Are Tabby Cats American Shorthair?

I once had a neighbor who called every striped cat she saw a “Tabby Shorthair.” She was convinced it was a real breed.

One day she pointed at my cat Oliver—proudly wearing his swirly tabby coat—and said, “Another American Shorthair, huh?” I just smiled, but deep down, I knew it was time we all talked about this.

So… What’s a Tabby Cat, Really?

The word tabby doesn’t mean a breed. It’s a coat pattern. Think stripes, swirls, spots, or that classic ‘M’ on the forehead—that’s what makes a cat a tabby.

Tabby is like the outfit. Not the person.

You can have tabby Persians, tabby Maine Coons, tabby random street cats… and yes, tabby American Shorthairs too.

By the way, if you're into American Shorthair stuff, you’ll wanna check this one out: How Much Should an American Shorthair Cat Weigh?

And American Shorthair? That’s the Breed

Now this is a real breed with a family tree. American Shorthairs (let’s call them ASH to sound official) are known for:

Round faces
Strong builds
Short, dense coats
Chill, low-drama vibes

They were originally brought to the U.S. by early settlers to keep mice in check. And guess what? Many of them had tabby markings. That’s probably where the mix-up started.

Oh, and speaking of American Shorthair, here’s another one you might like: How Much Are American Shorthair Cats?

So Can an American Shorthair Be Tabby?

Yes. A million times yes.

In fact, the silver tabby is one of the most popular and iconic American Shorthair coat types. If you Google “American Shorthair,” odds are the first cat you see has that silvery, stripy look.

But not all American Shorthairs are tabby.

And not all tabbies are American Shorthair.

It’s like saying “All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares.” Except fluffier.

Quick Comparison

Here’s a little cheat sheet if your brain’s already tired:

Feature	Tabby Cat	American Shorthair
What it means	Coat pattern	Actual cat breed
Common features	Stripes, spots, swirls, ‘M’	Stocky body, short fur
Breed status	Not a breed	Registered breed
Can overlap?	Yes, many ASH are tabby	Yes, but not always tabby

Also, just throwing this in—this American Shorthair post is a fun read too: American Shorthair vs Domestic Shorthair: What’s the Actual Difference?

Different Types of Tabby Patterns

Let’s geek out a bit. These are the classic tabby styles you’ll see—whether the cat is American Shorthair or not:

Classic Tabby – Bold swirls like a cinnamon roll. This is Oliver’s style.
Mackerel Tabby – Thin stripes down the sides like a tiger.
Spotted Tabby – Think leopard-lite.
Ticked Tabby – No obvious stripes, but still a tabby. Look closely at the hair.
Patched Tabby – Tabby coat with patches of red or cream. Usually in females.

How to Tell if Your Tabby is an American Shorthair

If you rescued your cat from behind a gas station dumpster, probably not.

But if your cat came with papers or you got them from a breeder, check for these:

Thick, muscular body (not long and lean)
Wide, round head with full cheeks
Ears that are more rounded than pointy
Calm, relaxed attitude—these cats are chill

Still not sure? A vet or genetic test can help figure it out.

Why It Matters (or Doesn’t)

Truth is, unless you’re showing your cat at a competition or running a kitty ancestry.com, it doesn’t really matter. Most of us just want a soft purring buddy who sometimes steps on our laptop.

But understanding the difference between a coat pattern and a breed can help you: