Torbie (tabby tortoiseshell) cat
Also called: Torbie, Tortie tabby, Tabby tortoiseshell, Patched tabby.
A tortoiseshell with stripes: patches of orange and patches of brown (or grey) tabby mixed together. The name “torbie” comes from tortie and tabby. Like the tortoiseshell, she is almost always female.
What it looks like
Areas of brown tabby with their pattern (mackerel, classic or spotted) mixed with orange areas, which are striped too. The “M” on the forehead is clear. She may have white (then she is a tabby tortoiseshell and white, or “caliby”). The dilute version mixes blue tabby and cream.
The genetics, made simple
She is a tortoiseshell that also has the agouti gene, the one that lets the tabby pattern show. In an ordinary (non-agouti) tortoiseshell, the patches that are not orange come out solid black; in a torbie they come out tabby. The orange areas are always striped, in both. Like the tortoiseshell, it depends on the X chromosome and the random inactivation of one of the two Xs.
Myths and what science says
“She is a tabby with dirty patches”
The orange areas of a torbie are just as genetic as the rest. Sometimes the orange is so sparse it only shows on the legs or face, and she is hard to recognise.
Fun facts
- It is common in domestic cats, although often mistaken for an ordinary tabby.
- If the orange shows only as a few scattered hairs, some registries still describe her as a tabby tortoiseshell.
- The shade of the tabby areas depends on the base colour: brown, blue, chocolate…
Does it affect its health?
The colour does not cause disease. Torbie males, as rare as tortie males, are usually sterile.
Breeds where it appears or is typical
This coat turns up in plenty of moggies. These are breeds where it is common, characteristic or accepted; under each one, the colours the breed comes in.
European Shorthair
Shorthair · Europe
Almost all: tabby, black, white, bicolour, tortoiseshell, red…; no colourpoint, chocolate or lilac in pedigree cats
Maine Coon
Forest · United States
Almost all; the classic is brown tabby. No colourpoint in most registries
Norwegian Forest Cat
Forest · Norway
Almost all except colourpoint, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn; lots of white and tabby
Siberian
Forest · Russia
All; the Neva Masquerade is its colourpoint variety
American Shorthair
Shorthair · United States
Dozens of colours; the most famous is the classic silver tabby
British Shorthair
Shorthair · United Kingdom
Blue (the classic), black, white, cream, lilac, chocolate, silver, golden, bicolours, colourpoint…
Frequently asked questions
What is a torbie cat?
A tabby tortoiseshell: a mix of orange areas and areas of brown or grey tabby.
Are torbies almost always female too?
Yes, for the same reason as tortoiseshells: it takes two X chromosomes.
How do I tell a torbie from a tabby?
Look for orange or reddish patches mixed in with the brown or grey tabby, especially on the legs, face and sides.
Educational content from Michipedia. The genetics of coat colour are simplified so they are easy to follow; colour tells you nothing about the personality of a particular cat.