Tabby Cats: 10 Famous Cat Breeds with Stripes

There are hundreds of things that cat lovers love about their feline friends. Some are crazy about their blue eyes; others adore cats with big ears. Yet others are fascinated by cat breeds with stripes.

What is your favorite thing about cats?

Let us guess. You love tabby cats. Especially their variegated stripes? Most likely.

While cats are known for their delicate appearances, striped coats give them a wild look, making them more appealing and elegant. Well, if you have been looking for cat breeds with striped coats, you are in the right place. Let’s find you a striped cat that fits your personality!

Cat Breeds With Stripes

Here is a list of 10 cats that have stripes over their body.

1. Toyger

As the name indicates, Toyger cats are similar in appearance to tigers—they look like tiger cubs. And it is precisely their tiger-striped coats that have increased their popularity. Toyger is quite a new designer breed, resulting from the crossbreeding of stripped Bengal cats with domestic shorthair cats. This tiger-striped cat breed has orange skin with dark stripes and rosettes.

Toyger cats have an average lifespan of 9 to 13 years, and healthy Toyger cats weigh between 7 to 15 pounds. These are some highly intelligent, friendly, and affectionate cats. They make excellent family cats as they not only easily get along with kids and seniors in the house but also with strangers.

You need not be afraid of their wild looks; they are pretty easy-going and playful creatures. However, as they are very energetic cats and always want to be doing something, you will have to provide them with a box full of toys to keep them busy. You can get a scratching post for them to climb on or maybe a cat hammock. They would also be needing some interactive playtime with you on the weekends, if not daily.

If you need a partner for your morning or evening walks, you can train your Toyger to walk on a leash and take her out. Check out this cat harness and leash set for walking your cat.

2. Striped Bengal Cat

Like the Toyger breed, Striped Bengal cats also bear a resemblance to tigers. They are the result of crossbreeding between Asian Leopard cats and domestic cats. They are adorable, a bit muscular, affectionate, and playful. They have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years and are often classified as one of long-living cat breeds. On average, tabby Bengal cats weigh around 6 to 12 pounds.

They are very affectionate with family members and love to play with children, but they get reserved when encountering a stranger. Stripped Bengal cat is an intelligent and agile cat breed. They love to climb mountains, trees, fences, etc. You need to bring them home only if you do not have a problem with them climbing on trees, bookshelves, furniture, etc. 

3. Lynx Point Siamese Cat

Lynx Point Siamese Cat breed is not really a thing. Lynx Point is a type of Siamese cat with stripes. These Striped Siamese cats have very organized stripes around their eyes, cheeks, legs, and tail. They are referred to as Lynx Color Point Shorthair by the American Cat Fancier Association. And it is referred to as Tabby Point Siamese by the Government Council of the Cat Fancy. Lynx Point Siamese cat was first produced accidentally in the 1960s when a Tabby cat mated with a Seal Point Siamese. They have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years and weigh around 6 to 12 pounds.

Like the rest of the Siamese pack, Lynx Point is also known for its curious, thoughtful, and demanding nature. They want to be involved in everything that is going around. They are not very considerate about their owners’ personal space. Despite their invasive nature, they make brilliant family pets. However, they are not the best if you have children in the house.   

4. American Shorthair Breed

With European settlers, this cat breed crossed the Atlantic and found a home on the American continent. Many records indicate that the American Shorthair cats were also accompanying the crew of the Mayflower for killing the ship’s rats. These cats are known as one of the lowest-maintenance cats. They have stripes on their body, running parallel to their spine.

They have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years, with an average weight varying between 8 to 12 pounds. They have a very soft voice-hearing them meow will make you forget all the worries of life. Striped American Shorthair cats are very gentle and affectionate. They are perfect family pets as they easily get along with children and dogs in the house.

5. Grey Tabby Shorthair

These cats have stripes shaped like bull’s eyes on their legs, chest, and tails. They have a well-defined “M” on their foreheads that look like a crown.

Again, grey tabby is not a cat breed but rather a coat pattern. The glamorous tabby pattern is often found on domestic shorthair cats and sometimes on Scottish Folds. These grey tabbies come in a wide variety of eye colors. Striped grey tabby shorthair cats make a perfect housemate for those who are fond of striped cats. These striped cats are not only beautiful and elegant from the outside but also have a loving temperament.

6. European Shorthair Cats

Originating from Sweden, the European Shorthair cat (also known as Celtic Shorthair) is another famous cat breed with stripes. They usually have dark stripes against a brown coat. Celtic Shorthairs are incredibly intelligent cats with independent dispositions.

They have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years. Where male Celtic shorthair cats would weigh around 15 pounds, their female counterparts weigh around 12 pounds. With their tendency to easily get along with children, seniors, and other pets in the house, European shorthair cats are considered excellent pets.

On top of their elegant striped coat, they also come in a wide variety of attractive eye colors ranging from green, amber, and blue. Sometimes, they are odd-eyed, with one eye blue and the other one amber-colored.

7. American Bobtail

Originally from the United States, American Bobtail is a cat breed with stripes, best known for its unique short tail. Because of their lustrous golden coat, they are famously known as the Golden Retrievers of the cat world. Where most cats are fully grown by their first birthday, American Bobtail matures at a slower pace, taking up around three years to reach its full size.

American Bobtail is one of the most agile cat breeds with stripes. They can take a flying leap of around six feet.

They have an average lifespan of 13 to 15 years and weigh between 7 to 16 pounds. These bobtailed striped cats are good with children, seniors, and other pets in the house, both felines, and canines. But if you are susceptible to allergies, you must think twice before bringing an American Bobtail home, as they shed a lot and may cause a flare-up in their owners with allergies.

8. American Curl

American Curl is another cat breed with stripes, having subtle lines all over their bodies. They are famous for their distinctive ears curled back in an arc. They are also known for behaving like dogs, always attentive to their owners and following them around in the house. They have a silky short coat with various colors ranging from white, black, brown, red, and silver.

American curls have an average lifespan of 12 to 16 years, with their weight varying between 5 to 10 pounds. They are very affectionate with family members and also easily get along with children and other cats in the house.

They come in two varieties of coats: Longhair and Shorthair. Both long and shorthair American curls shed very little. When it comes to taking care of their coat, Longhair needs to be brushed twice a week. Shorthair American Curls, however, can have a healthy coat with weekly brushing.

9. Scottish Fold

Where American Curls have their ears curled backward, Scottish Fold has their ears folded forward. They are famous for their amazing eye color. Scottish Fold has become quite popular after celebrities such as Taylor Swift, who frequently posts her pictures with Scottish Folds on Instagram. If you are a Taylor Swift fan, maybe you want to take a look at Taylor Swift cats.

They have an average lifespan of around 11 to 14 years. Where female Scottish Folds weigh between 6 to 9 pounds, their male counterparts have an average weight of about 9 to 13 pounds.

That said, these cats have some health problems, and many are advocating against petting them. It is advised that they should never mate with other Scottish Folds.

10. Mackerel Tabby Cats

Mackerel tabby cats have beautiful stripes running parallel down their sides. Mackerel is not actually a cat breed but a tabby cat pattern that can be found in many cat breeds such as Australian Mist, Savannah, Egyptian Mau, and British Shorthair cats. It is to note that the real British Shorthair cats have no hints of tabby striping. However, some in the same breed, due to crossbreeding, have developed stripes on their back, legs, and tails.

Did you know?

Purebred British Shorthair cats do not have even a hint of tabby stripes. However, due to crossbreeding, many British Shorthairs can be found having stripes on their back, legs, and tails.

Mackerel Tabby cats will have an inverted chevron marking above their eyes—looking as if they are wearing a crown. These tabby cats have a pink-colored nose with a ring of black pigmentation, which may vary, according to Catster.

We hope you found a fit for yourself in the above cat breeds with stripes. Want to know more about everything related to keeping a Cat? Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first one to get the latest updates, tips, and experts’ advice about cat care, feed, training, health, and wellbeing.