the term “agouti” refers to hair that has alternating bands of light and dark color, producing a mottled or “salt and pepper” appearance. Whether a kitten shows the tabby pattern depends on whether she inherits a dominant or recessive agouti gene.

because a female orange kitten must have two x chromosomes to be female, there is only a 20% chance that an orange kitten will be female. This interesting fact explains why most orange tabby cats are male. The orange color gene is dominant (o), so a kitten only needs to inherit one copy of the orange gene to show some degree of orange color in its coat. A kitten inherits two copies of each gene from her parents (one of each), and each gene can be either dominant or recessive. female cats have two x chromosomes (xx) while males have one x and one y (xy).Ĭats inherit a combination of genes from both parents, although the wide variety of colors you see in cats comes from just two main colors: black and orange (or red). When it comes to feline genetics, characteristics like coat color and pattern are passed down on the x chromosome. a common example of a bicolor orange tabby is an orange tabby with pure white markings. these tabbies have a combination of tabby patches that are darker in coloration than the rest of the body. While traditional tabby cats often exhibit the same solid orange tabby pattern throughout, orange tabby cats can often be seen in a bicolor pattern. the most common breeds of marked brindle are the Somali and Abyssinian breeds. Ticked orange tabbies have typical tabby markings on the front and the same agouti coat, but the stripes or spots are very subtle and may not be visible except in bright light. This tabby variety is the most unique and can be difficult to identify because it has no obvious spots or stripes. in fact, experts aren’t quite sure if spotted tabby cats developed from mackerel tabby cats or if they simply have different genes. Spotted tabbies have bright spots of varying sizes on all sides that can be difficult to distinguish from the mackerel pattern tabby. Tabies are known primarily for their stripes, but they can also have spots. they have a random series of light and dark orange swirls, much like a target. These cats have bold, swirling patterns on their backs that resemble the marbling you’d see on a pastel. While the mackerel tabby may be the quintessential tiger cat, the classic tabby is the most common. in an ideal example of the pattern, the stripes are evenly spaced with no broken lines.Īlthough they may look like tiger stripes, they actually branch out from a single stripe that runs down the cat’s spine, creating a pattern that resembles the skeleton of a fish, hence the name “mackerel.” 2.

The mackerel tabby is the iconic “tiger cat” with narrow stripes running parallel the length of its body. When you hear the phrase “orange taby,” this is probably the variety you think of. Now that you have a better idea of the physical characteristics that define the orange tabby cat, let’s take a closer look at each of the five tabby patterns. in other cats, the stripes are much more subtle or only appear on the cat’s paws and tail.Īlthough every orange tabby cat is different, tabby cats in general have specific characteristics that are easily identifiable. in some orange tabbies, the stripes can be conspicuous and clearly visible along the cat’s back and body. While tabby cats come in a variety of patterns, most have some degree of striping in their fur. The tabby pattern comes in five different varieties: the term tabby refers to the combination of stripes, spots, and swirls that cover the cat’s body.ĭepending on the cat’s breed and individual genetics, the tabby pattern may be localized in patches or on certain parts of the body, or it could cover the cat’s entire body. keep reading to find out what they are!īuy the DNA kit for cats at basepaws what makes orange tabby cats so special?Īll cats are beautiful, but orange tabby cats are known for their colorful coats and unique patterning. With that being said, there are some interesting facts about orange tabby cats that you should know. How can you not love a ginger cat, especially one with tiger stripes?īecause the orange tabby is not a specific breed of cat, it’s hard to make broad generalizations about things like temperament and personality. tabby cats are known for their striped coats, and while they come in a wide variety of colors, the orange tabby is exceptionally beautiful. the orange tabby isn’t a breed, but it’s certainly one of the most iconic (and some would say cutest) cats out there.Īlthough the term “tabby” does not refer to a specific breed of cat, it represents one of the most common coat patterns seen in the cat world, both wild and domestic. What do famous cats like garfield, morris and milo have in common? they are all orange tabby cats.

Female orange tabby cat price