Tabby Cat [upd] · Trusted

Every domestic cat carries the genes for a tabby pattern, though it may be "masked" by other solid colors. This pattern is primarily driven by the , which causes individual hairs to be banded with different colors, and the tabby gene , which determines how those hairs are arranged into patterns.

Not all tabbies look the same. They generally fall into five categories based on their markings: tabby cat

The Ultimate Guide to Tabby Cats: Nature’s Masterpiece Despite what many believe, a "tabby" is not a specific breed of cat. Instead, "tabby" refers to a distinctive coat pattern that is arguably the most common and ancient look in the feline world. Whether they are lounging on a sofa or prowling through a garden, tabby cats carry the genetic legacy of their wild ancestors in every stripe and swirl. The Genetic Blueprint of a Tabby Every domestic cat carries the genes for a

Scientists have even mapped the Tabby cat locus to feline chromosome B1, identifying it as a unique trait that lacks a direct counterpart in most other mammals. The Five Classic Tabby Patterns They generally fall into five categories based on

The Tabby cat locus maps to feline chromosome B1 - PMC - NIH