Easy-going and laid-back, orange cats are perfect snuggle buddies. Though all ginger cats have individual personalities, consensus says these cats like to relax. This is likely because most orange cats are males. A whopping 80 of all orange tabby cats are. Marmalade cats tend to be slightly larger and taller than other cats. Most Orange Tabby Cats Are Males It may surprise you that it’s much more genetically possible to find an orange male than a female. This gene results in one of four possible tabby patterns: mackerel (tiger stripes), ticked (fur with alternating light and dark stripes), spotted, and classic (a swirled pattern). All tabby cats, including those that are orange, have a patterned coat caused by the agouti gene. There are no cats with solid-coloured orange coats. This could be because 80% of orange cats are male, and male cats tend to be more social and affectionate with both humans and other cats. While there’s no scientific studies to back this, orange cats are thought to be friendlier and more affectionate than other cats. This is the same pigment that causes red hair in humans. They Have Something in Common with Your Red-Headed Friends.Ī specific pigment called pheomelanin causes the orange coat colour. Lentigo increases in the number of pigment-producing cells, causing the freckles. Lentigo is not cause for worry in and of itself, though if you notice any changes, speak with your vet. And there are different tabby patterns, including mackerel, striped, and spotted. This is caused by a genetic condition caused lentigo, which is common in calico and tortoiseshell cats. Male and female orange tabbies come in two coat lengths, short and long. M any orange cats have dark freck les around their nose and/or gums. According to Gary Weitzman, head veterinarian at the San Diego Humane Society, cat personalities are tied to coat colour-and orange cats are far and away the most talkative of the bunch!Īlenkasm/bigstock 5. Males, on the other hand, have the XY chromosome, so they only need their one X gene to have the marker for orange colouring. Why? The marmalade colour comes from a sex-linked gene, with the X chromosome being responsible for the orange coloured fur.īecause females have two X chromosomes, females need the gene for orange fur to occur twice in both of their X genes. Orange Cats Are Almost Always Male.įour out of five orange tabby cats are born male-a whopping 80 percent of orange kittens will be boys. The trademark “M” marking is caused by the same gene that gives orange cats their tabby pattern. Though various legends attribute the “M” to everyone from the Virgin Mary to Mohammed, the real, science-backed explanation is in their DNA. Look for the “M.”Īll orange cats sport an “M” on their forehead. The word “tabby” originates from a striped silk made in Iraq. Many people mistakenly believe that “tabby” is a specific breed when in fact, it is a reference to the unique coat markings all tabby cats have. If Your Cat is Orange, It’s a Tabby.Īll orange cats are tabbies (though not all tabbies are orange). Read on for what makes orange cats unique! 1. There’s lots to love about orange cats, from their chatty disposition to their unique markings.

Male orange tabby cat