also: サバとら · さばトラ · さばとら
noun
mackerel tabby; grey tabby (cat)
Refers to a cat coat pattern with narrow, vertical stripes resembling a mackerel skeleton. Common in domestic cats.
うちの猫はサバトラで、背中に縞模様がある。
Our cat is a mackerel tabby, with stripes on its back.
Compound of サバ (mackerel) and トラ (tiger), referring to the mackerel-like striped pattern. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a descriptive term used in cat fancy.