Tabby Cat - Tabby Patterns

Tabby Patterns

There are four tabby patterns that have been shown to be genetically distinct: Mackerel, Classic, spotted, and ticked.

A fifth includes tabby as part of another basic color pattern, the "patched" tabby, which may be a calico or tortoiseshell cat with tabby patches (the latter is called a "torbie").

All those patterns have been observed in random-bred populations. Several additional patterns are found in specific breeds. A modified Classic tabby is found in the Sokoke breed. Some are due to the interaction of wild and domestic genes. Rosetted and marbled patterns are found in the Bengal breed.