Written by
Vicki Smirnova
Written by Vicki Smirnova
Written by:
Vicki Smirnova
Author: Vicki Smirnova
Vicki Smirnova is a professional writer and editor who adores animals and helps readers get along well with their pets. She has been working in digital media for more than 5 years and has great experience writing content about lifestyle, including pets. Vicki specializes in dog health and nutrition, cat feeding, dog training. She is an aquarium lover and is passionate to write about fish care at home. Also, Vicki headed several websites and worked as a news editor.
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Updated on: 06/19/2023
There are a lot of orange cat breeds and each has distinctive features in behavior, character, health and nutrition. The colors are different – from black-red to white-red or spotted tricolor with bright fiery markings. Usually, orange cats have either stripes or spots.
An orange coat depends on the presence of the gene, and it is located on the X chromosome. The presence of this mutation, which is dominant, makes the body begin to produce the pigment pheomelanin, which leads to a red color.
Another feature of the orange gene is that when it is present in both X chromosomes (heterozygous state), the kitten acquires a tortoiseshell coat. Since the gene is located on a specific chromosome, it is possible to predict the coat color of future kittens by their parents’ color.
The character of orange cats of street origin can be very different; and some of them are complacent and calm and others are restless and playful. But one common feature unites all felines with a fiery color – even at an early age, they use this quality to win the love and affection of the owner.
Owners will notice a special relationship between the color of the coat and the color of the eyes of an orange cat:
- Green-colored eyes indicate a cheerful disposition and tireless energy that affects everyone around him.
- Yellow- or copper-colored eyes indicate a calm and balanced sluggard whose favorite activity is resting in a comfortable place; for example, an armchair or sofa.
- Blue-colored eyes are quite rare; they can be in pets with spots of a red hue but never in pets with a solid orange color.
The care and maintenance of orange cats have no distinctive features from kitties with different coat colors. It all depends on the characteristics of specific breeds, bot for indoor kitties regular vet checks, good nutrition and the owners’ love and attention are what will make they happy.
For cat lovers who are prone to depression, psychologists strongly advise having a kitty with orange coat color. This is because orange is associated with summer and warmth and positively affects psychological well-being. [1]
Popular Orange Cats
1. Bengal
Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash
The Bengal cat is a perfect pet. The breed is a mixture of Asian leopard cats, Egyptian Mau and some other wild breeds, which may be the reason for their strong hunting character. Bengals are affectionate and gentle. If you think that only dogs are loyal to their owner, the Bengal breed will prove you wrong!
Bengals are both wild and loving, which is a perfect combination for those who want to be happy owners of a beautiful and intelligent cat. Bengals can swim quite well, and this breed needs constant attention and care.
RELATED: Best Cat Food for Bengal
2. Chausie
An ancient Egyptian breed, an affectionate and devoted feline, and sometimes they called a miniature cougar. Chausie’s character shows signs of a wild cat, which are clearly manifested due to its physical characteristics and behavior. This cat can sometimes be scary, very fast and climb quickly.
Such a breed does not require special care. Their outstanding physical properties are a long tail, large ears, and a muscular body. The Chausie’s extroversion and curiosity will make you free up more space in the house for entertainment and exercise.
RELATED: Chausie Breed History, Temperament and Personality
3. Maine Coon
Photo by @pavliukv from Freepik
This is one of the most fascinating cats in the USA and one of the largest domestic cats. Its character is loving, loyal, and easy to train. Maine Coons are very friendly towards people around them, including children and other pets. Its resurgence in popularity is very pleasing since the breed was almost threatened with extinction.
Representatives of the Maine Coon breed also have water-repellent fur and are excellent at hunting. They come in different colors, including orange, brown, black and blue. Maine Coons require more and regular care and are very susceptible to diseases and other health problems.
RELATED: Maine Coon Breed Profile
4. Persian Cat
Photo by @jl.lago from Freepik
This is the most popular orange breed of all orange cats; they are charming and fluffy, with a unique personality. However, their coats require special care. White Persians may still be the most distinctive, but brown Persians also warm their owners’ hearts and people.
5. Abyssinian
Photo by @tsapenkodg from Pixabay
According to rumors, Abyssinians originate from Ethiopia or Egypt. These cats have an athletic body and a pronounced spotted coat. Because they are short-haired, Abyssinians do not require special care. These felines are sociable, which makes them a great addition to the family. You can even play catch with them from time to time.
The Abyssian is ideal for pet owners who can devote their free time to training a cat with a lot of energy.
6. Exotic Shorthair
This cat belongs to the genus of Persian. You will get an affectionate, very playful and curious pet that is very attached to its master. As long as you’re around, it feels safe. It is also a suitable pet for a family with older children. While the pet is alone, toys and a tree can be a welcome distraction.
7. Devon Rex
Photo by @suravikin from Freepik
If you are not an active person, you are not ready to own a Devon Rex, which is always active – jumping and climbing. The Devon Rex has several nicknames because of its playfulness and energetic lifestyle, such as “poodle cat.”
These cats are distinguished by their friendliness and ease of care due to a small molt. They can pleasure its owner with fun interaction and loyalty. Some owners of a Devon Rex note that this breed has many qualities inherent in dogs.
8. Somali
The Somali breed is a bright orange, cunning cat. It can also be taught some tricks and, in a short time, it will be able to follow instructions, such as opening doors or knocking.
Cats of this breed have a habit of touching objects placed at a height and knocking them down.
9. British Shorthair
Photo by @alex_vol from Freepik
This breed is one of the oldest. They have a rounded body and such luxurious and thick fur that some people mistake them for a plush toy. These cats are ideal for new pet parents because they are not demanding in care and are friendly and sociable.
RELATED: British Shorthair Cats Personality and Lifespan
10. Munchkin
This cat’s short legs never prevent them from demonstrating its courage. Munchkins are always active and inquisitive, and they are very fond of communicating with people and love to be picked up. They are also easy to care for, and they can be left alone.
READ MORE: Small Cat Breeds
11. Turkish Van
chanan.com
This breed was officially registered only in the middle of the 20th century and has common roots with the English and Persian breeds. They are not afraid of water and love to swim. The coat is very soft and resembles cashmere in its structure. These cats are large, have long paws and a muscular physique. Most have red spots on their coat, but there are other colors: cream, black, and blue.
12. Cymric
chanan.com
These cats are compact, and their muscular system is well developed. The coat is long, with a soft undercoat. The most common three colors are white, tabby, and orange.
Cymrics are very calm and will not scratch the furniture. They can also be trained.
13. Minuet (Napoleon)
The muzzle of the Minuet is slightly flat. Their coats can be several colors: gray, white, peach and red. They are very attached to their owners and do not do well by themselves, so you should not leave them alone for a long time. They have a genetic predisposition to kidney disease and obesity.
14. Kurilian Bobtail
Photo by @cynoclub from Freepik
The World Cat Association officially recognized this breed recently – in 1994. The Kurilian bobtail does not receive widespread attention, and its color is diverse: red, silver, coal-black and other colors.
These cats are average in size and, instead of a tail, they have a pompom. They are friendly and playful, and they really like to walk in the fresh air; thus, you can walk with this pet on a leash like a dog.
RELATED: All About Kurilian Bobtail
15. Ural Rex
uralrex.ru
These cats appeared naturally, not bred by breeders, so they have excellent health and do not tend to have genetic diseases.
Their life expectancy is approximately 16-17 years. Their coat is short, wavy and thick, requiring combing once every two days. The most common colors are chocolate, blue and red.
16. Toyger
The most common color of this cat is the same as that of a tiger: darker stripes on a red background. They are close relatives of Bengals. Their fur is short and soft. Toygers are large animals, weighing about 9-12 kg, and they can reach a height of 49 cm. They have a muscular body with long legs and raised shoulder blades. Their ears are rounded and the muzzle shaped like a heart. They are very fond of their owners and easily get along with all family members.
READ MORE: Toyger Cat Breed
17. Caracal
This medium-sized wild cat lives in steppes and deserts and leads a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. Caracals are huge animals, and its tail is short and mobile, and its ears have tassels at the ends.
The coat color is red, thick, dense and quite tough. These cats have good immunity and rarely get sick with proper care.
Fun facts about orange cat breeds
Animals with fiery fur have always been popular, and now it’s a real boom. They are often filmed for advertisem*nts and they appear in animated films; for example, Garfield the cat amuses both children and adults with his constant pranks or Puss in Boots from the cartoon about Shrek. His bottomless eyes and ingenuity make millions of people and children worldwide smile. Many creative personalities are also lovers of fiery animals.
Are all orange tabby cats?
Without any signs of stripes, streaks, and spots, a red-haired cat cannot have a red pigment gene. Most likely, its color is brown.
Orange cats are not a breed, as people sometimes think. Orange fur is a type that occurs in cats of different breeds. The converse of this statement is also true; the striped pattern is not a breed treat. The difference is that some cats have more orange fur than others, for example, Scottish fold and American bobtails. [2]
READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know about Sokoke Cats
FAQ
What cat breeds are orange?
Bengal, Chausie, Maine Coon, Persian, Abyssinian, Exotic shorthair, Devon Rex, Somali, British shorthair, Munchkin, Turkish Van, Napoleon, Kuril Bobtail, Ural rex, Caracal.
What is an orange cat breed called?
There is no specific breed, but a lot of names. Orange cats are often called red cats, fire cats, rusty or orange cat, Garfield, or sunny cats.
Article Sources:
- “8 Questions About Calico Cats — Answered – Catster.” Catster, 14 Sept. 2020, catster.com/lifestyle/questions-about-calico-cats-answered.
- Hartwell, Sarah. “Recessive Brown – The Enigmatic Barrington Brown Gene.”Messybeast, messybeast.com/barringtonbrown.htm.
- Duggan, Anthony. “9 Popular Orange Cat Breeds.”Kitty Insight, 8 July 2022, kittyinsight.com/9-popular-orange-cat-breeds/.
