It is pretty obvious we are BIG fans of ginger cats here. Ginger Longhairs, ginger Shorthairs, ginger Maine Coons, ginger Persians – no matter the breed, we love them all.
With their beautiful fiery coats and docile personalities, it is easy to understand why ginger-haired cats are one of the most popular of all coat colours.
But what questions do you have about this majestic cat? We answer all the popular questions about ginger cats in this extensive guide.
Ginger Cats – Answering all your ginger cat questions
What breed is a ginger cat?
‘Ginger cat’ is not a breed of cat, simply a coat colouring. The most commonly seen ginger cat seen in the UK is a Domestic Short or long hair.
There are many ginger cat breeds, all just as beautiful as the other but when looking at pedigree breeds – we have to say our favourite is the orange Maine Coon.
Are all ginger cats male?
Ginger cats are not always male but they are more likely to be.
This is because the “ginger gene” which produces the orange colour is on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes and so need two copies of this gene to become ginger, whereas males need only one.
How rare is a ginger female?
Roughly one in five orange cats will be a female.
However, it is pretty much impossible to have a male tortoiseshell cat! This is because a male cat has one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, he can only be orange or black—not both.
In very rare cases—about 1 in 3,000—a male tortoiseshell cat can be born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome.
Unfortunately, male cats with XXY Syndrome are sterile and often have serious health issues, resulting in significantly shorter lifespans than female torties.
The personality of a ginger cat
While there are no scientific studies(yet!) on the link between a cat’s personality and the colour of their fur, it has been strongly recognised that cats with ginger fur are very docile – especially the males.
Male cats with ginger fur are extremely loving and affectionate and this is also often noted in female red cats as well.
From owning a number of ginger cats, we can also tell you they are very vocal. It seems to be a ginger cat personality trait that these guys love to chat. Both our male and female ginger love to chatter, chirp and make their presence known.
How long does a ginger cat live?
The lifespan of a cat is not a reflection of its colouring – therefore this is a question you cannot really answer.
However, if we are looking at breeds, the life span of a ginger domestic shorthair/longhair can be anywhere up to 20 years old!
Ginger pedigree cats also have a good lifespan, however, it is often shorter than a moggy at around 14-16 years of age.
How much does a ginger cat cost?
Surprisingly, even with moggy breeds, the coat colour can affect the price of a cat. As gingers are not as frequent as other colours – such as black or tabby, they can often be more expensive.
However, the price of a cat is mainly based on breed, with the price of a Persian cat or the price of a British shorthair cat being much more expensive than a domestic shorthair for example.
At Ginger Cat House we always support and promote adoption. If you live in London, why not look for your new pal at one of London’s cat adoption centres.
Facts about ginger cats
Their coats come in beautiful distinct patterns
Generally, they will mostly be a form of ginger tabby as opposed to a solid ginger colouring.
These orange cat breeds come in spotted, classic, mackerel, and ticked patterns:
- Mackerel (striped), which makes the kitty look like a tiger, with an “M” shape appearing on the forehead
- Classic (swirled, blotched, or marbled), which gives the kitty a tie-dyed look
- Ticked (stripeless), which breaks up the tabby patterning into a “salt-and-pepper” or “sand” appearance
- Spotted, which breaks up the tabby patterning so the stripes or swirls appear as spots
They have freckles
Nearly all ginger cats have black spots on their gums (and sometimes around their noses). These spots are nearly always harmless freckles that will start to appear between the ages of 1-2 years old.
They can put on weight easily
Ginger tabby cats can eat just about everything found but keep in mind you should not let them do this because this will not let them maintain their healthy diet. There was a reason Garfield was designed as an orange cat!
Ginger fur is more likely to be found in certain cat breeds
The orange tabby colour is commonly found in Persian, Munchkin, American Bobtail, British Shorthair, Bengal, Maine Coon, Abyssinian, and Egyptian Mau cats.
Winston Churchill was well known for his love of orange cats
Earlier in life, he owned one named Tango, and later in life one named Jock.
Ginger tabbies have a biblical reference
Remember the signature ‘M’ patterning we mentioned earlier on the head of Mackerel Gingers?
Well, legend says baby Jesus, when he couldn’t sleep, was comforted by a warm and purring orange tabby. The story goes that this little feline made such an impression on the young child that Mother Mary kissed the cat on the forehead, leaving the letter “M” in its fur.
Famous Ginger Cats
Over the years many ginger cats have become stars in their own rights and in some cases household icons. Here are our favourite famous orange cats:
Garfield
Most of all – Garfield. Garfield is an American comic strip created by Jim Davis. Originally published locally as Jon in 1976, then in national syndication from 1978 as Garfield, it chronicles the life of the title character, Garfield the cat; Jon Arbuckle, his human owner; and Odie, the dog.
Garfield was known for his love of food, with his favourites being lasagna, pizza, and ice cream.
Crookshanks
If you are a fan of the Harry Potter series, you will know of Hermonine’s cat Crookshanks. In the Wizarding World, he is referred to as ‘Half Kneazle‘ however, in Muggle’s life he is a Persian cat.
In 1993 Crookshanks was purchased from Magical Menagerie by Hermione Granger. The saleswoman from whom she had purchased him stated that he had been in the shop for a long time as “nobody wanted him”.
He also later went on to help uncover Scabbers as Peter Pettigrew.
Thomas O’Malley
Perhaps our favourite famous Ginger cat – Thomas O’Malley was the lovable Tom from Disney’s The Aristocats. Thomas comes off as a smooth-talking, streetwise cat who relishes his life of freedom out in the open with no rules and no responsibilities, all of this changes when he meets Duchess for the first time.
O’Malley is the perfect example of a male ginger cat – comes across tough but is a massive softy at heart. Meaning many people have picked a Disney cat name after him.
There is also another orange cat in The Aristocats – Toulouse, Duchess’ adorable ginger kitten.
Macavity the Mystery Cat
We of course had to mention the infamous Macavity from the musical ‘Cats’ which is based on T.S Elliot’s book ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’
Macavity’s a Mystery Cat: he’s called the Hidden Paw—
For he’s the master criminal who can defy the Law.
He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair:
For when they reach the scene of crime—Macavity’s not there!
Puss in Boots
He first appeared in Shrek 2, but he then become so famous (and adorable) that he became the lead in his own film ‘Puss in Boots’ where Puss teams up with his friends, Humpty Dumpty and Kitty Softpaws, in order to defeat two criminals, Jack and Jill, and retrieve the magical beans that they possess.
Puss is often shown pulling his signature move of ‘manipulative big eyes’ – a move we know too well in the Ginger Cat Household.
The Brain
As seen in Topcat, the Hanna & Barbera cartoon. Brain, an orange-coloured cat, wore a purple t-shirt and a watch. Despite his name, Brain was not a very bright cat. In fact, he couldn’t even read his own watch.
Convinced that a ginger cat is for you? Be sure to check our top 100 Ginger cat names.