There’s something about orange cats that just makes you soft on the inside. Perhaps it’s their fiery fur or their playful personalities—whatever the reason, these 14 orange cat breeds are sure to make you fall in love.
From big and cuddly Maine Coons to the feisty Persians, there’s definitely an orange cat out there for everyone!
Top 14 Orange Cat Breeds
There are tons of orange tabby cat breeds, each with a unique personality and traits. Today, we’re going to look at the 14 most popular ginger cat breeds so that you can learn a little bit more about them!
1. Abyssinian Cat
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Sometimes referred to as a miniature cougar, this is one of many orange tabby cats with agouti hairs—the Abyssinian is a beautiful and regal-looking breed, originating either from Ethiopia or Egypt. They are very active and playful and love to explore their surroundings.
An Abyssinian is a perfect choice if you’re looking for a loving and affectionate companion who will keep you entertained. They’re also one of the most intelligent cat breeds, and with a lot of patience and dedication, these cats can even be trained (we know—shocking!).
2. Exotic Shorthair Cat
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Often compared to a Persian cat, this cat is recognizable by its flat nose, small ears, and irresistible big eyes. When it comes to coat patterns, they can have tabby patterns, tortoiseshell, or calico coats.
They have a very laid-back personality and are typically relatively calm and gentle. However, they do enjoy playing and spending time with their owner.
3. Maine Coon Cat
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The Maine coon is one of the largest domestic cat breeds. Besides their large size, they’re known for their thick fur coats and friendly dispositions (hence the nickname “gentle giant”).
They’re either very active or a lazy ball of fluff—there’s no in-between. Their orange coat combos vary from solid red to red tabby to red smoke. Don’t let their size intimidate you—they are one of the most gentle and loving cat breeds around.
4. Persian Cat
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Persian cats are beautiful animals that come in various colors and patterns. Their orange coats are particularly striking and often have tortoiseshell or calico markings. Persian cats are extremely popular as house pets due to their calm and docile nature.
However, this furry orange cat requires regular grooming to keep it looking fluffy and healthy. That said, if you’re looking for a more low-maintenance breed, keep scrolling for more orange kitty options.
5. Chausie Cat
source: www.tica.org
The Chausie is another one of the orange cat breeds with short hair ranging from black grizzled tabby to solid black or black ticked tabby. When it comes to size, they can be either medium or large.
These longer-legged cats with large feet are a hybrid between domestic cats and jungle cats. But don’t worry, they’re nothing like the cats in the wild; however, daily exercise and mental stimulation are a must. They’re a non-hypoallergenic breed, so they will shed, but not as much as many longhair cats.
| If you’re bothered by cat hair, we’ve got you—here’s a list of the best cat brushes you can use to groom your feline friend! |
6. Devon Rex
source: www.wikipedia.org
Often referred to as the monkey in a catsuit, the Devon rex is a small to medium-sized cat originally from Devon, England. They are very intelligent and easily trained.
They are known for their “elfin” appearance, with big ears, huge eyes, and a short, curly coat that doesn’t shed much. They can have any coat color and pattern. They make excellent house pets and are very affectionate towards their family.
7. Bengal Cat
source: www.wikipedia.org
The Bengal cat is a beautiful and exotic-looking cat breed that came to be by crossing Egyptian Mau with the Asian leopard cat. They are very active and playful and love exploring, so you best believe you will have fun with this one.
Their coat markings resemble those of a leopard, with large spots and rosettes. The spots are typically dark for the orange Bengals, while the base color is a lighter orange.
8. British Shorthair
source: www.tica.org
This fluffy orange cat is one of the most popular cat breeds. The British shorthair is a medium-sized cat with a thick coat that comes in many colors and patterns. The most popular are the ones with grey coats and yellow eyes.
Their calm, tame but also loving and cuddly nature makes them ideal house pets. However, they do require regular grooming to keep their thick coats looking shiny and healthy.
9. Munchkin
These cats are famous for their short legs due to a genetic mutation. Besides being famously long-haired cats, they’re relatively small in size. They also come in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
Because of their short legs, they cannot jump as high as other cats; however, they make up for it with their playful and energetic personalities.
10. American Curl
source: www.cfa.org
The American Curl is a medium-sized cat with unique, curled ears that give them an adorable look. They’re born with straight ears and start curling back as they grow. They usually curl back to a 90-degree angle, but sometimes even more.
Their plush coats come in various colors, lengths, and patterns, and they have big, beautiful eyes. They’re typically quite playful and friendly, making them even more irresistible.
11. Ocicat
source: www.wikipedia.org
The Ocicat is a big cat with an exotic spotted coat. They’re bred from a mix of Siamese, Abyssinian, and American Shorthair cats.
Due to their energetic nature, they need a lot of space to run and play. They can even be trained to be walked around on a leash! This cat is the perfect pick for those who want a challenge.
12. Oriental Shorthair
source: www.tica.org
The Oriental shorthair is a sleek and elegant cat with a slender body, long tail, and slim legs. The CFA recognizes over 300 distinct combinations of colors and patterns for this breed.
This cat is very similar to the Siamese in appearance but has a shorter coat and more prominent ears. They are very intelligent and friendly and make excellent cuddle buddies.
13. American Bobtail
source: www.wikipedia.org
The American Bobtail is a medium-to-large-sized cat with a unique “bobbed” tail. Its tail length will differ, even among kittens from the same litter. It can range anywhere from 1–4 inches.
They are also very active and can play with the same toy for hours. They come in various colors and patterns and typically have medium-to-long hair.
14. Selkirk Rex
source: www.wikipedia.org
This cute, unique breed came to be as a cross between a shelter housecat and a black Persian cat—and it’s fairly new compared to other breeds listed here.
What’s special about this kitty is its curly hair, so it’s no wonder you’d hear it referred to as poodle cat. Although Devon Rex and Cornish Rex can be born with curly hair, this particular gene is only dominant in Selkirks.
| If you have a feline companion but aren’t sure of its breed, find out via the best cat DNA kit! |
4 Interesting Facts About Orange Cats
Now that we’ve gone through some of the most popular orange cat breeds out there, here are a few interesting facts about these special felines:
- All orange cats are tabby cats: Tabby is not a cat breed but rather a coat type that can be found in cats of many different breeds and colors. All types of orange cats have the tabby gene, which gives them their distinctive stripes and markings.
- They have an “M” mark on their forehead: The “M” mark on an orange cat’s forehead is actually called a mackerel tabby pattern. This mark is found on all tabby cats, regardless of their coat color.
- There hasn’t been a purely orange cat: While there are plenty of purebred cats with orange coats (such as the Devon Rex), there has never been a naturally-occurring cat that is purely orange. Each orange cat has either spotted markings, classic stripes, mackerel stripes, or ticked stripes.
- Most orange cats are male: This is because the gene that causes orange fur is located on the X chromosome. Female cats can get it if they inherit two copies of the gene, while male cats only need to inherit one copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are orange cats rare?
No, orange cats are not rare. In fact, they are the most common color for domestic cats.
Are most orange cats male?
Yes, the male-to-female ratio for orange cats is 4:1. This is because orange is a recessive gene and males only need one copy of the gene to be orange, while females need two copies.
Key Takeaways
There you have it–14 of the most adorable orange cat breeds around. If you’re in the market for a new feline friend and want one with a beautiful coat of orange fur, any of these breeds would be perfect. Just be prepared for all the love and cuddles that are sure to come your way!
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