What is the “orange cat personality”?
Orange tabbies are said to have a distinct personality from other cats. They’re thought by their owners to be more affectionate, funny, and weird than other cats. Orange cats are also considered chattier, so much so that the owner is able to understand their meows. Many feel orange cats are strong-willed, and there’s some evidence that they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that can result in death. Owners feel the orange cat’s affectionate nature and strong love of treats make them more trainable. In spite of their trainability, some believe orange cats, also known as ginger or marmalade cats, are not as smart as other cats and jokingly claim that all orange cats share one brain cell. However, others believe orange cats are very intelligent and can learn to open doors.
Is “orange cat behavior” real?
No studies show a strong connection between color and personality. Most of the studies showing a connection are based on the owner’s perception of their cat’s behavior, possibly due to confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is when someone sees new information as a confirmation of their existing beliefs.
It’s more likely that personality is related to breed. This is probably due to human intervention, with people breeding cats for both appearance and a pleasant temperament. Breeds associated with orange tabby markings are: Abyssinian American Bobtail American Curl American Shorthair American Wirehair Birman Egyptian Mau Exotic Shorthair Javanese Maine Coon Manx Norwegian Forest Cat Ocicat Oriental Persian Ragdoll Rex Scottish Fold Siberian Somali Turkish Angora Turkish Van
What do orange tabbies look like?
Orange tabbies are orange and white with stripes, spots, or patches. The orange color comes from a natural melanin pigment called pheomelanin, which is the pigment that causes red hair in humans. They commonly have freckles on their nose and mouth. Their coats range from a deep auburn shade to pale cream in one of 5 different pattern types: Classic: The classic orange tabby pattern has orange and white stripes that create a swirl or bullseye near the cat’s midsection. Mackerel: The Mackerel orange tabby is striped like a tiger with the classic “M” on their forehead. Spotted: The spotted orange tabby’s stripes are broken up, so they look like a leopard. Ticked: The ticked pattern appears to be a solid orange, but they have a speckled pattern with tabby markings on their heads. Patched or Harlequin: These cats are mostly white with several large patches of orange tabby striped areas.
Orange Tabby Genetics
75-80% of orange tabbies are male. The gene for the orange color is carried on the X chromosome. Because male cats only have one X chromosome, they only need to inherit one copy of the gene associated with the orange color to have an orange tabby coat. Female orange tabbies are less common because they have to inherit two copies for the “orange gene” to be dominant. When female cats inherit only one “orange gene,” they become tortoiseshells or patched. All orange cats are tabbies, but not all tabbies are orange. This is because of the way the “orange gene” interacts with the tabby (or agouti) gene, causing a faint tabby pattern to show even when the cat has two recessive tabby genes.
Orange Tabby FAQs
Where did the orange tabby cat come from? No one is quite sure where the orange cat originated. Some believe they are descended from the Egyptian Mau cats that have been depicted on papyri and frescoes dating back to 1550 BC. However, others feel the Egyptian Mau’s caramel coloring is not close enough to the orange tabby to be related.
Do orange cats need any special care? In general, orange cats need the same care as other cats. Some believe they are more prone to weight gain, so consider limiting treats and feeding them high-quality cat food at set feeding times (instead of free feeding). Make sure they get plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Don’t skip regular check-ups at the vet to make sure they are healthy and up to date on vaccinations Because they tend to develop freckles as they become adults, watch for any changes to their markings to identify potential skin cancer. You can do this during regular grooming sessions.
Are there any famous orange tabby cats? Famous orange tabbies like Morris the Cat, Milo, and Garfield may be responsible for some of the public perception about cats with orange coloring. Morris was the notoriously finicky mascot of the 9Lives cat food brand. He first appeared in commercials in 1969 and still appears in advertising for the brand. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill received an orange tabby named Jock for his 88th birthday. He was so charmed by Jock that he decided an orange cat would always live at Chartwell, his family home. As of October 2020, Jock VII took up residence in the Churchill home.
Do orange cats have any health issues? Orange cats don’t appear to have any health issues that are not shared by other cats. However, some believe that orange tabbies may be more susceptible to skin cancer due to their lighter fur or because their freckles may mask cancer lesions.
What is “orange cat energy”? This is a slang term that refers to the supposed “chaotically stupid behavior” of orange cats. It’s used to describe a person who acts in the stereotypically zany manner of an orange cat. There are also some who refer to an affectionate but chaotic partner as having “orange cat energy” or being an “orange cat boyfriend/girlfriend.”
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