Smiling Kitty - Cat Whisperer Online

13/11/2024

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐂𝐀𝐓?

Many cat lovers hold a special place in their hearts for the orange tabby. Just have a look at our popular culture, and you will find multiple examples of orange cat characters, all with a loyal human fan base. Puss in Boots from the Shrek franchise, Thomas O'Malley from Disney’s Aristocats, Crookshanks from Harry Potter, and everyone’s favorite lasagna enthusiast, Garfield the Cat. Just to name a few. But what is it about these orange felines that is so special?

Perhaps it is the fact that orange tabbies do not belong in any category or to any specific breed. Orange or ginger fur is found in multiple purebred and mixed-breed cats. The term "tabby" refers to the coat's unique markings, more specifically to its pattern of stripes, spots, swirls, and combinations of these designs. If a cat is orange or ginger, it will also be a tabby in some form. Their fur can have varying shades of orange, from pale cream to deep copper, and their tabby markings can be faded or very clear. Many orange tabbies exhibit a classic "M" shape on their foreheads, which has become one of their trademarks. Throughout history, humans have associated legends, often religious, with this mysterious M. Some believe it stands for the Virgin Mary, others that it is the mark of the prophet Mohammad. Whatever you believe, the M marking helps the orange cat stand out from the rest of the feline population.

If you are familiar with orange cats, you may also have noticed that orange males outnumber females. In fact, a striking 80% of ginger cats are male – a phenomenon rooted in genetics. The so-called “ginger gene” responsible for a cat’s orange coloration is located on the X chromosomes. Like humans, female cats possess two X chromosomes, while male cats have one X and one Y chromosome. This means that the ginger gene needs to be present on both X chromosomes for a female cat to turn out ginger, whereas males need only one copy of the gene for the orange color to manifest.

But there are other explanations for the popularity of ginger cats. Color and pattern aside, orange tabbies are especially famous for certain endearing personality traits. They are known to be friendly, affectionate cats with deep loyalty towards the people they live with. Studies have also found them to have a great desire to explore, which is a sign of intelligence. Orange cats are energetic and playful, often asking their humans for extended playtime every day. They can be quite vocal when making that request, too!

Some people’s perception of orange cats is influenced by the same stereotypes used in descriptions of red-haired humans. They might believe orange tabbies to be feistier and more temperamental than other cats. This is a misconception. If an orange cat hisses or acts defensively when you enter his home for the first time, it is more likely to be a protective response rooted in the affection he has for his human family. Whatever the reason, it is important to remember that scientific studies of cat personalities do not explain everything. In addition to the generic traits such studies may establish, all cats, regardless of breed and color, have an individually acquired personality separate from their genetics. Just like human personalities, it has been formed by life experiences and early memories.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬:

𝟏. 𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬!
With the orange gene comes an increase in melanin production, which tends to result in lentigo. Lentigo is a benign skin condition that can develop over time, like human freckles and age spots. However, cat freckles are not caused by sun exposure but by their genetic makeup. They can appear on the cat’s nose, lips, gums, tongue, and eye margins, and they are a great addition to the already cute facial expressions of orange tabbies. Just be aware that skin conditions such as cat acne and skin cancer also look like black spots, so always take your cat to the vet if you are in doubt.

𝟐. 𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞!
Those who have shared their home with an orange cat will attest to their chatty nature. Other cats vocalize mainly when feeling hungry or seeking to go outside, but orange tabbies enjoy using their voices for the sole purpose of entertaining themselves and their human families. Their social sounds include a wide range of delightful noises, such as chirps and trills.

𝟑. 𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬!
The Viking Age spanned around AD 800 to 1050, originating in Scandinavia, and we have all seen movies or TV series about the Vikings and their exploits. Legend has it that seafaring Vikings preferred orange cats as mousers aboard their longboats due to their excellent hunting skills and striking, fiery appearance. As is the case with many “facts” about the Vikings, however, there is little historical evidence to support this claim. But it is a fun story that you and your favorite orange feline may enjoy!

Blogpost by Gunhild Jensen, Certified Cat Behaviorist and Founder of Smiling Kitty.

Smiling Kitty is a pet behavior business based in Stamford, Connecticut. We provide tailor-made cat behavior modification plans and advice to cat owners across the world. For more information, please visit: www.smiling-kitty.com

PS: Please feel free to share stories about your own orange tabby in the comments below. I would love to hear them 😸

19/06/2024

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐓?

𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 does not refer to a specific cat breed but to a beautiful, multi-colored coat pattern with a similar structure and color scheme to that of a tortoise’s shell. It comes in many color variations but primarily consists of ginger and black with white, orange, gold, or cream touches. Many people mistake tortoiseshell cats with calico cats because their coat patterns are similar. The calico pattern, however, has a white fur base with patches of orange and black. Sometimes, patches can be cream or grey – a pattern known as a 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘰.

Both tortoiseshell and calico markings appear in domestic cats of different breeds, as well as in non-purebred cats, and most of them will be female. It takes two X chromosomes to produce the tortoiseshell and calico coat patterns. Each X chromosome has one color attached to it, which makes the distinctive mix of colors possible. Tortoiseshell and calico males are therefore only seen in rare cases of genetic mutation, for instance when a male cat is born with two X chromosomes. This is called 𝘒𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘺𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦, and males with the XXY chromosome combination are usually sterile.

A tortoiseshell cat, or 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦, can have a patched or brindled coat pattern. The pattern is patched if the colors appear in larger sections all over the body, but it is brindled if the colors appear blended or mixed. We also have tortoiseshell cats with tabby stripes, known as 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴, and torties with a chimera appearance. 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢 is a distinctive coat pattern where the cat’s body is divided into two color halves: the cat will have one color on one side of the body and a different color on the other. It usually manifests as a half-black/half-ginger face with an almost symmetrical line running down the nose, but the division in color can differ and occur all over the body. With regards to eye color, there is not one specific color associated with tortoiseshell cats. They typically have either hazel, amber, or green eyes.

Myths and stories about torties have existed since ancient times, and cultures around the world link them with things such as luck and good fortune. In Japan, they are believed to protect ships from bad storms and homes from ghosts and evil spirits. In Ireland, Scotland, and Germany, they are seen as omens of wealth and prosperity. Settlers brought these beliefs to America, where torties are now nicknamed 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘴. Folklore examples also include a Turkish myth about a wizard, who created the tortoiseshell coat pattern by using different-colored smoke. Similarly, Khmers in Cambodia believed the origin of the unique pattern was the blood of a lotus flower goddess. Other stories describe how the golden tortie color stems from the sun and was a gift to a black cat from a solar deity.

Tortoiseshell cats are known for being sassy, vocal, and headstrong – personality traits that can manifest themselves as an increased tendency to bite, scratch, or hiss at human or animal companions. Cat behaviorists sometimes call this diva disposition 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦, but it should not prevent you from adopting a tortoiseshell cat. They may be stubborn little ladies, but they are also fiercely loyal and often form strong, lasting, loving bonds with their preferred humans.

I hope you have enjoyed this month's blogpost about the beautiful tortoiseshell cat. Make sure also to check out my previous blogpost about Calicos. You can find it here on Facebook, or by following this link to my website: https://www.smiling-kitty.com/what-is-a-calico-cat/

Blogpost by Gunhild Jensen, Cat Behaviorist and Founder of Smiling Kitty. Smiling Kitty is a small pet business located in Stamford, CT. We provide tailor-made, cat behavior modification plans, cat sitting locally, and advice on cat care to cat owners worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.smiling-kitty.com

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