It’s rare to see a female orange-all-over cat (for this to happen, she would need an orange or red father and a mother with some orange coloring). This is due to a genetic quirk that results in male cats being far more likely to be born with the orange tabby coat than females. The vast majority of orange tabby cats are male. Genetics are also the reason a majority of cats with orange-only coats are male. However, they are relatively rare compared to male orange tabbies.

If they get an o version, they’ll be a different color. If they get an O version, they’re orange. Most orange tabby cats love to eat, and they can become overweight pretty. Male cats on the other hand, are rarely calico or tortoiseshell because they only have that one X chromosome. More than 75 of orange tabby cats are males Pretty crazy, right Loves to Eat. Basepaws, maker of cat DNA tests that tell you about your cat’s genetic markers, says female felines are more likely to be calico or tortoiseshell because there are more gene combinations available to them through their X chromosomes (O/O, o/o, O/o, o/O).

This is great news if you’re looking to buy a female ginger tabby, but not great if you’re a breeder. Orange cats are not a breed at all, but a coloration that comes off the tabby coloration. Around 1 in every 5 ginger cats is female, meaning the price for either sex is pretty much the same. Female cats have two X chromosomes, which means two chances to inherit orange hues. Whereas 80 of orange tabby cats are male, females are still seen frequently. The dominant O gene will produce orange coloration the recessive o gene will not. Tabbies are not a breed of cat but a type of coat marking found in many domestic cats. Basically, the gene responsible for orange and red coat color is found on the X chromosome and comes in two versions: dominant (O) and recessive (o). We’ll make this quick because genetics are complicated.

Most orange tabby cats male