A tabby is any domestic cat (Felis catus) that has a coat featuring distinctive stripes, dots, lines or swirling patterns, always together with a mark resembling an 'M' on its forehead. The Mackerel tabby pattern has vertical, gently curving stripes on the side of the body. The stripes are narrow and may be continuous or broken into bars and spots on the flanks and stomach. Harrison William Weir (May 5, 1824 - January 31, 1906) was an English gentleman and artist. In 1889, he wrote Our Cats and All About Them describing and illustrating the pedigree varieties of the time.