The tabby cat is recognized by its distinctive coat patterns rather than by a specific breed. It describes unique markings found across numerous cat breeds and mixed ancestries worldwide. The intriguing history behind this widespread pattern offers insights into the domestication and spread of domestic cats.
Understanding Tabby Patterns
Tabby cats exhibit four primary coat patterns. The mackerel tabby features thin, vertical stripes that gently curve along the cat’s sides, often resembling a fish skeleton, with an “M” shape on the forehead. Classic, or blotched, tabbies display thick, swirling bands and whorls, often forming a bullseye or oyster-like pattern on their sides, also with an “M” on the forehead.
Spotted tabbies have broken bands that appear as individual spots, which can vary in size and distribution across the body. The ticked tabby, also known as Abyssinian or agouti tabby, presents a unique appearance with virtually no stripes or spots on the body. Instead, each hair shaft is banded with alternating light and dark colors, giving the fur a salt-and-pepper or sand-like look, though faint striping may appear on the legs, face, and tail.
The Genetic Blueprint
The presence and specific type of tabby pattern are determined by several genes. The Agouti gene controls whether the tabby pattern is visible. The dominant ‘A’ allele allows the underlying tabby pattern to be expressed, producing hairs with alternating bands of dark and light pigment. Conversely, the recessive ‘a’ allele results in solid-colored cats where the pattern is masked, though sometimes faint “ghost stripes” can be seen.
Once the Agouti gene permits pattern expression, the Tabby gene dictates the pattern’s form. The dominant allele produces the mackerel tabby, while a recessive allele leads to the classic (blotched) pattern. A third allele for the ticked tabby is dominant over both mackerel and classic patterns, suppressing visible stripes on the body.
Tracing Ancient Origins
The tabby pattern has deep roots, originating from the wild ancestors of domestic cats. The African Wildcat, considered the primary ancestor of modern domestic cats, naturally possesses a mackerel tabby pattern. This striped pattern provided effective camouflage in their natural habitats, allowing them to blend into grassy and bushy environments for hunting and evading predators.
Genetic and archaeological evidence indicates that the mackerel tabby was the original pattern during early cat domestication, which began approximately 10,000 years ago in the Middle East. As humans transitioned to agriculture, cats were drawn to settlements by rodent populations, initiating a symbiotic relationship. This camouflaging pattern was common in these ancestral felines, establishing it as the foundational tabby type.
Global Dispersal
The widespread distribution of the tabby pattern across the globe is linked to the historical spread of domestic cats alongside human migration and trade routes. Early domestic cats, carrying ancestral tabby patterns, traveled with humans from the Middle East to Europe and beyond. A significant wave of dispersal occurred with Egyptian cats, which were particularly favored and spread throughout Europe and the Middle East starting around 4,000 years ago.
The commonality of the tabby pattern today is attributed to its original wild type status, meaning it was the default coat pattern in early domestic cats. Natural selection favored this pattern, even as cats adapted to human environments. The tabby’s inherent prevalence and genetic dominance ensured its widespread presence in cat populations worldwide.