The Pet Owners Corner

April 21, 2026

Dear Cattalker: I recently adopted a pet kitty from our shelter. They told me she was a tabby and she is brown. My neighbor told me she is a mackerel. When I went to the vet they listed her as a brown Tiger. I am totally confused as what breed she is. She has an M on her forehead, has stripes down her side. Can you help me?   Carol F

This Siberian has a great example of the brown mackerel tabby pattern.

 

Dear Carol:  I believe I can help clear up the confusion. Cats are identified in three main ways: color, pattern, and breed.

  • Color is the easiest. In this case everyone agrees she is brown. Cats come in a wide variety of colors such as brown, grey, red, white and black. For pedigreed cats in particular, grey is called blue and you will also hear seal for the darkest brown color.
  • Pattern is the design in their fur. In your kitty’s case with her nice M and striped sides, we know she is a mackerel tabby. That is not her breed – it is her pattern. The most common types of tabbies are: mackerel (striped) and classic (with swirls on the sides that look like bullseyes, a pattern on the shoulders that looks like butterfly wings, and distinct dorsal stripes down the spine).
  • Breed is designated by pedigree. This means the ancestors are all of the same breed (or allowable outcross breeds), and that history can be traced through pedigrees that are registered. Cats found outside and in shelters are usually domestic shorthairs or domestic longhairs. This means that they are mixed breeds and there is no way to trace their ancestry.

Of course, you are wondering why the veterinarian called her a “Tiger.” That name is just a common way of saying tabby, because the pattern of the stripes on her sides resembles a tiger.

So, in fact, your kitty is a brown mackerel tabby domestic shorthair. She is very lucky indeed to be adopted into a loving home.

 

I hope this helps to clear up the confusion. You should consider visiting a cat show, where you can see judges evaluating the entries. Often they will talk about the various colors, patterns, and breeds of the cats they see on their tables. You can find when there is a cat show near you on the CFA show schedule.

 

 

Pet Owners Corner is designed to answer common questions that pet owners may have. Answers will be simple and straight forward. No questions are too silly to ask; if you have that question, others probably do as well. No medical advice will be given because diagnosing and treating is not possible without a proper veterinary examination.

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