Orange Tabby Females?

Question

i recently got a orange male tabby, and i was told that female orange tabbys are "hermaphadites"(male & female) i had a female when i was a young child...she has many internal problems and she had to be put to sleep when she was only 4 or 5...is this true??

Answer 1

No it is untrue, the only coat pattern associated with a genetic defect that I know of is a male tri-colour, they are born with klinefelters syndrome because they have an extra X chromosome. Orange cats are perfectly normal and there are no defects associated with female orange(red) cats.

The red or orange gene
Unlike other coat color genes, the gene that determines red coloration can be carried only on the X chromosome. If you look at pictures of chromosomes (they look a bit like X-shaped breakfast cereal, with long arms), you will see that the X chromosome is normal sized in relation to other things, but the Y chromosome is smaller. It can't carry the gene that determines red color; only the X chromosome can do that.
The gene that determines red or orange coloration in cats is designated as O (for orange).

O = orange
o = non-orange
If the cat inherits an O pattern proper for its gender (I'll explain that in the following sections), the cat will be red or orange (I'll just continue to call it orange, even though most cat associations refer to this as red). This orange will cover up all other colors, except pure white. If the cat inherits an o pattern proper for its gender, it won't be orange.
Males and the O gene
Remember, however, that the Y gene can't carry the O gene at all -- only X can. Males are genetically XY. The Y fires a blank as far as the O gene is concerned, so males only get one O gene -- from Mom. The designation for this "blank" is usually just written as Y.
Male patterns:

OY = orange cat
oY = non-orange cat
These are the only possibilities for an XY cat.
Females and the O gene
Females get one X from each parent, so they get two O genes.
However, here's where things get exciting.

In most genes, the capital letter designation is for dominant genes, and the small letter designation is for recessive genes. In most genes, if the cat gets one dominant gene and one recessive gene, whatever is the dominant gene will show up and the recessive gene won't actually appear on the cat. The cat is said to "carry" the recessive gene, which means s/he can pass it on to offspring.

So by that rule, if the female cat gets one O and one o (Oo), she should be orange, right?

Not with this gene.

With the O gene, the O and o actually combine their efforts, displaying both orange and non-orange, along with white. This is called a mosaic. This creates the true tricolor -- the calico or tortoiseshell. You must have the combination of the O and the o to create this, which means the cat must have two genes. Since only Xs can carry the O gene, the cat must have two X genes -- or in most cases, be a female.

Female patterns:

OO = orange cat
oo = non-orange cat
Oo = tricolored cat

PS Female orange/red cats are not rare it is just that since they can carry an orange gene in both chromosomes they have more variety in the end result, it just seems like there are more male orange cats because they are either orange or they arent...

Answer 2

I have a female orange tabby! Tazzy will be 10yrs. this october 20006.
I have been told that female orange tabbies are rare, but never heared that they are
"both" Have you gotten any more info? I'm know wondering if her prob as anything to do with this.
She has only resently had to go to wet(canned) food cause of probs with a very stubbern urinarytrack infection. The vet said I can't give her ANY seafood, as it can bring it on in some kitties. I gotta read on the labels, like the chicken etc.. as they sneak in "fish". -Ly

Answer 3

I have never heard of the female orange tabbies having any physical problems. Statistically in the roll of the genetic dice, 75% of the orange cats will be males, 25% females. It has something to do with the arrangement of color alleles on the X chromosome.

We had a litter of four long-haired, orange females one time at the shelter. The orange females don't have any problems associated with their color and they reproduce as prolifically as any female cat.

Answer 4

Whoever told you that may be confusing things a bit. There are orange female tabbies, I've seen 'em before, and they're not hermaphrodites.

I'm wondering if they perhaps got it confused with the male calico thing. Male calicos are very rare, and oftentimes are not considered an actual male since the majority of them are born sterile.

Answer 5

Orange and Tabby are normally male traits, however RARELY you can get an Orange female tabby, but this does not make them a hermaphrodite. I have an orange female tabby...she is very rare, and very healthy...you just, sadly, got a sick kitty.

Answer 6

That's the first I've heard of that. I've seen orange cats before. The males were definately little boys and the females were definately little girls.

Answer 7

Ginger female cats are not as common as ginger males. They do not possess sex traits of both genders. I'd never heard that one before.

Answer 8

I have an orange Tabby and she is all GIRL ;)

Answer 9

i know alot about cats, but never heard of that one. temperment is usually the basic difference is cats nationalitys. whatever you do take care of him.

Answer 10

so far I have found this site


http://www.westcoastcat.com/scratchins/orangecats.html

will add more if I find another