Ginger Cat Appreciation Day was inspired by one specific ginger cat
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In 1997, a software developer named Chris Roy found a stray cat near his home. He took the fluffy ginger home and, while he initially only wanted to foster the cat, he decided to adopt him. When the cat, called Doobert, passed away at the age of 17, Roy dedicated September 1st as Ginger Cat Appreciation Day and even launched the online app ‘Doobert’ to find rescue volunteers for stray cats.
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In 1997, a software developer named Chris Roy found a stray cat near his home. He took the fluffy ginger home and, while he initially only wanted to foster the cat, he decided to adopt him. When the cat, called Doobert, passed away at the age of 17, Roy dedicated September 1st as Ginger Cat Appreciation Day and even launched the online app ‘Doobert’ to find rescue volunteers for stray cats.
Ginger cats are marked with an ‘O’ on their forehead
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All ginger cats do have a characterizing mark on the forehead, but it comes in the shape of the letter M. Why exactly this shape isn’t clear, but it probably has something to do with the genes behind the tabby coat pattern, which all ginger cats have. Or, perhaps the ‘M’ stands for ‘Meow’? Who knows!
SORRY, YOU’VE GOT IT WRONG…
All ginger cats do have a characterizing mark on the forehead, but it comes in the shape of the letter M. Why exactly this shape isn’t clear, but it probably has something to do with the genes behind the tabby coat pattern, which all ginger cats have. Or, perhaps the ‘M’ stands for ‘Meow’? Who knows!
Ginger cats are more prone to develop freckles
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In humans, many redheads show a light skin with mesmerizing freckles. The same may happen in orange cats, although cat freckles are slightly different from human ones. In cats, freckles have a black color and often get missed because of the dense fur on a feline’s body. Want to know more about ginger cats and their freckles? Read our dedicated article!
SORRY, YOU’VE GOT IT WRONG…
In humans, many redheads show a light skin with mesmerizing freckles. The same may happen in orange cats, although cat freckles are slightly different from human ones. In cats, freckles have a black color and often get missed because of the dense fur on a feline’s body. Want to know more about ginger cats and their freckles? Read our dedicated article!
A tiger’s vibrant orange coat makes for the perfect camouflage
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Although we humans mostly use orange to let things stand out – think about safety vests and overalls – the opposite is true in the wild. The average person has trichromatic vision and is able to see color combinations of blue, green, and red. Most wild animals, on the other hand, can’t see the red variations and thus can’t distinguish red shades from green ones. Therefore, the orange coat color of tigers blends in perfectly with the green background – at least through the eyes of the jungle!
SORRY, YOU’VE GOT IT WRONG…
Although we humans mostly use orange to let things stand out – think about safety vests and overalls – the opposite is true in the wild. The average person has trichromatic vision and is able to see color combinations of blue, green, and red. Most wild animals, on the other hand, can’t see the red variations and thus can’t distinguish red shades from green ones. Therefore, the orange coat color of tigers blends in perfectly with the green background – at least through the eyes of the jungle!
Ginger cats can’t be exposed to the sun
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While cats with a white or ginger coat have less of the protective skin pigment melanin, this doesn’t mean your fair-skinned feline should be kept out of the sun at all times. In summer, do however apply pet-safe sunscreen to exposed areas with little fur, such as the nose, belly, and ear tips to prevent sunburn. When it’s particularly hot outside, make sure to keep your cat indoors, regardless of their coat color or length.
SORRY, YOU’VE GOT IT WRONG…
While cats with a white or ginger coat have less of the protective skin pigment melanin, this doesn’t mean your fair-skinned feline should be kept out of the sun at all times. In summer, do however apply pet-safe sunscreen to exposed areas with little fur, such as the nose, belly, and ear tips to prevent sunburn. When it’s particularly hot outside, make sure to keep your cat indoors, regardless of their coat color or length.