About Orange Tabby Kittens
Cats come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Among the most common types of domestic cats is the orange tabby. If you're looking for a new feline addition to your home, you may want to consider an orange tabby. While commonly found at animal shelters, an orange tabby will win your heart as easily as a more expensive breed of kitten.
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Definition
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Orange tabby cats are not their own breed. The term "tabby" simply refers to a marking pattern on the fur of a cat. Many different breeds of cats have tabby patterns. However, when referring to orange tabby cats and kittens, most people mean mixed-breed or domestic, short- or long-haired cats that are orange or orange and cream.
Appearance
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A tabby kitten can be distinguished by the markings of its coat. Specifically, it will have stripes, dots or swirls throughout its body and head. Many have an "M" marking on their foreheads. The stripes are usually a darker color than the rest of the fur.
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Gender
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A unique trait about orange tabbies is that most of them are males. According to Cat Channel, only about 20 percent of orange tabbies born are females. That's because the color genes are closely linked to X and Y chromosomes in cats. This means that if you're looking for a female tabby kitten, you may have to do quite a bit more searching than if you're looking for a male one. However, Cat Channel also explains that there's no additional monetary value to a female tabby.
Personality
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Some people believe that cats' colors and marking patterns are linked to personality. Orange tabbies have been characterized as mellow, cuddly felines.
Considerations
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Not all orange tabby kittens will act the way you might expect an orange tabby cat to behave. Remember that kittens are much more active and playful than adult cats. Additionally, stereotypes about cats of a certain color will not always hold true to every single cat, so don't be disappointed if your orange tabby never becomes the lazy, cuddle bug you wanted.
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References
- Photo Credit orange tabby cat image by Steve Marquez from Fotolia.com
