The tabby coat consists of two different hairs. A mark on the forehead that resembles the letter “M” is also a trademark of the tabby coat pattern. They are called as such because they highlight the eyes just like how mascara does to a person. This coat is characterized by distinctive stripes, dots, spots, whorls, or swirls distributed throughout the body.Īside from the stripe patterns, tabby cats also have distinctive face marks which canine fanciers call mascara markings.

The tabby cat pattern is easier to distinguish compared to tortie, torbie, and calico. Surprisingly, this is also observed among wild felines such as tigers and leopards. Numerous breeds of domesticated cats, purebred and crossbred, showcase this cat pattern. The tabby coat is the most common among the four existing cat patterns. To help you better understand the differences between the four patterns, I’ll be discussing each of their characteristics, appearance, personality, and coat genetics in a more detailed manner in the succeeding sections. Personality: Sassy, aggressive, independent, and strong-willed Patterns: Speckled or mottled with tabby patternsĬolors: Black, red/orange/cream, and white Personality: Strong-willed, hot-tempered, sassy, independent, feisty, and unpredictable Personality: Friendly, intelligent, sassy, and affectionate Subtypes: Classic, mackerel, spotted, and ticked Patterns: Stripes, whorls, spots, and agouti This table summarizes the differences between the four feline patterns: Color Pattern They have distinct differences in terms of their pattern, color combination, and personality. Final Thoughts Differences Between Tabby, Tortoiseshell (Tortie), Torbie, and Calico CatsĪside from the variations in breeds, felines are also categorized based on the coat color and pattern they exhibit.įour among the most popular coat color patterns include the tabby, tortie, torbie, and calico cat coat.

Tortoiseshell calico