All cats are beautiful, but some are more attractive than others! Some have striking colors or patterns that draw your eye immediately. Others may be seen as plain looking, but they’re unique in their style which makes them interesting to look at.
Then some fall into what we call the ‘orange tabby‘ category. These orange fur balls get all the attention due to their very distinctive coloration.
They also seem to enjoy being photographed a lot! If you’ve ever wanted to become a cat owner, then these tips for owning an orange tabby will help you out a ton!
Making sure your new friend is comfortable and relaxed before taking pictures is important so check out our article on how to take good feline photos.
History of the orange tabby cat
The coloration for most tabbies comes down to two main colors: black or brown shades with some sort of chest pattern that is repeated in every coat.
The body shape is typically long and lean, sometimes described as wolf-like due to their strong legs.
Most tabbies have sharp, well-defined ears which are either solid white or cream-colored. The eyes can be light gray or dark!
- History2
- Origins3
- General Characteristics4
- Breed Profiles5
- Color Variations6
- Other Color Forms7
- Fun Fact8
- Socialization9
- Health10
- Behavior11
- Raising A Taby12
- Tips For New Owners13
- Why All Cats Should Have An ID Tag14
- Can You Rescue? 15
- Is This Breed Suitable For Your Home? 16
- Choosing A Feline Friend17
- Final Thought18
A brief history of the orange tabby cat…
In 1872, British breeders began selectively breeding tabbies with brindles (colored areas like those seen in seal fur) to produce cats with more pronounced brindle markings. These were then crossbred with other breeds to create what we know today as the American short-hair tabby.
Origin of the orange tabby cat
The coloration of many tabbies comes from either parent colors or patterns. If one parent has very light fur, then there can be some diffusion of that color into their offspring. Or if both parents have dark coats, then the offspring will inherit this color pattern as well!
Some color patterns are more common than others. For example, most tabbies have at least one black ear tip, which is usually proof that they are related.
Another popular color pattern is for them to have a white chest area with black around the jawline and/or nose. This looks cool because it resembles a tiger!
The final major color pattern is when all tabbies look like little lizards! These cats are often referred to as “gecko” tabbies due to their resemblance. They also have long tails which help contribute to their lizard-like appearance.
Facts about the orange tabby cat
The name “orange tabby” comes from their fur color which is described as being like that of tabbies, darker tomcats. These cats were not tan-colored, but had shades of brown mixed in with their golden hue!
The term “tabby” was first used to refer to domestic short-haired cats back during the 18th century when they would apply soot or other dark substances onto their coats to give them this same look. People began referring to these new colors as “tabby” due to their similarity.
These orange tabbies are one of the most popular types of cats in the world! They are very friendly and often considered more intelligent than average housecats.
It is important to note that although some individuals may associate the word “tabby” with just oranges, there is no formal definition for it. Some say it can be any light cream shade of fur, while others believe it must have rich highlights of yellow or gold coloration.
Hybrids with other cats
There is no hard and fast rule about how many kittens you should expect to get when adopting a tabbie cat,
but most experts agree that around eight to twelve puppies are average.
Some hybrids will have only one kitten while others may not be able to achieve this!
This can sometimes be due to health issues or lack of quality breeding parents, so it does depend on both animals being healthy.
It also depends on the individual owners’ commitments-
some people don’t like having lots of pets in their house, which could influence whether they can take care of more than one young animal at a time.
Sadly, even though there is no clear-cut number for how many babies your hybrid cat will give birth to, if they aren’t supporting themselves then it probably isn’t worth it.
As much as we would all love to adopt every homeless pet out there, it is not workable, and spending money on them doesn’t necessarily help either.
Facts about the color of cats
There are several different colors that most domestic short hair kittens are born with. These colors disappear as they grow up, though.
White fur is usually not permanent in all breeds of cats. Some white fur genes will be stronger in some individuals than others. If you win a prize for having the whitest cat, your cat may need to be spayed or neutered so she does not produce more white hair.
A few very popular pure breed dogs are known to have been bred from parents who were both completely white! So it is possible for there to be close relatives that are just as beautiful as yours now!
Some humans contribute to this color change by grooming their pets too much. This can cause dry skin which sometimes produces thick, annoying whiskers or hair growth. (This should stop at least half an hour before you start thinking your pet needs a bath!)
If you love your cat and want to keep her around, do not pull out the clippers until she looks like the one-minute cat picture you wanted to see! Also, make sure to use a quality brush to get rid of any loose hair.
Does the color of a cat matter?
Even though some people believe that cats are not influenced by their surroundings or environments, this is simply not true! They are very curious and sensitive animals that notice things around them.
Some colors can influence how your feline friend behaves and what behaviors they show. For example, if you have a black cat, she may feel uncomfortable when you have plants in the room because it could be considered a “lack of attention” for her to take care of them.
If you love both colored and white kitties, then it does not make much sense to get rid of one unless you know why it feels like there is no connection between you two as friends!
Because each cat is different, only God knows why he created every specific one! So, although it is interesting to learn about it, we cannot say whether it makes a difference or not until someone else with the same breed comes along and tells us themselves.
So, while it is fun to admire all of the different-looking cats out there, remember that it makes no real difference to what kind of person you will become as a friend to others and yourself.
Does the type of cat matter?
As mentioned before, there is no universal rule about what color cats should be. Some feel that it does not matter as long as they are beautiful to look at! Others believe that some colors attract more attention than others, so having different colored markings can help your cat get noticed and even inspire admirers.
Some people believe that only certain colors look good with specific breeds. For example, Siamese is known for their white underbellies and black noses, so people who own a Siamese may choose to have a darker tabby coat instead to match their nose shape.
Overall, however, it doesn’t make much difference whether your cat has solid blue or brown fur. Most kittens are born with dark hair and skin which then lightens up as they grow up, making it seem like they were always designed to have a grayish-tan hue! This theory also applies to adult tabbies, although some individuals do prefer one color over another when looking into the eyes.
What matters most is how your cat likes being dressed! If you let him/her decide, maybe he/she will find his/her color very attractive.
Does the age of the cat matter?
The coloration of your kitty is one of the biggest determinants of how much it costs to maintain. A young, inexperienced tabbie may not have a very high maintenance cost due to their hair being thin.
Tabby cats are often described as having stripes that fade from dark brown to cream. This can make them seem less dramatic than other colors like black or white.
However, this coat growth pattern makes tabbies more expensive to take care of. Since they don’t grow out all the undercoats, hairs stand up straighter, requiring more frequent grooming.
This also means lots of saliva which can cause health issues for your feline friend. Health concerns such as skin problems will add to the expense of taking care of your cat.
Since most active older cats need at least two hours of exercise per day, spending time with your cat can be another reason to keep her indoors and pay attention to her needs.
