Asian Group Tabbies

Coat Pattern and Colours - The tabby pattern, which may be Spotted, Classic, Mackerel or Ticked, is formed by markings of the solid pattern colour on a background of agouti hairs. The pattern colour in Standard Tabbies should be that of the equivalent coloured Asian Selfs and Tortes and their Burmese Colour Restriction counterparts. In Silver Tabbies the pattern colour may lack warmth and this should not be penalised. The pattern colour in Spotted, Classic and Mackerel Tabbies should match on head, body, legs and tail. There should be no speckling of agouti hairs in the markings and a pattern which consists of dark agouti on a light agouti background is incorrect and must be penalised. In Ticked Tabbies the pattern colour on head, legs and tail should match the ticking colour on the body.

In Standard Tabbies the markings should be dense, as near as possible to the roots and in Sliver Tabbies they should extend well down the hair. The markings should show good contrast with the ground colour but in dilute colours and Burmese restriction colours, the contrast between the markings and the ground colour is less than that required in non-dilute colours or full expression colours. In Tortie Tabbies the distribution of Tortie markings is immaterial.

Download a checklist for the Asian Group Tabby pattern here

Notes:
1. The Burmese Colour Restriction gene has the effect of reducing the melanin in the hair shaft particularly close to the skin, thus colour cannot be sound to the roots nor can the undercoat be as rich as in the equivalent full expression cat. However, in all Asian Tabbies of Burmese Colour Restriction the markings should be as near to the roots as possible and show good contrast with the ground colour. The ears and mask of Burmese colour restriction cats may be slightly darker.
2. In Silver Tabbies tarnishing, i.e. discolouration of the silver ground colour, is undesirable.
3. In full expression colour Asian Tabbies the markings should show good contrast with the ground colour.

Head Markings - On the forehead there should be an "M". In Ticked Tabby kittens there may be a skull cap which may clear to an "M" in adults. There should be an unbroken line running from the outer corner of each eye and pencilling on the cheeks. The edges of the ears should be the same colour as the markings with a central patch of ground colour resembling a thumb print. The Tabby has a tendency to white in the immediate area of the lips and lower jaw. It is a serious fault if this extends to the throat in standard tabbies.

Leg Markings - The legs of the licked Tabby may or may not be barred. However, the legs of the Mackerel and Spotted should be barred and/or spotted. The legs of the Classic Tabby should be barred. In all patterns the darker pattern colour should extend from the feet up the back of the leg to the hock joint.

Tail Markings - The markings on the tail of all Asian Tabbies can range from complete (all patterns) or broken rings (Spotted, Mackerel and Ticked pattern) to a continuation of the darker colour on the spine line (Ticked pattern). The tail should have a solid tip of the darker colour except in Red, Cream and Apricot and Tortie Tabbies where a light tip is permitted.

Body Markings

Spotted Pattern - The coat should have all markings clearly defined. The spots may vary in size but should be round and evenly distributed. The spots should not run together in any part of the coat. Lines should extend from the top of the head down the back of the neck, breaking into spots on the shoulder and along the spine. The legs should be barred and/or spotted. The denser concentration of colour should extend from the feet up the back of the leg to the hock joint. On the neck and upper chest there will be necklaces, which may be broken, the more the better. The belly should be spotted. The tail should be marked with complete or broken rings.

Classic Pattern - The coat should have all markings clearly defined. The ground colour and markings should be equally balanced overall.

There should be a vertical line or lines running over the back of the head and extending to the shoulder markings which should be shaped like a butterfly seen from above. Both the upper and lower 'wings" should be dearly defined in outline, with dots inside the outline. On the back there should be an unbroken line running down the spine from the butterfly to the tail, with a stripe on either side of this line running parallel to it. The stripes should be separated from it by stripes of ground colour. On each flank there should be a large oyster or blotch surrounded by one or more unbroken rings. Both sides of the cat should have symmetrical identical markings. On the neck and upper chest there should be unbroken necklaces, the more the better. The belly may be spotted, blotched or barred. The tail should be banded.

Mackerel Pattern - The coat should have all markings clearly defined. There should be a narrow unbroken line running from the back of the head to the base of the tail, on either side of which should be a broken spine line from which narrow vertical lines run down the body. These lines should be as narrow and as numerous as possible and should be unbroken. On the neck and upper chest there should be necklaces which may be broken, the more the better. The belly should be spotted or barred. The tail rings should be as narrow and as numerous as possible, complete or broken.

Ticked Pattern - The coat should be evenly ticked with two or three bands of colour extending well down each hair shaft. The darker colour should be more apparent down the spine line, shading to a paler ground colour on the belly and inside the legs. Any necklaces may be broken or unbroken. The belly may be spotted. The tail maybe ringed, with complete or broken rings or have a continuation of the darker colour of the spine line.

Scale of Points for all Tabby Patterns - as in Asian General Type Standard.

Withhold Certificates or First Prizes in Kitten Open Classes for:
1. Incorrect tabby pattern, colour or ground colour
2. Lack of contrast
3. Unbroken spine line in adults (Spotted Tabbies)
4. Light tip to tail except in Red, Cream and Apricot Tabbies
5. White on lower jaw extending down the neck (except In Silver Tabbies)
6. General Asian withholding faults.

Colour Description for all the Tabby Patterns

Nose Leather - As in the equivalent self, tortie or Burmese restriction colour, or pink rimmed with the self, tortie or Burmese restriction colour.

Eye Rims and Paw Pads As in the equivalent self, tortie or Burmese restriction colour.

Note: In Red, Cream and Apricot Tabbies "freckles' may appear on nose, paw pads, lips, eye rims and ears. Slight freckling in a mature cat should not be penalised.

Colour Descriptions of Non-Silver (Standard) Tabbies

Black (Full Expression Colour) (72 38, 72 41, 72 44, 72 45) - Jet black markings on a warm-toned coppery brown ground. The markings should be black to the roots.

Brown (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38q, 72 41q, 72 44q, 72 45q) - Rich warm seal brown markings on a creamy beige ground.

Blue (Full Expression Colour) (72 38a, 72 41a, 72 44a, 72 45a) - Medium to dark blue markings on a cool-toned beige ground.

Blue (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38aq, 72 41aq, 72 44aq, 72 45aq) - Soft silver grey markings on a cool-toned pale beige ground.

Chocolate (Full Expression Colour) (72 38b, 72 41 b, 72 44b, 72 45b) - Rich warm-toned chestnut brown markings on a warm-toned bronze ground.

Chocolate (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38bq, 72 41bq, 72 44bq, 72 45bq) - Warm milk chocolate markings on a pale brown ground.

Lilac (Full Expression Colour )(72 38c, 72 41c, 72 44c, 72 45c) - Frosty grey markings with a distinct pinkish cast, on a cool-toned beige ground.

Lilac (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38cq, 72 41cq, 72 44cq, 72 45cq) - Pale delicate dove grey markings with a slightly pinkish cast, on a cool-toned beige ground.

Red (Full Expression Colour) (72 38d, 72 41d, 72 44d, 72 45d) - Rich medium to dark red markings on a ground of bright paler red.

Red (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38dq, 72 41dq, 72 44dq, 72 45dq) - Light tangerine markings on a ground of paler red.

Cream (Full Expression Colour) (72 38f, 72 41f, 72 44f, 72 45f) - Medium cool-toned cream markings on a ground of paler cream.

Cream (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38fg, 72 41fq, 72 44fq, 72 45fq) - Cream markings on a ground of paler cream, having a powdered effect.

Caramel (Full Expression Colour) (72 38n, 72 41n, 72 44n, 72 45n) - Cool-toned bluish fawn markings on a ground of cool-toned beige. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen. The tone of caramel colour may vary depending upon whether it is blue or lilac based.

Caramel (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38nq, 72 41 nq, 72 44nq, 72 45nq) - Cool-toned pale fawn markings with lilac overtones on a ground of pale beige. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen. The tone of caramel colour may vary depending upon whether it is blue or lilac based.

Apricot (Full Expression Colour) (72 38fn, 72 41fn, 72 441n, 72 45fn) - Warm intense pinkish cream markings with a cool dusty cast on a ground of coot-toned paler cream. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen.

Apricot (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38fnq, 72 41fnq, 72 44fnq, 72 45fnq) - Pale warm pinkish cream markings with a cool dusty cast on a ground of cool-toned paler cream. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen.

Black Tortie Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38e, 72 41e, 72 44e, 72 45e) - Markings of jet black with shades of red, on a warm-toned coppery brown with pale red ground.

Brown Tortie Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38eq, 72 41eq, 72 44eq, 72 45eq) - Markings of rich warm seal brown with shades of red, on a pale coppery brown with pale red ground.

Blue Tortie Tabby (Full Expression Colour)(72 38g, 72 41g, 72 44g, 72 45g) • Markings of medium to dark blue with shades of cream, on a cool-toned beige with pale cream ground.

Blue Tortie Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38gq, 72 41gq, 72 44gq, 72 45gq) - Markings of soft, silvery grey with shades of cream, on a cool-toned beige with pale cream ground.

Chocolate Tortie Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38h, 72 41h, 72 44h, 72 45h) - Markings of rich warm chestnut brown with shades of red, on a warm-toned bronze with pale red ground.

Chocolate Tortie Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38hq, 72 41hq, 72 44hq, 72 45hq) - Markings of warm milk chocolate with shades of red, on a pale brown with pale red ground.

Lilac Tortie Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38j, 72 41j, 72 44j, 72 45j) - Markings of frosty grey with a distinct pinkish cast with shades of cream, on a cool-toned beige with pale cream ground.

Lilac Tortie Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38jq, 72 41Jq, 72 44jq, 72 45Jq) - Markings of pale delicate dove grey with a slightly pinkish cast with shades of cream, on a cool-toned beige with pale cream ground.

Caramel Tortie Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38p, 72 41p, 72 44p, 72 45p) - Markings of cool-toned metallic bluish fawn with shades of apricot, on a cool-toned beige with pale apricot ground. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen. The tone of caramel colour may vary depending upon whether it is blue or lilac based.

Caramel Tortie Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38pq, 72 41pq, 72 44pq, 72 45pq) - Markings of cool-toned metallic pale fawn graduating to honey with lilac overtones with shades of apricot, on a pale beige with pale apricot ground. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen. The tone of caramel colour may vary depending upon whether it is blue or lilac based.

Colour Descriptions of Silver Tabbies

Note: In the Black Silvers the contrast between the coat colour and the crisp silver is marked. However, in the other colours the silver may be muted.

Black Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 36s, 72 41s, 72 448, 72 45s) - Black markings on a silvery ground.

Brown Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38sq, 72 41sq, 72 448q, 72 45sq) - Rich warm seal brown markings on a paler silvery brown ground.

Blue Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38as, 72 41as, 72 44as, 72 45as) - Medium to dark blue markings on a paler silvery blue ground.

Blue Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38asq, 72 41asq, 72 44asq, 72 45asq) - Soft silvery blue markings on a paler silvery blue ground.

Chocolate Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour)(72 38bs, 72 41bs, 72 44bs, 72 45bs) - Rich warm chestnut brown markings on a paler silvery chocolate ground.

Chocolate Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38bsq, 72 41bsq, 72 44bsq, 72 45bsq) - Milk chocolate markings on a paler silvery milk chocolate ground.

Lilac Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38cs, 72 41cs, 72 44cs, 72 45cs) - Frosty pinkish grey markings on a paler silvery lilac ground.

Lilac Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38csq, 72 41csq, 72 44csq, 72 45csq) - Pale dove grey markings on a paler silvery lilac ground.

Red Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38ds, 72 41ds, 72 44ds, 72 45ds) - Rich medium to dark red markings on a silvery near-white ground.

Red Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38dsq, 72 41 dsq, 72 44dsq, 72 45dsq) - Light tangerine markings on a silvery near-white ground.

Cream Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38fs, 72 41fs, 72 44fs, 72 45fs) - Medium cool-toned cream markings on a silvery near-white ground.

Cream Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38fsq, 72 41fsq, 72 44fsq, 72 45fsq) - Cream markings on a silvery near-white ground.

Caramel Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38ns, 72 41ns, 72 44ns, 72 45ns) - Cool-toned bluish fawn markings on a paler silvery fawn ground. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen. The tone of caramel colour may vary depending upon whether it is blue or lilac based.

Caramel Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38nsq, 72 41nsq, 72 44nsq, 72 45nsq) - Cool-toned pale fawn markings with lilac overtones, on a paler silvery fawn ground. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen. The tone of caramel colour may vary depending upon whether it is blue or lilac based.

Apricot Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38fns, 72 41fns, 72 44fns, 72 45fns) - Warm intense pinkish cream markings with a cool dusty cast, on a silvery near-white ground. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen.

Apricot Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38insq, 72 4lfnsq, 72 44fnsq, 72 45fisq) - Pale warm pinkish cream markings on a silvery near-white ground. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen.

Black Tortie Silver Tabby (Full Expression) (72 38es, 72 41es, 72 44es, 72 45es) - Markings of jet black with shades of red, on a silver with pale red-silver ground.

Brown Tortie Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38esq, 72 41esq, 72 44esq, 72 45esq) - Markings of rich warm seal brown with shades of red, on a paler brown-silver with pale red-silver ground.

Blue Tortie Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38gs, 72 41gs, 72 44gs, 72 45gs) - Markings of medium to dark blue with shades of cream, on a paler blue-silver with pale cream-silver ground.

Blue Tortie Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38gsq, 72 41gsq, 72 44gsq, 72 45gsq) - Markings of soft silvery grey with shades of cream, on a paler blue-silver with pale cream-silver ground.

Chocolate Tortie Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38hs, 72 41hs, 72 44hs, 72 45hs) - Markings of rich warm chestnut brown with shades of red, on a paler chocolate-silver with pale red-silver ground.

Chocolate Tortie Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38hsq, 72 41 hsq, 72 44hsq, 72 45hsq) - Markings of warm milk chocolate with shades of red, on a paler chocolate-silver with pale red-silver ground.

Lilac Tortie Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38js, 72 41js, 72 44js, 72 45js) - Markings of frosty grey with a distinct pinkish cast with shades of cream, on a paler lilac-silver with pale cream-silver ground.

Lilac Tortie Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38jsq, 72 41jsq, 72 44jsq, 72 45jsq) - Markings of pale delicate dove grey with a slight pinkish cast, with shades of cream, on a paler lilac-silver with pale cream-silver ground.

Caramel Tortie Silver Tabby (Full Expression Colour) (72 38ps, 72 41ps, 72 44ps, 72 45ps) - Markings of cool-toned bluish fawn with shades of apricot, on a paler beige-silver with pale apricot-silver ground. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen. The tone of caramel colour may vary depending upon whether it is blue or lilac based.

Caramel Twilit Silver Tabby (Burmese Colour Restriction) (72 38psq, 72 41psq, 72 44psq, 72 45psq) - Markings of cool-toned pale fawn shading to honey with lilac overtones, with shades of apricot, on a paler beige-silver with pale apricot-silver ground. With maturity a soft metallic sheen may be seen. The tone of caramel colour may vary depending upon whether it is blue or lilac based.