Mc/Ta

Tabby pattern

Controls: The shape of the tabby markings: mackerel, classic, spotted or ticked.

How it works

Among agouti (tabby) cats, separate genes shape the markings. The Mc gene gives mackerel (striped) by default, with classic (blotched) recessive; spotted patterns and the ticked (Abyssinian-type) coat are governed by their own genes.

Alleles

McMackerel (striped)Dominant

mcClassic (blotched)Recessive

TaTickedDominant

Related genes

A locus — agouti (tabby vs solid)

Whether the tabby pattern is visible or hidden under a solid coat.

I locus — silver & smoke

Whether the hair has a silver-white base (silver, smoke, chinchilla).

B locus — black series

Whether the black pigment shows as black, chocolate or cinnamon.

See these colours on real cats.

Browse cat colours