Are tabbies always symmetrically marked?

[angieh]

Following a question I raised in Smudgely's post "Bluebell and her kittens" -

Are tabbies always symmetrically marked does anyone know?

[pinklizzy]

Angie, I have no idea! A very interesting and thought-provoking question though, hope someone can answer it,got me wondering now!

[Kazz]

I have no idea but what a wonderful question......

[dandysmom]

That's an intriguing question! This link doesn't address it, but the illustrations of the tabby patterns certainly do look the same on both sides, don't they?

http://members.shaw.ca/sashachan/

[babycakes]

No idea about anyone else's tabby but Denis is

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb56/babycakes469/P1060015.jpg

[dandysmom]

Awww! That Denis isn't just symmetrical, he's a gorgeous hunk......

[babycakes]

Awww! That Denis isn't just symmetrical, he's a gorgeous hunk......

Thanks DM, that's a lovely thing to say X Denis says thanks too:-D

[Kazz]

I tell you Denis is a smasher, a real advert for Tabbies

[angieh]

That site address you posted Eileen is an amazing illustration of tabby patterns and yes, they do seem to be symmetrical, as does Denis above. He is a lovely big cat and reminds me of Merlin in his younger days.

I suppose we might need a geneticist to tell us why that is?

[Soupie]

No they aren't but the "best" examples are.... have handled as a steward a tabby which was mackeral on one side and spotted tabby on the other!

[dandysmom]

:shock: Wow, that must have been something to see!

[Erin]

My jerry is :D -

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w17/looby_loo83/Jerry/animals013.jpg

Poor Milo isnt though,he only has half of his tabby M on his head and a few tabby patches on his back :lol: but he does have a fab tabby tail on him -

Heres his half tabby M -
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w17/looby_loo83/Milo/cats1004.jpg

and his tabby patches and tale -
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w17/looby_loo83/Milo/playtime004.jpg

Poor boy,not really sure what we class him as :? Tabby and White maybe :?

[angieh]

No they aren't but the "best" examples are.... have handled as a steward a tabby which was mackeral on one side and spotted tabby on the other!

How fascinating - would that be quite rare, do you think?

More pictures of tabby cats please!!!! Here's one of Merlin - I need to try and get a picture straight on - but you can see his facial markings are symmetrical.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc44/angieh_bucket/Merlin/merlin_resize1-1.jpg

[dandysmom]

That's a lovely pic of Merlin; he has such a sweet expression!~

[angieh]

Thanks Eileen! He's still my lovely boy - just wish he didn't have a wastepaper basket on the top of his head in this picture!

[smudgley]

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w17/looby_loo83/Milo/cats1004.jpg



and his tabby patches and tale -


http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w17/looby_loo83/Milo/playtime004.jpg



Poor boy,not really sure what we class him as :? Tabby and White maybe :?

white and tabby. ;)

[Fran]

How fascinating - would that be quite rare, do you think?



Not at all, it's quite common in the Oriental breed and especially in spotties with a poor pattern. You often find the spots link up to form a mackeral type pattern. In Oriental's it's a witholding fault, so it wouldn't be something you would be wanting to see on a show cat!

[Kay]

I agree with Fran. It will have been a poorly marked spotted tabby. This would be a with holding faulty in Persians as well. I would think all the breeds would withold on it as it isn't a well defined pattern.

Tabbies are symmetrical in the fact that the same markings should appear on each side but they are not identical on either side.

Milo as a tabby and white is essential a tabby cat but the white gene is a masking gene therefore his white is masking the rest of his tabby.

[Soupie]

I agree it is not desirable - as I said tabbies should be symmetrical and the "best" examples are.

[angieh]

My only recollection of genetics was Brother Mendel and his wrinkly or non wrinkly peas!

Its a lot more interesting when related to animals and I can see the attraction of trying to get a purrrrfect colour and markings.

[dandysmom]

I think cat genetics is fascinating; have spent some time on the Messy Beast site; but it is very complicated! I do know that the white spotting gene is hard to get rid of...used to be a problem with Abys. Wish there were a Genetics for Dummies book!

[babycakes]

Thanks KAZZ and Angie,

[babycakes]

Jerry and Merlin are simply gorgeous

[angieh]

Thanks BC (on behalf of Merlin!)

Is there a book or website about cat genetics that anyone could suggest as being particularly interesting?

[Kay]

Angie her is a link to a thread I did sometime ago about colour genetics. It is only the tip of the iceberg but you may find it interesting.

http://www.catsey.com/showthread.php?t=13663

[random]

Tucker is like Milo Erin so can't say really although his face is quite even for what's there. Nipper his sister was more tabby but with a white chest, muzzle and socks and the tabby bits were symmetrical but not the white. The white bits were all odd, e.g. one short sock and one long on her front legs.

Tabs was a tabby and she was symmetrical too but her stripes were more mottled and not very clear.

God I miss those girls. x

[Kay]

Random, it sounds like Tabs was a Mackeral tabby rather than a classic.

[random]

Random, it sounds like Tabs was a Mackeral tabby rather than a classic.

This is her:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/randoms_pix/Cats/12-5-06005.jpg

[random]

This is Nipper:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/randoms_pix/Cats/kasabian002.jpg

And of course Tucker:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/randoms_pix/Cats/07-01-063016.jpg

[Kay]

Aww they are all lovely. I would say that Tabs was a ticked tabby, Nipper is a mackeral tabby and white and Tucker is a classic tabby and white.

[dandysmom]

Angie her is a link to a thread I did sometime ago about colour genetics. It is only the tip of the iceberg but you may find it interesting.

http://www.catsey.com/showthread.php?t=13663

Kay, thanks for that link' have bookmarked it for later reading.......:D

[Kay]

No problem, Eileen.

[random]

Aww they are all lovely. I would say that Tabs was a ticked tabby, Nipper is a mackeral tabby and white and Tucker is a classic tabby and white.

Ah one of each, now just need a spotted. Thanks Kay. x

[angieh]

Thanks so much for that link Kay. Like Eileen, I have bookmarked it, but it looks as if all the questions I have in my head about dominant colour, etc. will be answered!

I am frequently reminded by such things and amazed at how wonderful biology is (animal or human).

I expect my OH would draw the line at me wanting to start breeding - but I don't suppose he'd say much about wrinkly peas - maybe that's how Brother Mendel started!!!!

[Kay]

Hope it is helpful Angie. If you have any questions you now where I am.

Happy reading, Eileen and Angie.