12 Orange Cat Breeds That Will Fuel Your Love of Gingers

The Domestic Shorthair is a popular breed known for its mixed ancestry and short, low-maintenance coat. These cats can have fur in a wide variety of colors and patterns, and can be found in many different sizes and body types.

Typically friendly, intelligent and adaptable, they can make great companions for a variety of living situations. They are known for their independent yet affectionate personalities, often bonding with their owners while also enjoying time on their own.

The American Shorthair is a medium- to large-sized breed with a muscular, robust build and a distinctive round face.

Known for their short, dense coat, these cats can have fur in a wide range of colors and patterns. They have strong, stocky bodies with broad chests and well-defined features, giving them an overall powerful yet graceful appearance.

American Shorthairs are known for their calm and laid-back temperament, making them excellent companions.

The British Shorthair is a sturdy and compact breed with a round face, full cheeks and large, expressive eyes that give them an endearing appearance.

Known for their plush, dense coat, their coat can vary in color and pattern. These cats have a muscular build and are medium to large in size, with a broad chest and strong limbs.

British Shorthairs are known for their calm, easygoing personalities, making them excellent low-maintenance companions. While they enjoy affection, they are also independent and content to relax on their own, making them well-suited for various living environments.

The Exotic Shorthair is a breed that closely resembles the Persian cat but with a short, plush coat that's much easier to maintain. These cats have a round face with a flat nose, large, expressive eyes and a broad, sturdy build.

Exotic Shorthairs are medium to large in size, with muscular bodies and short legs, giving them a solid, compact appearance. Their coats are dense and soft, often in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including the popular tabby and solid shades.

Known for their sweet, gentle nature, Exotic Shorthairs are affectionate and laid-back.

The Scottish Fold is a unique breed famous for its distinct folded ears, which give them an instantly recognizable, owl-like appearance. They have a round face, large eyes and a medium- to large-sized, muscular body that is both sturdy and graceful. Scottish Folds come in a variety of coat lengths, but the short-haired variety has a dense, plush coat.

These cats are known for their sweet, calm demeanor and are typically affectionate, friendly and social, often enjoying the company of their human families and other pets.

The Munchkin is a small to medium-sized breed known for its distinctive short legs, which result from a genetic mutation.

Despite their tiny stature, Munchkins have a muscular build and a medium-length body. These small cats have round faces, large eyes and can have a variety of coat lengths and colors, ranging from short to long-haired varieties.

These cats are playful, energetic and curious, often enjoying games and activities that let them use their agility. Though their legs are short, Munchkins Can be fast and nimble.

The Maine Coon is one of the biggest cat breeds. Known for their impressive size, male Maine Coons can weigh up to 25 pounds (11.3 kg). They have a long, muscular body, with a thick, water-resistant coat that can vary in color and pattern.

Their most distinctive features include tufted ears, bushy tails and large, expressive eyes, giving them a regal, wild look. Despite their large size, Maine Coons are known for their friendly, sociable and gentle personalities.

The Cornish Rex is a sleek and elegant breed known for its distinctive wavy coat, which is the result of a natural genetic mutation. Their coats are short, soft and curly, giving them a unique, velvety texture.

Cornish Rex cats have a slender, athletic build with a long, graceful body, making them appear both agile and elegant. They have large ears, almond-shaped eyes and a narrow face, which further enhances their striking appearance. This breed is medium-sized, with a light yet muscular frame.

Known for their playful, energetic and affectionate nature, Cornish Rex cats are highly social and love being the center of attention, making them great companions for active households.

The Egyptian Mau is a striking and elegant breed known for its distinctive spotted coat, which is unique to each cat, but is typically short and silky. They are medium-sized cats with a graceful, athletic build, long legs and a muscular body. They have large, almond-shaped eyes and a distinctive "M" marking on their foreheads.

Known for their intelligence, loyalty and playful nature, this breed is also very vocal and tend to form strong bonds with their families, making them active and affectionate companions.

The American Bobtail cat is a unique breed known for its distinctive short tail, which typically resembles a bob or a "bobbed" stump, often just a few inches long. These cats have a medium to large size, with a strong, muscular build and a broad chest.

Their coat is typically short to medium in length and can be soft, shaggy or plush and in various colors and patterns. American Bobtails have a wild, expressive look with almond-shaped eyes and a slightly rounded, broad head.

Known for their playful and friendly personalities, they are highly intelligent, trainable, and affectionate, often forming strong bonds with their families and adapting well to various living situations.

The Devon Rex is a small- to medium-sized breed known for its distinctive curly fur, which is soft, fine and quite unique compared to other cats. Their coats are characterized by tight curls that give them a tousled, almost wavy appearance.

Devon Rex cats have a slender, graceful body with long legs, and their large, wide-set ears and big, expressive eyes add to their striking, elf-like look. Despite their petite size, they have a muscular build.

Known for their playful, energetic and affectionate personalities, Devon Rex cats are social and love to interact with their human families, often seeking attention and companionship.

The Persian cat is a long-haired breed known for its luxurious, thick coat and distinct round face with a flat, short nose. These cats have a medium to large size, with a sturdy, solid body and short, stocky legs. Their eyes are large and expressive, often a shade of copper or green.

Persian cats are known for their calm, gentle nature and are typically affectionate, though they prefer a relaxed environment and may be a bit reserved at times. Their coat requires regular grooming, so owners need to devote time to their care.

Despite their widespread recognition, "tabby cats" are not a breed in themselves. Rather, "tabby" refers to a specific coat pattern. The tabby pattern can appear in a variety of cat breeds, with orange tabby cats being one of the most beloved and instantly recognizable.

Orange cats get a lot of attention, whether they're sporting a rich, solid orange coat or one of the more intricate orange tabby patterns.

The orange or "red" fur of these cats can take on a variety of forms. Some cats boast a solid orange fur color, a clean and vibrant shade that shines like a sunset. Others, however, wear their coats like works of art, with tabby markings that swirl and stripe across their bodies, creating a kaleidoscopic effect on their coats

From the classic mackerel tabby to the more irregular blotched pattern, each cat's coat patterns are unique to them.

The gene that causes orange fur in cats is actually a genetic mutation that influences how a cat's fur produces pigment. Specifically, the mutation affects the production of red pigments, turning their coat a warm, reddish-orange hue.

But here's the interesting part: The orange cat genes are tied to the X chromosome. This means that the way the gene is inherited can be a little tricky. Female cats have two X chromosomes, while males only have one, so the inheritance pattern differs.

For a female to be orange, both X chromosomes need to carry the orange gene. For males, though, just one copy of the gene (on their single X chromosome) is enough to turn their fur bright and bold. This is one difference between male and female cats.

This article was written in conjunction with AI technology, then fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.