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Facts About Ginger Cats

Cat Breeds By Fur Type Facts About Ginger Cats Purina Editorial Team November 25, 2020 5 min read Related topics Cat TypesFind a New Pet Our experts are here to help you Our experts are here to help Get in touch with us directly any time, any way. Message us Find the right cat for you with our Breed Selector quiz. Start now Discover our range of cat food. Buy Now

Marmalade, red, orange or ginger - whatever you want to call it, ginger cats are nothing less than extraordinary. Find out everything there is to know from what's responsible for the colouring of ginger cats to the cat breeds that come in this wonderful shade.

It's no secret that ginger cats are among the most well-loved and that all who come into contact with them think there's something special about them. This may be due to the fact that they've played such cheeky characters on TV and film, including Shrek's Puss in Boots, Breakfast at Tiffany's Orangey and of course, who could forget Garfield?

As they've made such an impact on us in the land of pop culture, we've found ourselves wanting to discover as much as possible about them and wondering if there are any specific ginger cat breeds. Keep reading to find out everything from the reasoning behind their ginger colouring, to the breeds which are more likely to come in this marmalade tone.

In This Article

• What's responsible for the colouring of ginger cats?
• Are all ginger cats tabbies?
• 7 Ginger cat breeds
• 1. Persian
• 2. Munchkin
• 3. American Bobtail
• 4. British Shorthair
• 5. Maine Coon
• 6. Abyssinian
• 7. Bengal
• Are there any personality traits associated with ginger cats?

What's responsible for the colouring of ginger cats?

It may surprise you to know that there's a lot of complicated genetics behind your cat’s coat colour. When it comes to ginger cats, there's one gene in particular that affects whether your cat’s coat will be this hue. According to The Spruce Pets, this ginger gene 'O' is responsible for producing phaeomelanin (the red pigment), and this pigment is so dominant it will mask all other colours. The gene comes in two variants: 'O' which produces red pigment and 'o' which doesn't.

The gene is carried on the X chromosome, so the picture is a bit different for males and females, as a male cat has one X chromosome, whereas females have two.

For males, the situation is simple – if they have the ‘O’ variant they will be ginger, and if they have o they will not. For females, because they have two copies of the gene, it’s a bit more complicated – if they have two copies of ‘O’ they will be ginger, if they have two ‘o’s they will have no red pigment at all in their coat, and if they have ‘Oo’ they will have red pigment on some parts of their body but not others (so they will be calico or tortoiseshell).

Because males only need one copy of the ‘O’ gene to be ginger, most ginger cats are male. Ginger males can come from red, calico and tortoiseshell mothers with any father, whereas ginger females need to have one fully red father and the mother will also have to be red, calico or tortoiseshell.

Are all ginger cats tabbies?

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Yes, they are! Even if they don't appear to be at first glance, on closer inspection you'll notice spots, whirls or stripes on their coat. You may find ginger cats in the following tabby patterns:

• Mackerel: these are striped and may appear tiger-like in appearance, you'll probably also spot an 'M' shape on their forehead
• Classic: if they're classic tabby they will look almost tie-dyed
• Ticked: this type of tabby cat often can fool people into thinking that solid ginger cats exist. Ticked tabbies have an almost speckled colouring and a tabby pattern may be present on the head too
• Spotted: with a spotted tabby you'll see oval or spotted markings on their coat - this type is most commonly seen in Bengal cat breeds

7 Ginger cat breeds

Many believe that ginger cats come from a certain breed, however this isn't the case. While there's no such thing as a ginger cat breed and the majority of marmalade kitties tend to be moggies, there are certain types which are more likely to come in this wonderful orange hue, such as:

1. Persian

The Persian is one of the most popular cat breeds in the entire world. Boasting a long, silky coat and large and endearing eyes, these cats can come in just about every hue imaginable, but they look particularly glamourous in orange.

2. Munchkin

Much like the Persian, the Munchkin is a ginger cat breed which comes in a huge variety of colours. They're most widely known for their short legs, tiny stature and the fact that they stay kitten like well into adulthood.

3. American Bobtail

The American Bobtail looks almost wild in appearance, but they can be ginger cats too! With their bobbed tails, fluffy cheeks and intelligent personalities, they make perfect companions.

4. British Shorthair

The British Shorthair is an extremely popular cat for families as they're incredibly affectionate and laid-back. They come in many colours, including a variety of stunning orange tones.

5. Maine Coon

These large kitties with their rugged good looks come in pretty much every colour, and while the most common is brown tabby, Maine Coons can also be a ginger cat breed.

6. Abyssinian

Abyssinians are a playful breed which can come in a stunning range of red hues, including: ruddy, sorrel and fawn. These ginger cats are known to be super smart so they'll need plenty of entertaining.

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7. Bengal

The Bengal is a domestic cat which looks like a miniature version of its wild relatives - especially when they're sporting a red coat! While the proper name for the colour is brown, it appears more like a fiery orange.

Are there any personality traits associated with ginger cats?

Many believe that because of their fiery orange coats, that this has an impact on the cat's behaviour as well. Unfortunately, this isn't true and their vibrant colour will actually tell you very little about their temperament. In fact, your kitty's breed will probably give you more of an accurate indicator instead.

So now you know everything there is to know about ginger cat breeds! Want to discover more about a different colour of kitty? Read our article on Black and White Cat Breeds next.

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