*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 tabby cats are usually 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.
Only about 1 in 5 orange tabby cats is female
Because females possess two Xs and males possess XY, male cats only need the orange gene from their mothers to become a ginger—making them much more likely to carry on the trait.
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.
Female ginger cats are very rare because of genetics. The red colour is in fact dependent on the Orange gene with a dominant 'O' and a recessive 'o' gene.
The Sokoke Cat is the rarest domestic cat breed in the world, according to the UK's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF).
Male calicos have two X chromosomes and a Y chromosome that causes sterility. However, orange females do not have the same reproductive issues since they can receive either a black or orange coat color gene.
Entirely or primarily black cats will be less likely adopted—and more likely euthanized—than cats of other colors.
Lilac or lavender cats are not purple as their name indicates, but it is a very light color, almost dusty. This color is extremely rare from a genetics stand point, even in pedigree cats.
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).
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.
Orange cats show greater sexual dimorphism.
Orange males weigh more than cats of other colors, and orange females weigh less than cats of other colors. This pattern has been documented previously in Australia.
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 study found evidence from their behavior which found that cats with orange hair were reported to be more affectionate. Citing Psychology Today, the gene responsible for the color orange is linked to sex proves orange cats are predominantly male.
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.
Fun Fact #9: Like any other cat, an orange tabby will have its own personality. From affectionate to aloof, playful to reserved, outgoing to stranger-danger-obsessed, orange tabby cats really come in all shades—personality shades, that is.
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.
Queen. If your female cat has been spayed, she is referred to as a molly for her entire life. However, if your female cat reaches sexual maturity and begins her heat cycle, she can then be referred to as a queen. If you have a female cat who is pregnant or nursing, she is also considered a queen.
Tuxedo cats (black/white, gray/white) topped the rankings, scoring in the top percentile of all categories. Beautiful and loving, tuxedos enjoy humans, respect their surroundings, and never miss when nature calls!
Black cats seem to be the most common coat color and sadly also the least desirable at adoption time. In fact, black cats are half as likely to find a home than a cat of another color.
Black cats are also most often ignored by many rescue groups because they are so hard to place. These cats are often left waiting in pounds and shelters with hopes of finding a loving home, only to be destroyed once their time is up.
Some cats exhibit what is called “silent heat.” The cats are in heat, they develop follicles on their ovaries and are fertile, but they show no behavioral signs of being in heat. These cats will allow a male to mate with them. Silent heat is more commonly seen in cats who are lower down in the social hierarchy.
Researchers found that only 17 to 22 percent of white cats with non-blue eyes are born deaf. The percentage rises to 40 percent if the cat has one blue eye, while upwards of 65 to 85 percent of all-white cats with both eyes blue are deaf. Some of these cats are deaf in only one ear.
In cats, orange fur is sex-linked, meaning the gene is on the X chromosome (unlike black fur, which is an autosomal trait). This means XX females get two copies of the "orange" gene and XY males (i.e. Bennie) get one.