tabbylike

Tabbylike is an adjective used to describe a coat, fur, or pattern that resembles tabby markings without necessarily being a true tabby. While the term is most commonly applied to domestic cats, it can be used for other animals with similar striping or mottled patterns, and it occasionally appears in textile, art, or design contexts to denote a tabby-inspired texture.

In cats, tabby patterns traditionally fall into several categories such as mackerel (narrow vertical stripes), classic (swirls and bull‑eye markings), spotted (spots along the flanks), and ticked (hairs banded in color with few distinct stripes). Tabbylike coats display resembles these forms or fragments of them—striping, whorls, or granular color distribution—that evoke the tabby look without meeting formal criteria for a tabby designation. The term can describe partial or blended patterns, muted tones, or individuals of mixed heritage where the resemblance is evident but the lineage is unclear.

Genetically, tabby appearance arises from pigment distribution controlled by multiple genes, including those linked to agouti signaling. Tabbylike is a descriptive phrase rather than a scientific classification, and its meaning depends on context—breeders, veterinarians, or researchers may use it to communicate resemblance rather than identity.

Related topics include tabby, coat pattern, animal coat coloration, and striped patterns.