Did you know? Not only is a tiger's fur striped, but so is its skin. [VID: Why do tigers have stripes? A tiger's stripes provide camouflage while hunting. Their vertical stripes are an example of "disruptive coloration." The stripes help break up the cat’s shape and size so it blends in with trees and tall grasses. Striping varies among the six tiger subspecies. For example, the Sumatran tiger has much narrower and more numerous stripes than other subspecies. This helps it stay hidden in its den