Megusta
People love cats, indeed. There are so many cat breeds, colors, and markings for us to choose from based on our preferences. We love Scottish Fold because of their little folded ears and big wide eyes. We adore British Shorthair’s mellow personality and magnificent grey fur. How about Sphynxes? Maybe because of their distinctive outlook and adorable sentiments.
Cat lovers no longer pay attention to the feline’s varieties but are more attracted to the colors and patterns. Cats come in various breeds, however, there is one combination that can defeat all the definitions of beauty: orange tabby cats. There are two potential reasons why a lot of people love orange tabby cats: Puss in Boots and Garfield. We are all sold by their loveliness in the movies, but these seven facts below will even blow your mind away!
(h/t: iheartcats)
[adace-ad id=”5696″]
#1 Orange tabby cats are almost always male
Have you ever noticed and wondered why Puss in Boots and Garfield are all male? According to the BBC’s Focus Magazine, it is because the gender function in orange tabby cats works differently from humans and other cats. One copy of the X chromosome represents males in regard to the ginger genetic development and two copies are for females. As the result, there will be roughly three male ginger cats to one female cat in the litter. Statistically, male orange tabby cats take up to 80% percent and the rest 20% percent in females.
#2 Their coats come in 5 different patterns
There are basically five expressive markings in the orange tabby cat: classic (swirled), mackerel (striped), spotted, ticked, and patched.
Classic tabbies have some big and thick swirls spread alongside the body, making them look like a marble unit that is sitting by the kitchen counter. They also have an uppercase letter “M” emerging on their forehead that many people believe it stands for Mau – cat in Egypt.
Mackerel tabbies have narrower lines that run down to the sides of the body. In fact, those stripes are not intermittent, turns out their patterns look like a fishbone.
Spotted tabbies are the result of intermittent stripes of mackerel tabbies. They have big or small spots all over the body. The shapes can be oval, round, or rosette. However, the face and front body still exhibit narrow continuous stripes.
Ticked tabbies usually happen to Abyssinian cats, where they have lighter colors and markings on their body but seemingly like tabby patterns.
Patched tabby cats are tortoiseshell cats. They possess a lot of patches that run along their sides and face. These patches come together to make a tabby look.
#3 They are often called “marmalade cats” or “ginger cats”
It’s funny how people love to name these cute orange tabby cats based on the ingredients in the pantry. In order to distinguish black-tabby variation, these adorable nicknames are born. Sometimes, people call them Big Red or Tangerine because the outstanding color happens to orange tabby cats.
#4 The color shows up in many different breeds
The orange tabby cat is not a breed at all. In fact, it is described the markings and colors of its own. Ginger Persian, Ginger British Shorthair, Marmalade Munchkin, Marmalade Maine Coon, these breeds all possess orange tabby markings. The breed is a stock of species that gather a certain distinctive outlook and can produce offspring. Marking is basically a pattern that emerges on the animal’s fur, feather, or skin.
#5 The orange coat color is produced due to the presence of the pigment pheomelanin, which displays colors in the red to cream ranges
The range of animal coloration is based on two different pigments: pheomelanin and eumelanin. If a cat lacks pheomelanin, it must be a chinchilla kitty. In reverse, the abundance of pheomelanin plays a role to define the hues of orange color that might appear to different cats. Some will have deep orange, but some are yellowish, some can be cream as well! That is also why most of the Irish people have the most beautiful ginger hair in the world!
#6 Winston Churchill had an orange tabby cat
Sir Winston Churchill was a famous British person who was the Prime Minister during World War II. He was a pet lover. He owned a bulldog named Dodo, Rufus the poodle, wartime cat Nelson and marmalade cat, Tango. He especially loved his two adorable cats and he couldn’t live a day without them. In July 1964, Sir Churchill held Tango the cat in his arms to attend his grandson’s wedding. Isn’t it beautiful?
#7 They’re still cats
Like other cats, our ginger kitties have enormous personalities which charm us to their orange dynasty. Despite their fiery outlook, they don’t seem short-tempered. In fact, ginger cats are playful, affectionate, and active. They love to be around you every time and everywhere. It is said that male orange cats are more outgoing and companionable than their female counterparts. But as a matter of fact, all cats are adorable and lovable!
