A tabby cat isn't a breed but a fur pattern of stripes, dots, lines, or swirls.
Wild cat pattern
The face is the easiest place to see tabby markings: darker "M" shaped markings on the forehead, dark "eyeliner" around the eyes that extend out to the cheek, and light fur around the eyes.
Tabby cats wll also have dark bands around their legs and tails.
Tabby cats wll have one of four different coat patterns: mackerel, classic, spotted, or ticked
This pattern features narrow stripes that run parallel to each other down the cat's side, resembling the bones of a fish, hence the name "mackerel."
Also known as "blotched" or "marbled," this pattern has bold, swirling designs with a distinctive bullseye on the side of the cat's body.
The spotted tabby has round or oval-shaped spots scattered across its sides, which can look like broken mackerel stripes.
This unique pattern lacks the typical stripes, swirls, or spots, and instead features individual hairs that are striped with alternating light and dark bands, giving a flecked appearance.
Some cats that appear to be one solid color can be hiding tabby patterns in their coats. In the right lighting, it's possible to see the faint tabby markings on these otherwise solidly colored cats.