Types of Tabbies

Orange tabby cats are a fairly common type of cat, but it takes a special combination of genetics to produce an orange tabby. A female orange tabby is a rare find because approximately 80% of orange tabbies are male.

First things first, tabby is not a breed, but simply a fur pattern. This pattern appears across a wide range of colors, but we specialize in the orange variety. While fur color can vary from red to orange to brown, people generally refer to these cats as orange. There are four distinct fur patterns of orange tabbies: Classic, Mackerel, Ticked, and Bi-Color Spotted.

 Classic Orange Tabby

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These common kitties have:

-A random series of light and dark swirls

-The signature M marking on the forehead

-A tie-dyed sort of pattern

Orange Mackerel Tabby

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These furry friends have:

-Bars or stripes

-Stripes that are darker than the base fur

-The traditional M marking on the forehead  

Ticked Tabby

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These cool cats have:

-A dark stripe down the center of the back

-Faint stripes that are barely visible

-The classic M marking on the forehead

You'll find this pattern mostly in Abyssinian cats like the one pictured

      

Bi-Colored Spotted Tabby

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These cute cats have:

-Patches or spots rather than stripes

-Patches darker than the rest of the fur

-The traditional M marking on the forehead