Females must have two copies to be orange. So while female orange cats are not rare, females are just as likely to inherit genes for other colors, making them tortoiseshells or patched tabbies.
Albino. We'll finish out our list of rare cat colors with the rarest of them all: albino. This is when there's no coloring at all, and it impacts not just a cat's fur, but also its eyes and skin.
*This is because the “ginger gene” which produces the orange color is on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes and so need two copies of this gene to become ginger, whereas males need only one. This means there are roughly three males to one female ginger cat.
Orange cats are thought to be friendlier and more affectionate than other cats. Orange cats may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors that result in death. Orange male cats may enjoy greater social status and thus reproductive success in rural locations.
Only about 1 in 5 orange cats are female, so if you have an orange girl cat, consider yourself blessed with an extra special pet! Of course, a rare cat like an orange girl cat deserves an extra-special name.
According to owner responses, female cats with orange in their coats are considered the most aggressive and irritable toward unfamiliar people, mainly when being handled.
Nearly all orange cats have stripes, spots and/or patches of white fur. The rare exception is a solid red Maine Coon, whose fur is uniformly reddish-orange from ear tip to tail.
Orange cats were regarded as the friendliest by respondents, while white cats were labeled aloof, and tortoiseshell cats were thought to have too much "attitude." The subject was revisited in a University of California Davis study a few years later. This time, results were tabulated from 1,274 completed surveys.
Fun Facts About Orange Tabbies
They tend to be snuggly. Some orange tabbies are so affectionate that they are often cat-egorized as “velcro” kitties. They are also chatty kitties. Orange tabbies are known to be quite talkative.
Most orange tabbies are very friendly cats, whether they are loving and calm or outgoing and busy. However, there are a few breeds that produce orange tabbies that are aloof an uninterested in human affection.
Unfortunately, orange cats tend to have more health issues than other cats. They can develop allergies that lead to skin issues and hair loss, but they're most commonly known for their weight issues. Orange tabbies are prone to obesity because of their love of food.
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.
Undoubtedly, the world's most famous orange cat made his entrance to American culture in 1978 and is still going strong. Of course, we're talking about Garfield. The sleepy, chubby, coffee-loving, Monday-hating feline holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for the most syndicated comic strip.
Entirely or primarily black cats will be less likely adopted—and more likely euthanized—than cats of other colors.
Orange tabby cats are usually male.
According to the BBC's Focus Magazine, the ginger gene in cats works a little differently compared to humans; it is on the X chromosome. Males only need one copy of the gene to become a ginger cat while female cats have two X chromosomes and require two copies of the gene.
Ginger tabbies are well-known for their clingy nature, and that's likely a reason why so many cat lovers are fond of them.
Garfield is an orange tabby cat of an unspecified breed. The official word from his creator, Jim Davis, is that Garfield isn't one particular breed or even based off of a singular cat. Some people theorize that he could be a Persian, British Shorthair, or Maine Coon.
Burmese are often considered to be the most affectionate cat breed. They love being with people at all times and crave close physical contact, making them the ultimate companion cat for a devoted family. They will follow their owner from room to room and prefer to cuddle up on the sofa or sleep in bed with them.
The beautiful Cornish Rex cat is considered the prettiest cat in the world by many. The Cornish Rex is considered the prettiest cat in the world by many, but also one of the least attractive cats in the world by others. This breed does not have hair like other domesticated cats.
Fun Fact #8: They tend to be low-energy
In fact, many owners of orange tabbies will fully admit that their cats are just plain lazy. This is especially important to remember given what we already know about these orange felines—that is, they love to sit around and eat food.
The orange or ginger color does not have anything to do with size. A orange tabby can be a very small cat, a medium size cat, or a very large cat. Mathematicly, most orange tabby cats would fall into the average size. Then 80% are males which tend to be larger than females.
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.