Did you know orange tabby cats are typically male? In fact, up to 80 percent of orange tabbies are male, making orange female cats a bit of a rarity. 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.
This is because the gene that causes a cat to be orange is linked to sex, and statistically most orange cats are boys. 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!
Their gender:
*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.
Is every orange tabby cat male? While it's true that a higher percentage of orange tabbies are male, the ratio is actually about 80 percent male to 20 percent female. And it's not some sort of magic — it's genetics. The X chromosome is responsible for the orange coloring.
Due to the fact females have so many more possible combinations, they're less likely to be ginger and as such only 20% are. A huge 80% of all ginger cats are male, as there are far less variables involved.
Gingers are generally known for their super-chill and loving purr-sonalities – yep, you read that right – and are often described as 'velcro' cats. You know, because they like to closely attach themselves to humans…the Bengal and Siamese breeds are good examples.
Ginger cats love to sit on their humans' laps and even nap on their shoulders. They give plenty of headbutts, nose boops, and kisses, even with unfamiliar people (provided they are treated respectfully). Female ginger cats, however, are considered aggressive and irritable.
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!
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.
Key points. 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.
Often referred to as marmalade or ginger cats, orange tabby cats boast personalities that are as spirited and warm as their coloring. Affectionate, curious, and friendly, orange tabbies are some of the chattiest cats and make wonderful pets if you're looking for a funny, sunny companion.
While a cat's gender doesn't seem to make a difference in terms of affection, Posluns notes that studies of cat personality also suggest it has little influence on the type of relationship with their owner. But in contrast, "an owner's gender has a much more significant impact on the cat-human bond," she says.
It is uncommon for a female cat to have orange or ginger-colored (or orange-and-white striped) fur. For those with an orange cat, there's a good chance that it is a male. A cat that has given birth is far more likely to have visually obvious nipples (though both males and females do have nipples).
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.
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.
The Sokoke cat is said to be the rarest cat in the world. Rather than being a man-created breed, the Sosoke is a naturally occurring, tiny wildcat that can be found only in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Preserve in Kenya (Africa).
Entirely or primarily black cats will be less likely adopted—and more likely euthanized—than cats of other colors.
It's a common misconception that orange cats are always male. However, around 80% of them are. The color of a cat's fur depends on genetics linked to their sex, so orange cats inherit their color from their mother, with female cats needing orange genes from both parents rather than one.
The color orange has to be present on all X-chromosomes that the cat has. A male cat has 1 X-chromosome, while a female cat has 2 X-chromosomes. Therefore, a male cat has to inherit the color orange only from his mother (his father's color does not matter).
They are also chatty kitties. Orange tabbies are known to be quite talkative. All orange cats are tabbies, but not all tabbies are orange.
Most ginger breeds tend to be clingy, displaying attached behavior such as following and staying close to humans who are nearby.
Good luck: In many cultures, ginger cats are considered to bring good luck. Their presence in a home is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune.
Male gingers are bigger than other cats.
Male ginger cats are larger than other males, possibly giving them an advantage when it comes to breeding, as well as the confidence behind their friendly, risk-taking personality. On the other hand, female ginger cats are known to be smaller than females with other fur colors.