Orange cats are beautiful, loving cats. In fact, they are often referred to as some of the most affectionate cats, no matter which cat breed sports the ginger fur. Though certain breeds like the Maine coon, and the Persian are known for having red-headed family members. No one really knows why this phenomenon happens, but the going theory is it's because people fuss over them, so they get more socialization than other cats. Whatever the case may be, we love a kitty with a great temperament and a gorgeous coat!
Wonder how orange cat breeds get their reddish- hue? It's all in their genetics. Without getting too technical, the red gene is only attached to the X-chromosome. Since male cats only have one x-chromosome, they are more likely to sport a fiery mane. Female orange cats do occur, though. It is just rare. Thankfully, you can find a never-ending amount of cat breeds with orange fur. If you are partial to long hair cats, or curly cats, there is an orange kitty out there for you! While orange cats are available in many different breeds, both male and female orange cat breeds are considered to be a bit of a rarity—which makes them all the more desirable.
Read on to learn more about the best orange cat breeds that boast fiery fur.
1. Devon Rex
The Devon rex has a genetic mutation that causes them to have a curly coat. According to the Cat Fancier's Association, these cats are known for their large ears, wide eyes, and small angular faces. They are adorable, but don't let their lovable faces fool you. Devon rex cats can get up to some naughty antics. These kitties love to counter surf and beg for food, so keep an eye on dinner.
These cats come in many different coat colors and patterns. One pattern you may see is red flecks on a calico pattern, which is a mix of black and white. Another common variation of Devon rex fur is orange and white. Kittens with this pattern usually sport white paws and a white belly.
2. Scottish Fold
Small, squishy ears are the Scottish fold's most recognizable feature, followed by their ginger coats. A Scottish fold's fur can have a couple of different color combinations. Some sport a stunning red coat and no other pattern, with copper or golden eyes. Another variation is a white undercoat, with the hairs on top having an orange hue. Scottish folds also come in a shaded cameo and cameo smoke, which is a blend of white and orange fur.
This is one cat breed that has limitless color combinations. The CFA says they allow all colors and patterns in the Scottish fold's breed standard.
3. Ocicat
The Ocicat was created by mixing three cat breeds: the Abyssinian, the American shorthair, and the Siamese. This mix gives Ocicats a wild look, complete with recognizable spots.
The orange Ocicat is usually called cinnamon and has predominately orange fur with pink paw pads and a pink nose. Their exotic look pairs with a playful personality that loves to be with their humans.
4. Bengal cat
One of the more exotic-looking domestic cats is the Bengal. They have a signature wildcat look paired with an adventurous personality. While they come in many different color patterns, only a few are officially recognized, such as brown, silver, and snow.
The brown cats are the ones that will usually have the red coloring. Like many of the other cats on this list, the intensity of the red color can vary. In some, it can be light shades of orange or a more caramelly color. It's not unheard of for Bengals to have bright red colors in the coats. The most common is orange-brown, which is their main coat color. On top of that, they will have dark brown or black stripes or rosettes.
5. Abyssinian
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Abyssinian cats are beautiful and quite expensive. However, they are the perfect short-haired orange tabby cat. They sport only one coat pattern, the ticked tabby, and have the boldest cat personality. A ticked tabby has a coat full of agouti hairs, which are a lighter color at the base. They move to a darker color as you go toward the end. So while each hair may have a pattern variation, when put together, it gives the appearance of having a solid color coat.
The orange color is known as sorrel or red. However, orange was not their original color. These cats began with a red-brown base with black ticking instead of the copper base with brown ticking. The original color mutated over time and is their established color. While most cat breeds have long hair and short hair varieties within the same breed, the long hair version of the Abyssinian gets a name of its own. The fluffy Somali sport a long coat and even come in orange.
6. Maine Coon
Known as the gentle giants of the cat world, these long-haired cats often sport the orange coat color. In fact, it is very common to see one of the three color combinations, solid red, red smoke, or red tabby. Of the three, the red tabby coloring is the most common and shows their distinct markings. The ticked, mackerel, and classic tabby markings are the three patterns cat owners see the most.
Maine Coon's are very affectionate and love to be a part of their family's day-to-day activities. Just take their large size into account before you pick one up.
7. American Bobtail
The American bobtail cat is another orange cat breed that comes in various coat colors and lengths. While they come in beautiful shades of red, they also have blue, black, white, cinnamon, lilac, and cream. Of course, they come in both long and short hair lengths.
This cat breed also has a wide variety of patterns. Though the tabby pattern is common, it also has bi-color and calico patterns running around the family. True to their names, the cat breed has a short "bobbed" tail similar to the fluffy tail of a rabbit. According to breed standards, the tail should be no longer than 1 inch. However, the range is between 1-4 inches.
8. Persian
The Persian ginger tabby was the original Garfield, which seems contradictory to the elegance and grace that is usually attributed to Persians. However, these glamorous cats are not just pretty faces. They love their owners and love to meet new people, a combination that makes them one of the most popular cat breeds.
When cat lovers think about Persians, they often picture a long-haired white cat. However, the Persian cat has a wide variety of coat colors. Orange Persians are just as beautiful as their white and silver siblings. They can be solid or patterned; some even mix with other colors to create a calico or tortoiseshell blend. With long hair comes great responsibility, though. Persian owners must ensure they have plenty of free time to brush their coats daily and bathe them at least once a month.
9. LaPerm
LaPerm is an orange cat breed that comes in a plethora of color variations and patterns. They also are another cat whose distinct features come from a genetic mutation. LaPerm was first discovered in Oregon in 1982. The cat was first born without any fur, but around eight weeks, it began to grow curly hair. Their coats can be soft and curly, or they can be short and textured. The orange fur comes in many different patterns and combinations.
They are very active cats and are very cuddly. They will trade playtime for sitting in your lap for some ear scratches in a heartbeat. Their dog-like behavior doesn't stop there, they can also be taught tricks like how to play fetch!
10. Turkish Angora
Originally hailing from Turkey, the Turkish angora is one of the oldest domestic cat breeds. It can be traced back to 16th century France and is thought to be the first long-haired cat to arrive in Europe. Their long hair is soft and silky, so it does not usually mat.
Turkish angora's now come in many colors such as cream, black, red, white, and silver. The orange coat variation is usually paired with orange or yellow eyes, but some have green or blue. In addition, they come in pattern variations of tortoiseshell, calico, and tabby.
11. Munchkin Cat
While these kitties are very cute, they are also a controversial cat breed. These cats were bred to exploit their genetics. The dwarfism gene is responsible for their short squatty legs on relatively regular-size bodies. Though, they are on the smaller side of the size scale. Eventually, The International Cat Association accepted them as a breed, but all the other cat governing bodies have yet to recognize the Munchkin cat as an official breed. While they come in a lovely ginger color, there is a wide variety of coat colors. Orange Munchkins are usually in a tabby pattern or mixed with white.
12. Cornish Rex
Cornish Rex cats are not known for their reddish locks or any specific color for that matter. Texture is what defines these cats' coats. They have curly coats that feel like your hand is gliding over velvet. Their unique fur comes in white, black, chocolate, blue, cream, and, of course, orange. Cornish Rex also has many different patterns such as bi-color, tabby, and tortoiseshell. Their orange coats are often paired with large golden eyes. These playful cats are known for their loud, mischievous personalities and strive to make their owners laugh.
13. Oriental Shorthair
The Oriental shorthair is a unique cat breed. The beautiful orange tabby pattern is their most common coat pattern, but they also come in mackerel, ticked, spotted, and classic orange. They are shorthair cats, hence the second half of their moniker. Red-coated cats should not have any white showing throughout their coat.
Their pointy ears, almond eyes, and high cheekbones give this breed a rather distinct look, and unlike many other orange cats, they sport a pair of vibrant green eyes. Their orange coat pattern is one of over a whopping 300 pattern and color combinations available for this breed.
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