Tabby Cats

A paper tabby cat in a folded-paper living room.

Fold 3, ages 8 to 10FOLD3AGES 8–10Fold 3 · Early Reader
Ages 8–10

Tabby CatsStripes, Swirls and a Letter M

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Words to know

tabby
a striped cat with an M on its face
M
a letter
mackerel
a tabby with thin stripes
swirl
a big, round stripe
cheetah
a big, fast wild cat
A paper tabby resting on a high shelf by a window.A paper tabby resting on a high shelf by a window.A paper tabby resting on a high shelf by a window.

A cat naps on a shelf in the sun. It has stripes!

A paper tabby resting on a high shelf by a window.A paper tabby resting on a high shelf by a window.A paper tabby resting on a high shelf by a window.

It is a tabby cat! How does a tabby get its stripes?

Omar Let's look close!
Three paper tabby cats in brown, silver and red.Three paper tabby cats in brown, silver and red.Three paper tabby cats in brown, silver and red.

Tabby is not a breed. It is a look that lots of cats have!

Three paper tabby cats in brown, silver and red.Three paper tabby cats in brown, silver and red.Three paper tabby cats in brown, silver and red.

Tabby cats can be red, brown or silver.

A paper tabby cat looking up, with the M marking on its forehead.A paper tabby cat looking up, with the M marking on its forehead.A paper tabby cat looking up, with the M marking on its forehead.

A tabby has an M on top of its face. Like a name tag, it can not come off!

A paper tabby cat looking up, with the M marking on its forehead.A paper tabby cat looking up, with the M marking on its forehead.A paper tabby cat looking up, with the M marking on its forehead.

All tabby cats have an M, with stripes or swirls.

Mila Can you make an M with your hands?
A paper mackerel tabby stretching on a windowsill.A paper mackerel tabby stretching on a windowsill.A paper mackerel tabby stretching on a windowsill.

A mackerel tabby cat has thin stripes down its sides. It has rings on its legs and tail. Its chest has stripes, like a necklace!

A paper mackerel tabby stretching on a windowsill.A paper mackerel tabby stretching on a windowsill.A paper mackerel tabby stretching on a windowsill.

It looks like a striped top with bands!

Omar Can you spot the rings?
A paper wildcat with a faint striped coat in desert grass.A paper wildcat with a faint striped coat in desert grass.A paper wildcat with a faint striped coat in desert grass.

Pet cats come from wild cats with thin stripes. So thin stripes came first!

A paper classic tabby with swirls and a bullseye on its side.A paper classic tabby with swirls and a bullseye on its side.A paper classic tabby with swirls and a bullseye on its side.

Change one gene, and thin stripes get big and swirl! A tabby cat with swirls is a classic tabby.

A paper classic tabby with swirls and a bullseye on its side.A paper classic tabby with swirls and a bullseye on its side.A paper classic tabby with swirls and a bullseye on its side.

Its sides have big spots in rings, like a bullseye!

Mila Can you spot the bullseye?
A paper king cheetah with spots joined into stripes and blotches.A paper king cheetah with spots joined into stripes and blotches.A paper king cheetah with spots joined into stripes and blotches.

The rare king cheetah has the tabby cat swirl gene! Its spots run into big blots and stripes.

A paper king cheetah with spots joined into stripes and blotches.A paper king cheetah with spots joined into stripes and blotches.A paper king cheetah with spots joined into stripes and blotches.

Look at a pet tabby and a rare king cheetah. They have a gene in common!

Omar Can you spot its stripes?
A paper tabby kitten asleep in a basket, already striped.A paper tabby kitten asleep in a basket, already striped.A paper tabby kitten asleep in a basket, already striped.

A tabby kitten's stripes begin in its skin. They are set while it is still inside its mom. It has no fluff yet!

A paper tabby kitten beside a grown tabby with the same stripes.A paper tabby kitten beside a grown tabby with the same stripes.A paper tabby kitten beside a grown tabby with the same stripes.

When a tabby kitten gets big, its stripes get big. It does not get extra stripes.

A paper tabby kitten beside a grown tabby with the same stripes.A paper tabby kitten beside a grown tabby with the same stripes.A paper tabby kitten beside a grown tabby with the same stripes.

Think of stripes on a balloon. As it fills up, the stripes get big with it!

Mila Can you spot the same stripes?
A paper tabby crouched to pounce on a paper toy mouse.A paper tabby crouched to pounce on a paper toy mouse.A paper tabby crouched to pounce on a paper toy mouse.

A cat can chase, jump on and grab a toy. It is like a hunt, just for fun!

A paper tabby resting on a high shelf by a window.A paper tabby resting on a high shelf by a window.A paper tabby resting on a high shelf by a window.

Up on a shelf, a cat can see it all.

A paper tabby beside its carrier in a vet room.A paper tabby beside its carrier in a vet room.A paper tabby beside its carrier in a vet room.

An upset cat can hide in a safe spot.

A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.

A cat can rub its chin on you. That puts its smell on you. It is a cat hello!

A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.

Some tabby cats like hugs. Some like to sit next to you, not on you. So sit still, and let the cat come to you.

A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.

Sit down and be calm. Do not grab. Let the cat pick.

A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.

The tabby steps up to you. It sniffs your hand.

A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.A paper tabby walking up to a quietly sitting paper child.

Then it rubs its chin on you. It picked you!

Mila Can you give it a soft hello?
A paper tabby kitten asleep in a basket, already striped.A paper tabby kitten asleep in a basket, already striped.A paper tabby kitten asleep in a basket, already striped.

So how does a tabby get its stripes? They are set in its skin, inside its mom!

Three paper tabby cats in brown, silver and red.Three paper tabby cats in brown, silver and red.Three paper tabby cats in brown, silver and red.

Pick the tabby fact you like best.

Omar Will you tell it to a friend?

Quick quiz

  1. Where are the rings on a mackerel tabby?

    Show the answer

    On its legs and tail.

  2. What can make thin stripes swirl?

    Show the answer

    Just one gene.

  3. What rare cat has the same gene?

    Show the answer

    The king cheetah.

  4. When does a tabby get its stripes?

    Show the answer

    When it is still inside its mom.

  5. How can you help a cat come to you?

    Show the answer

    Sit still and let it pick.

A paper tabby cat looking up, with the M marking on its forehead.A paper tabby cat looking up, with the M marking on its forehead.A paper tabby cat looking up, with the M marking on its forehead.

Spot an M on a cat? Then it is a tabby!

The end

Tabby Cats: Stripes, Swirls and a Letter M

See the printed pages
Front cover of Tabby Cats: The Secret of the Stripes, Fold 4The next fold upTabby Cats: The Secret of the StripesFold 4 · Explorer · Ages 10–12 All six books

For grown-ups

Read page 3's pictured words together first: tabby, M, mackerel, swirl and cheetah. Each is bold at first use. Most words sound out with first-grade phonics; read tail, bullseye, rare, breed, brown, silver, wild, first, change, balloon and toy for your child. Tabby is a coat pattern, not a breed. Page 30 has a quiz with answers. Let a cat start and end contact. Before this: Fold 1, Tab the Cat; next: Fold 4, Tabby Cats: The Secret of the Stripes.

Build independent reading with short sourced explanations.

Ages
8–10
Trim
6 × 9 in
Pages
32
Words
530
Reading grade
-0.1
See the printed pages

From the tabby cat episode of our video series.