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Are orange cats a separate breed?
Unlike what some people might believe, ginger cats are not a separate breed. Orange felines can be found in many different cat breeds and are slightly more common in some. Since a cat’s personality is not determined by their coat color, there’s no such thing as “orange cat behavior”. So, then what is it that makes these ginger kitties so unique?
What makes orange cats so special?
All orange cats are tabbies
Tabby cats are the tigers of the cat world. They carry a gene called ‘agouti’ that gives them their special, mostly striped markings. As the orange color is always linked to the agouti gene, you’ll never find a cat with a solid orange coat – all orange cats are tabbies.
While some cats may appear to have a solid orange coat, their fur is actually ticked. This means they have alternately light and dark bands on each hair, which creates a very special pattern.
Orange cats share DNA with ginger people
The pigment that is responsible for the exceptional coat color of orange cats is called pheomelanin. And guess what: it’s the exact same pigment that gives ginger people their vibrant hair color! You might have more in common with your cat than you think. How cool is that! And it gets even better…
Ginger cats often have freckles
Just like in humans, ginger cats are more likely to develop freckles, though they look a little different. Orange kitties may develop black spots – also known as lentigo spots or lentigines – on their nose, gums, tongue, or eyelid. These freckles are harmless and simply appear because of a higher concentration of melanin in the affected area.
Most ginger cats are male
Did you know that about 80% of all ginger cats are tomcats? This has to do with the fact that the color of a cat’s coat is determined by the X chromosome, and female cats have 2 X chromosomes (XX), while males only have one (XY). If you want to know the ins and outs, check out our super interesting article on why ginger cats are mostly male.
So, while full orange female cats are pretty uncommon, they are nowhere near as rare as male calico cats, who represent less than 0.1% of the total calico population. Make sure to check out our article on the calico cats to find out more!
