Why are most orange cats male?

Question

I'm aware of why there are no male calicos (or at least no fertile ones) - it takes two X chromosones to make a calico. But I don't know why the majority of orange or orange tabby cats are male.

Anyone want to chime in?

Answer 1

All cats have 19 pairs of chromosomes. These chromosomes carry genes passed down from a cat’s two parents, and these genes determine a cat’s physical appearance, innate intelligence, susceptibility to disease and so on. There’s a copy of all 19 pairs of chromosomes in every cell of a cat’s body.

Like humans, cats have one pair of sex chromosomes. These are the ones that make them male or female and they play an essential role in determining a cat’s colour. In females, both sex chromosomes are X making girl kitties XX. Males are XY, the Y making them male. A kitten gets one chromosome from Mom and one from Dad. Moms only have X’s so the variable is given by the Dad, if he gives his X, the kitten is a girl, if he gives his Y, it is a boy.

The gene which makes a cat ginger (orange) is located on the X chromosome. The gene for ginger will override all other colours. Since males have only one X, they either are or aren’t ginger - no halfway about it. Girl cats have two X’s in each cell. As far as the cells are concerned two X’s is one too many, so each cell deactivates one of the X chromosomes in a fairly random fashion. Sometimes the ginger X will be left on producing a bit of orange fur and in some cells the ginger X will be turned off and the genes for black, brown or other colour fur will be produced. And there you have a Calico or Tortoiseshell Cat.

Since males only need to have the orange gene on one chromosome to become ginger, and females have to have it on two, ginger males outnumber females 3 to 1. To show both orange and another colour such as black or brown a cat has to have two different X chromosomes per cell. Therefore calico (or tortoiseshell) female cats outnumber males by at least 200 to 1, some stats go as high as 3,000 to 1. When a male tortie does appear, (a result of a mutation producing two X’s and one Y) he is invariable sterile and exhibits feminine behaviour such as nurturing nearby young.

Why do we have so many orange and white cats? Because white isn’t a colour but the absence of colour. The genes that cause the suppression of colour are stronger than the genes for any colour including the mighty orange. Since white isn’t a colour and is merely hiding the genes for colour, white cats often produce coloured kittens.

Answer 2

Are All Orange Cats Male

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why are most orange cats male?
I'm aware of why there are no male calicos (or at least no fertile ones) - it takes two X chromosones to make a calico. But I don't know why the majority of orange or orange tabby cats are male.

Anyone want to chime in?

Answer 4

That's a darn good question. My cat is orange as is a male. I can't wait to hear these answers.

Answer 5

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/axrR3

Orange or what actually is referred to as "Red Tabby" is simply a colouration of cats and has absolutely NOTHING to do with an animal's personality.

Answer 6

I have an orange male cat, but I think that's probably more about coincidence than genetics.

Answer 7

My orange kitty cat is a girl, but my Aunt's orange cat is a boy.

Answer 8

I have short curly hair for the first time since I actually was 10 years old and I really like it but I skip my long curly locks so I am growing it back out!

Answer 9

It's all merely a matter of personal preference. I actually have short hair and guys such as it. And i prefer a person with short hair over a person with long hair because long tresses tends to make guys look too girly.

Answer 10

i had an orange female once a long time ago, she was a long hair calico and just beautiful. (so not all orange cats are male)