Tabby hair strand anatomy and pattern. Infographic.


In summary, the tabby pattern is the result of agouti-banded hairs clustering in specific regions, directed by genetic factors, and creating visible markings on the cat’s coat.

The tabby pattern in a domestic cat’s coat is created by the arrangement of individual tabby hair strands, which exhibit a unique banding pattern of pigmentation. This effect is controlled by genetic and cellular mechanisms that regulate melanin production. Here’s how it works:

1. Agouti Banding on Individual Hairs

Each tabby hair strand (except for solid-colored areas) has alternating bands of light and dark pigmentation. This is due to the agouti gene, which regulates melanin deposition during hair growth:

  • Eumelanin (dark pigment, black/brown) is produced in some regions.
  • Pheomelanin (light pigment, yellow/red) is produced in others.
  • The result is a series of alternating bands along the length of the hair.

2. Pattern Formation on the Cat’s Body

While each hair is banded, the overall tabby pattern emerges because different groups of hairs are activated to produce more or less pigment based on underlying skin cell signaling. There are four main tabby patterns:

  • Mackerel Tabby (striped): Thin, vertical dark stripes form because hair follicles in certain areas produce mostly dark-banded hairs.
  • Classic Tabby (swirled or blotched): Broad, whorled patches of dark fur form due to larger clusters of dark-pigmented hairs.
  • Spotted Tabby: Dark stripes break up into distinct spots as melanin production varies in patches.
  • Ticked Tabby: Hair strands retain agouti banding, but there are few to no visible stripes on the body.

3. Genetic Regulation

  • The Tabby (T) gene influences whether a cat has a striped or blotched pattern.
  • The Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) turns melanin production on and off as hair grows, creating the banded effect.
  • The MC1R gene controls whether eumelanin (black/brown) or pheomelanin (red/yellow) dominates.

4. Optical Illusion of Stripes and Markings

The high contrast between bands on individual hairs leads to grouped patterns of dark and light fur. This gives the illusion of solid stripes or swirls when viewed at a distance, even though each hair is actually multi-colored.

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