They branch out from one stripe that runs along the top of the catвЂ™s back down the spine, resembling fish skeleton - which is why the term вЂњmackerelвЂќ is used to describe it.ДЄ spotted tabby has spots all over his sides. Ideally, the stripes are non-broken lines evenly spaced. This is what some people refer to as a вЂњtiger cat.вЂќ The body has narrow stripes running down the sides in a vertical pattern. The pattern of circular smudges on the classic tabbyвЂ™s body closely resembles a bullseye.ДЄ mackerel tabbyВ has narrow stripes that run in parallel down her sides. This tabby is called a вЂњblotched tabbyвЂќ in some regions. The classic tabby has bold, swirling patterns along his sides - much like a marble cake. See if you can figure out which tabby your cat is: WeвЂ™ve listed them below alongside photos of each. There are five types of tabby coat patterns, each possessing its own unique markings. Still others believe it is the blessing of the Virgin Mary. Others think the вЂњMвЂќ stands for Mohammed, who loved tabbies. Some believe the вЂњMвЂќ is for Mau, the word for вЂњcatвЂќ in ancient Egypt. And have you ever seen a solid red or orange or cream cat without the familiar tabby markings? You wonвЂ™t, because the gene that makes a cat red or cream also makes the tabby markings visible.ДЄll tabbies have thin pencil lines on their faces, expressive markings around the eyes, and a distinct letter вЂњMвЂќ on their foreheads.

Sometimes you can see those faint tabby markings on a solid-colored cat who is sitting in the bright sun. All orange cats are tabby cats and vice versa. Other cat colors or patterns may hide those tabby markings, but theyвЂ™re always present. Technically speaking, no matter what colors or markings you see on your cat, all felines possess the tabby cat gene. And it happens to be the most common of all the feline coat patterns. People sometimes call the average domestic cat a tabby, but tabby is not a cat breed - it is actually the pattern of kittyвЂ™s coat.

Orange tabby cats