ontheedgeofeverything

Anyone who identifies as a cat person has likely heard about the reputation orange cats have earned for themselves. They’re absolutely nuts in the best way possible, and while all cats are rather curious, interesting creatures, orange cats seemingly take these characteristics to an entirely new level, right out of the atmosphere itself.

My family and I have always had orange cats in the mix, and Blaine and I have one of our own – Timmy, the feral kitten we managed to catch and rescue. Timmy is now about five months old, and because he is growing both physically and in terms of intelligence, he is beginning to show his personality a bit more, and it has been nothing short of hilarious.

I thought I would Google some interesting facts about orange cats to share with all of you, and the following information comes from rover.com.

“1. If he’s orange, he’s a tabby

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.

“2. That said, some cat breeds have more cases of orange fur

Certain cat breeds are more likely to produce an orange-hued kitty. Some breeds lucky enough to sport an orange coat are the American bobtail, the exotic shorthair, the devon rex, and the Scottish fold.

“3. They all look good in stripes

Interestingly, you’ll never find an orange cat with a solid-colored coat. All orange cats come in a striped pattern, with four different types: mackerel (tiger-esque stripes), ticked (hair with alternating light and dark bands), spotted, and classic (swirled).

“4. They have something in common with red-headed humans

Your miniature tiger may share more with your favorite ginger friend than you thought. The pigment responsible for an orange cat’s color is called pheomelanin, which also causes red hair in humans. Manifesting in a range of shades from red to cream, this pigment is what makes your cat’s coat stand out.

“5. Males outnumber females

If you’re looking to adopt an orange cat, the chances are high you’ll have an easier time finding a male cat. Males account for a whopping 80% of ginger cats. It’s all about genetics.

Here’s a quick high school biology refresher: in the world of DNA, females have two X chromosomes and males have the XY chromosome. This becomes important when you look at where the ‘ginger gene’ occurs. As Science Focus explains, the gene responsible for your cat’s orange color is on the X chromosome. Because they have two X chromosomes, females need the gene for orange hair to occur twice. With males, one gene is all it takes to create a beautiful ginger kitty.

“6. Orange cats are Chatty Cathys

Gary Weitzman, head veterinarian at the San Diego Humane Society reported to National Geographic that cat personalities are, in fact, tied to their coat color. Guess which coat won Weitzman’s vote for ‘most gregarious?’ Our spunky, outgoing orange tabbies, of course!

“7. They were beloved by a famous historical figure

That’s right. Winston Churchill himself was a major fan of marmalade cats. The former British Prime Minister had a special affection for his orange cat, Jock. After Churchill’s death in 1965, his historic home was given to the nation on the condition that an orange cat named Jock would always reside there. Now that’s what we call a true cat lover,” the web page explains.

There ya have it, folks. Orange cats really are quite interesting.

Photo by Amber Kipp on Unsplash