

You can meet orange tabby cats (these felines have a combination of the orange gene (O) and black (B) gene, causing them to be brown or cinnamon), brown mackerel tabby cats, and many orange tabbies with white or silver patches. Actually, there are different types of tabby cats. The first thing that is associated with the mackerel tabby pattern is a gray mackerel tabby with black stripes. They have a dog-like personality, that is why tabbies are perfect family companions. These cats are very intelligent, they love to explore their surroundings, play with other cats and family members, and will happily learn new tricks. Other tabby patterns are believed to have originated from mackerel tabby coloration. As the crossing progressed, the striped pattern became more and more pronounced. People believed that such cats had magical powers.Īccording to some theories, the mackerel pattern originated from a cross between a European wildcat and an African wildcat. Known as “familiars,” these cats were thought to be reincarnations of humans or witch victims. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the word tabby was used to refer to a female cat that belonged to a witch. Mackerel tabbies are associated with witchcraftĪncient Egyptians believed that cats had “divine energy” and worshiped many domestic cats. Here are common, rare, and fun tidbits about felines with a mackerel tabby pattern. Mackerel tabbies are cute fur balls that can make you laugh, smile, and definitely bring joy into your life. You will definitely fall in love with gray tabby Maine Coons, chocolate Domestic Shorthair with a classic tabby pattern, or Norwegian Forest cats that can boast a luxurious tabby coat of many shades. Mackerel tabbies may be of various colors and breeds. The thickness of these stripes varies from thin to wide and spectacular. These stripes resemble a fish skeleton, that is why this pattern is called “mackerel” fish. Mackerel tabby cat (Felis catus refers to one of five genetic clusters) is the most common tabby patterning, which is distinguished by evenly distributed light and dark vertical stripes on the coat.
