Mary Allen
There are many rumors and myths about red cats. The conspicuous house tiger should have unique character traits and be characterized by special physical characteristics.
But which facts are really true and which stories are fictitious? In the following article, we get to the bottom of the facts.
Famous ginger cats
Red cats have a very special charisma that is irresistible to many cat lovers.
So it turns out that it is usually the four-legged friends with red fur that are selected first in a litter. The glowing fur catches the eye and magically attracts animal fans.
This can be seen very easily in the celebrity world. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill couldn’t get enough of red cats and spent his twilight years with his beloved Jock.
Pope Benedict XVI also adored his red cat Chico and stars like Kate Walsh, Jerry O’Connell, Derek Hough, and Jonathan van Ness can no longer imagine life without a red companion.
Why are they actually red?
The coat of the female and tomcat is significantly influenced by the genes. While eumelanin produces black and brown hues, the yellow-red pigment pheomelanin is responsible for the animals’ unique coloring.
The unusual color is often found in so-called tabby cats. They have spotted or tabby fur that can shine in different shades. Whether caramel brown, copper red, or strong orange – there are no limits to the variations.
But also domestic cats, which can be assigned to the British Shorthair, and other breeds often have the red coat. For this reason, it occurs in countless variations: with short and long fur, different patterns, and eye colors.
Red coat color is not usually associated with any particular breed. However, the amber nuance is only found in the Norwegian Forest Cat.
More than 3/4 of red cats are actually red tomcats
One study showed that around 80 percent of red cats are male.
This phenomenon can be explained by Y and X chromosomes. While the she-cat has two X chromosomes, the tom-cat has a mixture of a Y chromosome and an X chromosome.
The male is four times more likely to be born with red fur than a cat. Because the hangover requires only the mother genes.
In contrast, the females need both the mother’s and father’s genes to get the red coloration.
The queens have another special feature: they can be tricolored. From red-white-black spotted to red-white-grey mackerel to red-black-grey – everything is possible.
Every red cat has a pattern
In addition, there are hardly any red cats that are monochromatic. The fur noses always have one of the following drawings:
- mackerel;
- spotted;
- brindle;
- ticked.
Red cats get freckles
From the first year of life, the majority of orange cats undergo an interesting metamorphosis.
Dark spots gradually develop on the lips and nose of house tigers. They resemble freckles and are characteristic of redheads. Cats of a different color rarely exhibit this peculiarity.
Red cats are not a separate breed
Again and again, the question arises as to whether red cats are a separate breed. The answer is no.
It is a coloring that can appear in different breeds:
- Maine Coon;
- Persian cats;
- Domestic cats;
- Scottish fold cat;
- Devon Rex;
- and much more.
The eyes of red cats
Like humans, cats have very different eye colors. However, the red house tiger is best known for its amber eyes. In combination with the eye-catching fur, these four-legged friends are real eye-catchers.
Furthermore, it happens again and again that the redheads have blue eyes. This is due to the partial albino gene found in light-colored cats.
Red cats like to be the center of attention
When comparing different colored cats, it was also noticeable that the red animals are very sociable. They like to be the center of attention and enjoy it when people focus their attention on them.
Red cats have a particularly pronounced appetite
The most famous cat in the world is without a doubt, Garfield. The comic book character was created by artist Jim Davis and is known for her big appetite. One of his favorite dishes is lasagne, which is probably also responsible for his chubby figure.
Pet owners worldwide attest to the resemblance of their own red cat to Garfield, often emphasizing that their appetites are just as keen. So this cliche seems to be true.
Red cats find a new home particularly quickly
According to research, red cats are particularly popular with animal lovers. They can be placed quickly at the shelter and spend less time in the care facilities on average.
Red cats and their myths and legends
The cats with the beautiful red coats color can also be found in religious stories.
The Blessed Mother Mary is said to have blessed red cats and left one mark in their drawing: a visible M on the forehead. Mary wanted to express her thanks because a red cat warmed the baby Jesus in the stable in Bethlehem.
There are similar stories in Islam. A red cat is said to have saved the Prophet Mohamed from a poisonous snake. Before the reptile could attack, the cat bit off its head.
Famous red cats: little stars
Thanks to their charming character and concise appearance, red cats managed to conquer the world of stars and starlets. The redheads have gotten film roles in countless films and series and inspire young and old alike:
- Garfield;
- Crookshanks from Harry Potter;
- Spot from Star Trek – The Next Generation;
- Buttercup from The Hunger Games;
- Thomas O’Mallex from Aristocats;
- and much more.
Pets: Red Kittens & Cats – FAQS
What are the red cats called?
Red fur cats are common. Red cats are often so-called tabby cats that have tabby or spotted fur. Their color ranges from light caramel brown through copper red to bright orange, often in combination with white.
Why are red cats so special?
It is above all the contrast in their character traits that makes red cats so special: While they can be quite fiery and spirited, they show themselves to the people they like as pronounced cuddly tigers.
Can red cats be female?
The gene that produces the red color is on the X chromosome. A female cat has two X chromosomes and must therefore inherit two “red” X chromosomes to develop this colour; namely from mother and father.
Is a red cat rare?
A tomcat is about four times more likely to be born with red fur than a cat. This is because the red color is inherited via the female X chromosome.
Are all red cats tomcats?
They say red cats are always males. But that’s not true. There are red females.
Why are there no female red cats?
Female cats have two X chromosomes. Therefore it can happen that they both have alleles, ie Oo. One of these two genes is inactivated by X inactivation, resulting in red and non-red coat areas (codominant inheritance).
Are all 3 colored cats female?
Tricolor spotted cats “lucky cats” – are almost always female. It has a genetic cause. There is only one gene in these cats with two different alleles that are responsible for the basic colors black or orange. This gene is on the X chromosome.
How is coat color inherited in cats?
More specifically, on the X chromosome. However, each X chromosome can only carry one color information. The Y chromosome, on the other hand, has no color. The result is that these two color shades are inherited in a gender-linked manner.
How old does a red cat get?
While cats cannot be lifelong companions, they do live to be very old compared to many other pets. The average life expectancy of a house cat is 15 years, with a pure house cat usually living longer than an outdoor cat.
Are red cats lucky?
Accordingly, white stood for (re)birth, red for life, and black for death. Thus, the lucky cat stood for the cycle of life. It remains to be seen whether tricolor cats are particularly lucky for their owner, this has not been scientifically proven, but is rather a myth.
What is a lucky cat?
Tricolor cats stand out everywhere with their distinctive fur markings. Since this coloring is so rare, it used to be considered particularly valuable. Maybe that’s why cats with three-colored fur are also called “lucky cats”. They have always been considered lucky charms.
What makes cats so special?
No other pet is as similar to humans as a cat. She is freedom-loving and independent – and yet she is always looking to be close to her favorite person. Other cats are hunted by her – but at the end of the day, while she is a lone hunter, she is not a loner.
What gender are red cats?
Females, on the other hand, have two X chromosomes. This is exactly where it is decided whether the cat will get a red coat color or another. The coat color gene is on the X chromosome. Red cats are therefore actually more often male.
What colors are female cats?
Genetically, cats can only be red or black. All other color variants are dilutions of the pigment. The red coat color is inherited and linked to sex, only female cats can be black and red at the same time.
Why are orange cats always male?
This can be called either “red” (the dominant inheritance) or “not red”. But that doesn’t mean that red cats always have to be male: If the information “red” is on their X chromosomes, the result is a tomcat with orange and lighter orange fur areas.
Are 3 colored cats rare?
Only 0.4% of tri-colored cats are male.
Female cats have two X chromosomes, so a tricolor is possible but rare. Because usually a coat color is already overridden in the embryonic age.
Are 3 colored cats infertile?
Tricolor cats cannot be bred. The three colors in a cat’s coat are a real wonder of nature. They cannot be intentionally bred. Tricolor tomcats are always sterile, so breeding with two lucky cats is not possible.