother, most likely the same father, and are all nurtured in the same way.. I have 4 tabby cats,first theres Theodore a ginger mackerel tabby,then Cheshire a silver mackerel tabby,Lillian a buff and white marble tabby,and Minnie a brown tabby (not sure what pattern she has,but i posted a picture of her,i love her stripes!). 91 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<1A1F97E8AAB18541BD076F91FC36627D>]/Index[78 27]/Info 77 0 R/Length 75/Prev 236777/Root 79 0 R/Size 105/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream But from the pictures you posted the brown tabby is clearly Brown and the gray one is clearly Grey. Your cat receives one tabby gene from each parent. Finally, the last theorized gene (it could be that, in reality, it might be one unique gene but the influence of multiple polygenes) is the Spotted gene. I miss them. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In fact, the tabby pattern is the most common pattern seen on domestic cats around the world. Read Next: Siamese Cats Are Temperature-Sensitive Albinos, a.k.a. 5 Types of Tabby Cats and the Breeds That Flaunt Those Striking Patterned Coats. This also means that if you breed two solid cats, all their kittens will be solid. Cats with both tortoiseshell (aka tortie) and tabby patterns are designated the patched tabby, or "torbie." Your email address will not be published. Thats because tabby cats, during the 16th and 17th centuries, were commonly referred to as female cats owned by witches. The name comes from the mackerel fish, which also has vertical markings. ), but arguably the most popular is the mackerel tabby. I had a little girl that was a solid gray, but when the sun hit her fur, you could see some reddish stripes. Maybe a brown mackerel? The Brown Mackerel Tabby is probably one of the most common colors that youll see in the streets. Bengals are active and intelligent cats. If youre interested in learning more about the history of a specific cat breed you can take a look at our complete cat guides for more information. The background hair consists of light and dark bands, intermingled with dark lines, spots or swirls layered on top. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Stay informed! Mackerel Tabby Cat A mackerel. They both sleep on the bed now but black cat Hoss still doesnt like to be touched. Other cat colors or patterns may hide those tabby markings, but theyre always present. Cat colors are created through two pigments: eumelanin (black) and pheomelanin (red). Van is a bi-color pattern that features a mostly white cat with some color on the tail and top of the head. (I think she loves me though-her love language is just different- she stares and blinks at me from a safe distance ), My 6 month old Gracie May, Im told, is a Brown Mackerel! I will describe more in detail all the Bengal-specific tabby patterns in a detailed article on breed-specific cat colors. :RQ.8a}t%x4k|2F(-'hVq8ad_^fgfI xh>xV*^svm, Was so interested in learning about mackerel tabbies but still was confused when the pictures showed cats with large black swirls on their sides not stripes at all. Tabbies can be brown, gray, orange, or even black, and their markings include stripes, spots, whorls, and bands. Like all cat breeds, purebred or mixed, the Mackerel Tabby Cat will need sufficient exercise or at least time to play around and explore. Standing tall beneath their signature pointy ears and a coat of pure floof, their imposing size is no more than a mirage. Currently edited by. It doesnt refer to a single breed. I love stripes, especially yours! All cats, no matter their breed or patterning, require regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. Whats going on? Tabby cats (a.k.a. Both Classic Tabbies and Mackerel Tabbies can occur in any breed and can come in a wide variety of sizes and colors. Siberian kitten on black background Adorable black tabby with white Siberian cat kitten, laying down facing front. The spotted pattern, as its name indicates, is characterized by spots on the cat's body. Although the default color of this pigment is black, it can be turned into brown if your cat inherits the recessive b gene from both parents. They are sometimes referred to as tiger cats because their stripes resemble the only occurring-in-the-wild big cat with stripes, yes, Panthera tigris. 78 0 obj <> endobj Again, this pattern isnt common in regular cats, but Bengals, Savannahs and Ocicats have spotted tabby coats. She worked at Best Friends Animal Society for 12 years where she had two columns in the. But, this is just how the brown color happens. Lyons identifies the ticked tabby as the rarest of the group, with an Abyssinianor "tabby Aby" being a good example of the ticked trait in action. Make sure you kitten-proof your home because otherwise, they will destroy a lot of items around your house. The Mackerel Tabby has slender, curving stripes throughout their body, and these stripes may be broken into shorter segments resembling spots, especially on the belly and legs, or continue unbroken. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper. Think of how tigers easily blend into their surroundings to catch prey with ease. Now that we know the basics about the Mackerel Tabby Cat, lets take a look at some interesting facts/trivia about them: Did you know that the Mackerel pattern is the first tabby pattern recognized in domestic cats? Coats and Colors: How Does the Description Work? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154097099910313&l=1c4d16177f, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152688854980313&l=c921cf359f, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cc1f0530f080454017b3718b59af56252fe3e2124865dbbcf268ee320bf09ea3.jpg, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/439566cf922e42e873071739ee7ef7a99481612a14a569b55b219031bd271931.jpg, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/49b1598c208b233526104e4d73b258020833472e0276e70260664ea89a031707.jpg, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/be924924eb3fd21bea083337df39982c297e1955f0a876ab7b39d42e43e06081.jpg, https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c4e51b4c291d095f13896f69f181c58526631f8740f1ad09611c9092ccaeb625.jpg, Grey Tiger Cat Description - Rationality And Patience - Spiritual Unite. Lets start by taking a look at what a tabby cat is. The breed has evolved into a much-loved family pet, but their hunting instincts are still intact and should be stimulated with interactive toys and food puzzles regularly to keep them content.