Coat Colour Tabby (3 variants)

A tabby cat is a cat with a dark striped or spotted pattern on a paler background. Domestic cats exhibit heritable variation of tabby markings – mackerel vs. blotched. The gene responsible for tabby pattern variation is identified as Laeverin (LVRN), also known as Transmembrane aminopeptidase Q (Taqpep). This gene is involved in control of melanocortin signalling. Three recessive mutations of this gene are identified to date that have a clear effect on the rise of the “blotched” pattern. Without mutations, the cat will display the mackerel tabby markings.