9 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Mackerel Tabby Cat

This Toyger cat has mackerel tabby stripes. Kutikova Ekaterina | Shutterstock.com

Did you know that there are multiple types of tabby cat patterns? Mackerel tabby cats are the most common and recognizable, with tiger stripes on their bodies. If you adopt a street or shelter tabby cat, they’re very likely to be a mackerel tabby. This pattern is very common in mixed-breed cats, and it’s also seen in purebreds such as Maine Coons and Persians. Read on to discover seven mackerel tabby cat facts.

1. Mackerel Tabby Is the Most Common Tabby Pattern

There are five tabby cat patterns: classic tabby, mackerel tabby, spotted tabby, patched tabby, and ticked tabby. Mackerel tabbies are the most common, especially in mixed-breed cats. Spotted and classic tabbies are also quite common. Patched tabbies are more rare. Ticked cats are less common but can be seen in breeds like the Abyssinian and Chausie.

2. Mackerel Tabby Is Not a Breed—It’s a Pattern

Since cat breeds aren’t nearly as prevalent as dog breeds, there are many misconceptions about them. A tabby cat can be any breed or mixed breed. The tabby pattern is commonly seen in domestic shorthairs or domestic longhairs (the mutts of the cat world), but many different purebred cats come in tabby patterns, including mackerel tabby.

Mackerel tabbies have stripes or bands of darker fur on a lighter-colored coat. Their stripes stretch down their sides vertically, circle around their legs and tails, and also occur on the chest and face. They might also have “vest buttons,” which are darker bands of fur on their stomachs.

3. They Have an “M” on Their Foreheads

You can see the M on this mackerel tabby cat’s forehead. PicksArt | Shutterstock.com

You can identify any tabby cat, including mackerel tabbies, from the “M” on their foreheads, right above their eyes. Many myths surround the origin of this marking, such as the Islamic legend of tabby cat Muezza who saved the prophet Mohammed from a venomous snake. It’s said that all tabby cats going forward had the “M” marking to honor these two.

In Christian tales, Mary marked the tabby cat with its “M” after one tabby comforted Jesus as a baby. The scientific reason for the “M” marking is a gene that all cats have, but it tends to be more visible on tabby cats.

4. They’re Thought to Be the First Tabby Cat

It’s thought that mackerel tabbies inherited their stripes from their ancestors, African wildcats, and other types of tabbies stemmed from there. African wildcats still live in the wild today and are slightly larger than domestic cats.

The spotted tabby gene essentially breaks up a mackerel tabby’s stripes, which is why the spots are often quite uniform. Ticked and classic tabbies are also likely to be caused by selective breeding of mackerel tabbies. This leads some people to argue that mackerel tabbies should be the true “classic tabbies,” but for now classic tabby refers to the blotched (marbled) tabby pattern.

5. Mackerel Tabbies Were Once Connected to Witchcraft

In the 16th and 17th centuries, mackerel tabbies—specifically females—were associated with witchcraft. They were said to be magical and owned by witches. We still associate cats with witchcraft today, but typically it’s a black cat seen by a witch’s side or symbolizing bad luck.

6. Almost All Cats Have the Tabby Gene

The faint M marking on this black cat’s forehead reveals their secret tabby genes. Freddy Sky | Shutterstock.com

Mackerel tabbies come in many different colors, including blue (also known as gray), orange, buff, or brown, with or without white markings. Even solid black cats can be tabby patterned—it’s just hidden by their all-black coats. Almost all domestic cats carry the tabby gene, but it isn’t always visibly expressed. A solid-colored cat’s pattern might be entirely hidden, or you might be able to see “ghost stripes,” which are faint tabby markings. Ghost stripes are easier to see when the cat is in sunlight. A telltale sign that a cat has the tabby gene is an M marking on the forehead, however faint.

7. They’re Named After the Mackerel Fish

Mackerel tabbies are named after mackerel fish, and are sometimes called “fishbone tabbies.” There are many species of mackerel, but some, such as the Atlantic mackerel, have vertical stripes down the sides of their bodies.

If you’re wondering about the “tabby” part of the name, it’s believed to have come from the name of a striped silk from Baghdad called attabiya. This translated to “tabis” in French, and eventually became the English word “tabby.”

8. Their Stripes Are as Unique as Fingerprints

No two mackerel tabby cats have the exact same stripe pattern. Like human fingerprints, their stripes are unique to each individual cat, making every one of them truly one of a kind. These narrow, vertical stripes may look similar at a glance, but subtle differences in length, spacing, and curvature set each pattern apart. This uniqueness adds to their charm—and means you’ll never meet another cat with the exact same coat.

9. They May Be More Social Than You Think

While personality varies by individual, many cat parents report that mackerel tabbies are especially friendly and outgoing. Some believe their confident, curious nature may be linked to their strong domestic lineage and natural adaptability. They’re often eager to explore new environments, greet guests at the door, or play with children and other pets. This sociable demeanor makes them a great match for busy households. Even though their stripes are what catch your eye first, it’s often their warm personality that wins people over.

Mackerel Tabbies: The ‘Classic’ Tabby

Although the swirled and marbled tabby pattern is called “classic tabby,” the mackerel tabby pattern of vertical tiger stripes is truly the quintessential tabby pattern. Mackerel tabby is the most common tabby pattern, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. After all, who wouldn’t want to admire a tiny striped tiger roaming the house?