Tabbies

Tabbies

These cats are the same colors as the solid cats. The only difference is the addition of stripes - called tabby markings. The silver tabby is the only tabby that does not also come in solid. Silver is a variation of black that is only seen in tabbies.

Even within each of these colors, there is a wide range of differences. Some reds have a deep, mahogony color while others are very light. Blues can have a very light, powdery blue shade or be almost a navy blue.

All tabby patterns are usually more distinct on a shorthaired cat than on a longhaired cat.

Many people think that all tabbies are also with white. A very common feature of all the tabby patterns is a white chin. Tabbies also have white around their eyes that is called "eye liner".

Mackerel Tabby
The most common tabby pattern is named after the fish! A good description of the vertical stripes that are parallel on the cat's sides. Some people also refer to mackerel tabbies as "the guys in the pinstripe suits"!


Silver Mackerel Tabby	Red Mackerel Tabby

Brown Mackerel Tabby

The very small amount of white on this fine fellow does not mean that he would be registered as a "with white". The spot on his neck is called a locket. He also has a little bit of white on his toes!

Brown Mackerel Tabby


Red and a Cream Mackerel Tabby	Blue and a Brown Mackerel Tabby

Blue Mackerel Tabby

Classic Tabby
Often referred to as a swirled or bulls-eye pattern. The stripes are much wider than a mackerel tabby's stripes with a circular pattern on the sides. These tabbies will often have broad stripes running down the middle of their back.

Silver Classic Tabby


Brown Classic Tabby	Brown Classic Tabby


Cream Classic Tabby	Red Classic Tabby


Red & Brown Classic Tabby	Blue Classic Tabby

Spotted Tabby
Instead of lines that create a pattern, spotted tabbies have small individual spots.


Silver Spotted Tabby	Blue Spotted Tabby


Brown Spotted Tabby	Cream Spotted Tabby

Bengals have a brown color and variation of the spotted pattern that is not seen in other cats. The spots occur in a random pattern and vary in size. The spots can be solid. Spots that have a dark outline with a lighter color in the center are called rosettes.

Ticked Tabby
Instead of a pattern on the body, every individual hair is ticked - has bands of color on it. In purebred cats, some breeds are allowed to have stripes (called bars) on their legs and face. Other breeds are required to be totally free of any barring.


Silver Ticked Tabby	Silver Ticked Tabby


Red Ticked Tabby	Brown Ticked Tabby

Solids

Pointed

Tortie/Torbie

With White

Introduction Page

Photos courtesy of Helmi Flick Cat Photography