Do tabby cats always have forehead M?
Written by
Elin Eriksson
Reviewed by
Prof. David Walsh, Ph.D.All tabby cats have the characteristic 'M' marking on the forehead. This is a universal feature of tabby form, occurring in all tabby varieties and breeds. Whether tabby Persians of the classic type or mackerel-striped Bengals, the M is universal. Nature marks all tabby cats with the M as their trademark of tabby descent. This M connects the domestic cat with its wild ancestor.
Genetic Origins
- Ancient trait from African wildcat ancestors
- Agouti gene expression creates the marking
- Shared DNA across all domestic tabbies
- Evolutionary persistence over 10,000 years
Cultural Interpretations
- Egyptian mythology linked it to moon goddess Bastet
- Islamic tradition called it Muhammad's blessing
- European folklore considered it protection against evil
- Modern symbolism of feline mystery
M formation occurs during embryonic development. Specialized pigment cells migrate to the area of the forehead. They form this particular pattern uniformly. In ticked tabbies, even where the body pattern is so muted, the M is readily seen. This biological process accounts for its universal presence in a variety of environments and breeds.
There are visual* variations yet the M is still present. Darker types of tabby reveal greater contrast. The lighter types of orange may show a faint M. Long-haired cats may partially cover it, yet the marking is still visible. It is, in all its essentials, a mark which is recognised in the breed standards and is taken as one of the essential markings of the tabby.
Genetic exceptions for this trait do not exist. All of the true tabbies have the M. Those cats who do not have it belong to different categories of patterns. This mark aids in differentiating the tabbies from those that look similar in pattern. It is of value in giving reliable identification to the breeders and enthusiasts of cats.
Read the full article: Cat Coat Patterns: A Visual Guide
