Cat coat genetics as "transmembrane aminopeptidase Q" ("Taqpep"), which also produces the king cheetah coat variant. Spotted tabbies have their stripes broken up into spots, which may be arranged vertically or horizontally. A 2010 study suggests that spotted is caused by the modification of mackerel stripes, and may cause varying phenotypes such as "broken mackerel" tabbies via multiple loci. The "Ticked" gene, "T / t", produces an "Abyssinian ticked" or non-patterned agouti tabby with the dominant allele, having virtually no stripes or bars. Stripes usually remain to some extent on the face, tail, legs, and sometimes the chest. The dominant ticked tabby allele
Rusty-spotted cat of cultivation are serious problems for wildlife in both India and Sri Lanka. Although there are several records of rusty-spotted cats from cultivated and settled areas, it is not known to what degree cat populations are able to persist in such areas. There have been occasional reports of rusty-spotted cat skins in trade. In some areas, they are hunted for food or as livestock pests. The Indian population is listed on CITES Appendix I. The Sri Lankan population is included on CITES Appendix II. The species is fully protected over most of its range, with hunting and trade banned in