Skip to breed

cat breed profile

Tabby (pattern, not a breed)

"Tabby" is a coat pattern, not a breed — the classic striped cat with an M-shaped marking on the forehead. Many breeds and house cats can be tabby.

Size

Medium

Coat

Striped, spotted, or swirled with "M" on forehead

Temperament

Varies — a coat pattern, not a breed

Identification clues

How to recognize a Tabby (pattern, not a breed)

  1. 01

    Distinctive "M" marking on forehead

  2. 02

    Stripes, spots, or swirls

  3. 03

    Found across many breeds

  4. 04

    Common in domestic shorthairs

Photo identification

Not sure if that is your cat?

Take a clear photo. Cat Identifier returns a likely breed or mix with a confidence score and practical care notes.

Identify a cat