10 Facts About Orange Cats! (2024)

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by Dr. Rebecca MacMillan

  • by Dr. Rebecca MacMillan

May 22, 2022

|

Updated: Jul 20, 22

Many people are fans of orange cats, there is something captivating about their personalities as well as their good looks. Let’s have a look at some interesting facts about these fabulous felines!

1. Orange cats are not a breed of their own

Orange cats are not their own breed. Orange is just a coat color, a variation that can be seen in many breeds of cats. Shades can vary from pale orange to a very rich almost red color.

2. Orange cats are not a solid color

Orange cats are never solid in color, instead, they are always striped, a pattern that is known as tabby. There are variations in the types of stripes each cat has. There are 4 main patterns seen –

  • Mackerel – tiger-like stripes
  • Ticked – the cat doesn’t at first appear to have stripes, but in the lighter parts of the coat each hair has alternating light and dark bands
  • Spotted – the cat has spots instead of tiger stripes
  • Classic – a swirled pattern

Orange cats are never solid in color, instead, they are always striped, a pattern that is known as tabby.

3. Most orange cats are marked with an ‘M’

Due to their tabby cat stripes, most orange cats will have an M-shaped marking on their forehead. There are many legends surrounding this M. The first is from the ancient Egyptians where cats were called Mau (due to the noise they make). The Islamic world suggests that Mohammed had a tabby called Muezza who saved his master’s life. Every tabby born with an M is a reminder of Mohammed’s love for his cat. Others believe the mark came from Mary stroking a tabby cat that kept baby Jesus warm in his manger.

4. Orange male cats outnumber female cats

Orange males are much more common than orange females. It is thought that 80% of orange cats are male! This is because the gene that controls color is linked to sex, with the code for the orange color found on the X chromosome.
As female cats have two X chromosomes and males have an X and a Y chromosome, this means that a female cat needs to inherit two orange genes in order to be orange in color (one from each parent) whereas a male cat only needs to inherit one. The chance of receiving two orange genes is unlikely, given that other colors are more often more prevalent in the cat population, like black. This explains why male cats are much more likely to be orange than females.

Orange males are much more common than orange females. It is thought that 80% of orange cats are male!

5. The orange color is due to a pigment found in red-haired people too

Though the exact shade of orange can vary considerably between cats, it is all due to a particular pigment calledpheomelanin. This is the same pigment that causes red hair in people too!

6. Orange cats can have short or long hair

A variety of breeds can have orange fur. Long-haired breeds like Persians, Turkish Angora cats, and Maine coons can all carry orange tabby colorations. Equally orange hues are seen in exotic shorthairs, the Devon Rex, and Scottish folds. Outside of pedigree breeds, the orange tabby color can exist in both domestic short-haired and domestic long-haired moggies.

Though the exact shade of orange can vary considerably between cats, it is all due to a particular pigment calledpheomelanin.

7. There are lots of orange celebrity cats!

We seem to be attracted to orange cats, and there are many celebrity ones that are a testament to this! Garfield is a very famous orange cat with a sassy attitude and penchant for lasagne. But Puss in Boots in Shrek is also an orange tabby, as is Heathcliff and also Crookshanks in Harry Potter (Hermione’s pet).

8. They tend to develop black freckles

Black freckles are a common finding in orange cats. These tend to be most obvious around the lips and nose, and areas where the fur is thin. These marks don’t tend to develop until the cat is a year or two of age and are similar to freckles found in red-headed humans.

Black freckles are a common finding in orange cats. These tend to be most obvious around the lips and nose, and areas where the fur is thin.

9. Orange cats can have a variety of eye colors

The eyes of ginger cats can be bright blue, striking green, golden, or even copper in color. Blue eyes are much less common than some of the other shades, however. Most orange cats will have green or gold-colored eyes.

10. Their color inspires a variety of names

The names that people give their orange cats are often inspired by their beautiful fur color. Some of the more common ones include the likes of Rusty, Ginger, Tigger, Marmalade, Cheeto, and Garfield.
If you own an orange cat, then you already know how special they are! If this article has inspired you to get a furry orange friend then speak to your vet first about what to look out for when it comes to choosing a healthy kitten.

FAQ

An orange cat is also called a tabby cat. The term tabby just means stripes of alternating pale and darker colors, it is a coat type rather than a specific breed. Orange tabby cats can vary from pale cream through to rich dark red shades.

Whilst there is no official rating for the friendliest cat, most people would agree that orange cats usually have nice temperaments. They do seem to be friendlier than other coat colors. Of course, there are always exceptions to this though!

Orange cats aren’t rare per se, but orange female cats are. Only 20% of orange cats are female, so chances are if you come across an orange cat then it will probably be male.

The exact reason orange cats are the friendliest is unclear, but it is thought they are quite sociable creatures. People are also more naturally drawn to orange hues, so may interact more with an orange cat than they would with other coat colors. The more affection and attention a cat receives, the more affectionate he is likely to be, especially if he has had lots of positive experiences as a kitten.

10 Facts About Orange Cats! (4)

Dr. Rebecca MacMillan

Rebecca is a companion animal vet who has always had a passion for writing and client communication. Since her graduation from the Royal Veterinary college in 2009, she has gained a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, in both clinical and managerial roles. She currently works in the South West and deals with a variety of routine and emergency appointments, but particularly enjoys medicine cases. Outside of work and writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her bouncy flat-coated retriever George!

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FAQs

10 Facts About Orange Cats!? ›

We can make no promises, of course, but the orange cat personality is one that is notorious for being fun and friendly. There's no universal consensus on this, and you're bound to get some gingers who are grumps, but if you've got a big fluffy orange cat, there's a good chance you've got a charmer.

What is special about orange cats? ›

We can make no promises, of course, but the orange cat personality is one that is notorious for being fun and friendly. There's no universal consensus on this, and you're bound to get some gingers who are grumps, but if you've got a big fluffy orange cat, there's a good chance you've got a charmer.

Are orange cats talkative? ›

Though temperament varies greatly across orange tabbies, National Geographic reports that personality may be somewhat linked to coat color. They also suggest orange tabbies tend to be more talkative than other cats.

Do orange cats eat more? ›

The color of a cat's coat has NOTHING to do with their personality, longevity, smartness, or how much they eat. Each cat is their own individual self, it has nothing to do with their coat color.

Are orange cats bigger? ›

On top of being prone to weight gain, they're also usually a bit bigger than other cats. While the difference isn't extreme, they are slightly taller (and sometimes wider). Perhaps most of that is because they are males who are larger than females in any pattern.

What is a orange cats personality? ›

The researchers focused on human perceptions of cat personality, surveying 189 cat owners on the personalities of their feline companions. They found that orange cats were rated “relatively high in friendliness and low in aloofness and shyness” compared to other colors of kitty.

Do orange cats cuddle more? ›

YOGYAKARTA – The assumption that the orange cat is a bad cat has turned out to be the reason the researchers conducted the survey. The study found evidence from their behavior which found that cats with orange hair were reported to be more affectionate.

What color cat is the friendliest? ›

When comparing the cats by coat color, gray cats had the highest scores for shyness, aloofness and intolerance, while orange cats had the highest scores for trainability, friendliness and calmness. Tabby cats had the highest scores for bold and active, tricolor cats for stubborn, and bicolor cats for tolerant.

How long do orange cats live? ›

Indoor tabby cats, like any other domestic cats, generally have a lifespan of around 12 to 16 years. However, with proper care, nutrition, and regular veterinary check-ups, some tabby cats have been known to live into their early twenties.

Do orange cats get fat easily? ›

Ginger cats are prone to obesity.

Speaking of food, orange tabbies love eating so much they go obese. Garfield, a cartoon mascot, is one of the examples of how much this breed enjoys food. Even though the biggest snugglers and cutest lap buddies, tabbies tend to grow lazy over time.

Do orange cats have bad eyesight? ›

While vision is widely variable in animals, it is not common for ginger cats to be short or near sighted.

Why does my orange cat bite so much? ›

Cats bite for a variety of reasons – this can be because they are scared, maybe trying to avoid an experience they dislike such as over-handling or being held, or have learnt or have been taught that predatory play is enjoyable.

What do you call an orange cat? ›

Ginger cats are hard to miss. Also called red, orange, orange tabby, marmalade, tiger-cat and cinnamon, this distinctive feline can certainly strike a charismatic pose. From 9Lives Morris to Garfield to Puss in Boots, ginger cats are some of the most celebrated felines in television and film.

Do orange cats shed? ›

Dealing with Shedding: Like all cats, Orange Tabbies shed their fur during certain times of the year. During shedding season, it's necessary to groom the cat more frequently and regularly collect the shed fur. Skin Health and Coat Care: Possible skin diseases or parasites in cats directly affect fur health.

What breed is orange cat? ›

Whether you call them orange, red, ginger or marmalade tabbies, orange tabby cats are not a specific breed of cat, rather it is referring to their fur color. Orange tabbies can be many different breeds, from Persian and Maine Coon to your standard Domestic Short Hair!

Why are orange cats so different? ›

SEX DISPARITY: WHY MOST GINGER CATS ARE MALE

We won't get too deep into the intricacies of feline genetics, however the 'ginger' gene which produces the red/orange colouring is on the X chromosome. A female cat has two X chromosomes and needs to inherit two copies of this gene from each parent to become a ginger.

Why are orange cats so rare? ›

As female cats have two X chromosomes and males have an X and a Y chromosome, this means that a female cat needs to inherit two orange genes in order to be orange in color (one from each parent) whereas a male cat only needs to inherit one.

Why do orange cats behave differently? ›

The Science Behind Orange Cat Behavior

While there is no definitive scientific explanation for why orange cats behave differently, several theories have been proposed. It is believed that the orange color gene, known as the O gene, may be linked to certain behavioral traits.

Is there anything different about orange cats? ›

As much as we'd love to put them in a category all their own, orange cats don't qualify as their own distinct breed. Instead, orange fur is just one coat variety found in a number of breeds, with shades ranging from creamy pastel to a sun-soaked tangerine.

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