The orange tabby cat was made wildly popular by Jim Davis’ fat and lazy Garfield. Among all colors of the feline family, orange tabbies seem to be constantly having fun. These iconic orange tabby cats are bright, very affectionate, and love to just relax and snuggle.
Learn more about these fascinating cats and find out whether an orange little cat can be your ideal pet.
What Is An Orange Tabby Cat?
As the name suggests, an orange tabby cat is a tabby cat that has a bright light orange color. It is one of the most well-known and iconic types of felines.
The word “tabby” does not refer to any particular cat breed. It represents the most recognized coat pattern on the cat — the stripes, swirls, and spots.
So, any cat, regardless of whether it is domestic or wild, that has these patterns on its coat is a tabby cat. And an orange tabby cat is a cat with these patterns on an orange coat.
Characteristics Of An Orange Tabby Cat
Given that the orange tabby is not considered a breed, it is difficult to make any generalizations about its temperament or personality. The characteristics of an orange tabby cat are more likely to be based on how it was trained and raised as well as on its breed.
The tabby cat falls under various other breeds such as Persian, Munchkin, American Bobtail, Manx, Somali, American Curl, Ragdoll, and Maine Coon.
Orange tabby cats are labeled as one of the friendliest and most loving cats. They are more affectionate to their owners and can spend all of their time just being with their humans.
These orange felines have also been labeled as Velcro cats because, unlike other cats who prefer being alone, orange tabby cats enjoy cuddles and love giving snuggles. They are perhaps one of the most easygoing pets and certainly the friendliest of cats. They are also more vocal than their other cat cousins.
Orange tabbies are also extremely chill. They love to relax and seem to have a prominent couch-potato gene that takes their napping, sleeping, and stretching under the sun to a whole new level.
Often called marmalade or ginger cats, orange tabby cats have also created a reputation for being enthusiastic eaters. True to the depiction of Garfield, orange tabbies love to eat. They enjoy their food so much that leaving food in their bowls is always an invitation for an eat-all-you-can party. However, this also puts orange tabbies at a higher risk of becoming unhealthy and obese.
Are Orange Tabbies Good Cats?
Orange tabbies are not just good cats, they are great cats that make excellent companions because they love being with you and loving showing affection.
They are more playful and friendly than other cats, especially if they have been socialized when they were still a kitten. You can expect orange tabbies to be more tolerant with children and may even play with your kids willingly.
Why Are Orange Tabby Cats So Weird?
The term “weird” is not just applicable to orange tabby cats but to all cats in general. But, what makes orange tabbies a little more odd or weirder than your usual cats is that they show affection openly and willingly.
Cats are known to be indifferent and aloof. They show affection only on their terms and only when they feel like it. Orange tabbies, however, are different in how they initiate love and loudly purr with delight when they are happy and content.
What Can An Orange Tabby Cat Eat?
Orange tabby cats eat what other domesticated cats eat. You do have to make sure that you provide them with a nutritious diet because these gingers have extra love for food.
Make sure their meals are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and taurine to boost their overall growth and immune system.
Orange tabby cats also have a particular fondness for fish, so occasionally giving them salmon, sardines, and tuna will be a real healthy treat because this can help with their heart and kidney.
Since most tabbies are not diligent drinkers, you can encourage liquid intake through a chicken or beef broth.
5 Fun Facts About This Breed
#1. Orange Tabbies Have A Laid-back Attitude.
Cats are generally not known for their high energy levels, but orange tabbies are lazier than their other counterparts. Many orange cat owners will describe their felines as just plain lazy. They enjoy sitting around, napping, and eating their food, and that’s it!
#2. Orange Tabbies Can Only Have Three Eye Colors.
Orange tabbies can have copper, gold, or green eyes. These hues give contract beautifully against their orange fur, making them look particularly stunning. So far, no known orange tabby carries a different genetic color under these hues.
Although the shade of copper, green, or gold can vary, it will still fall under these three colors.
#3. There Are More Male Orange Tabbies.
Male orange tabbies far outnumber the females, with 80% of the orange tabby population being all male. This is because an X chromosome gene determines the orange fur, which only a male tabby will have. For a female tabby cat to get orange fur, it will have to inherit two orange genes, one each from both of its parents.
#4. Orange Tabbies Have A Religious Connection.
There’s an old legend that when baby Jesus could not sleep, he was comforted by a purring orange tabby. This little feline was kissed by Mother Mary, which caused the letter “M” to be marked on its forehead. You’ll notice that most orange tabbies have a pattern on their foreheads resembling the letter M.
#5. The Orange Tabby’s Color Comes From A Particular Pigment.
All orange tabby cats don’t have the same color, but they will share variations of cream to reddish-orange color. This is because orange tabbies have a generous amount of pheomelanin, the same pigment found in humans with red hair.