Why Most Orange Cats Are Boys

Around 80 percent of orange cats are male. That’s because the gene responsible for orange fur lives on the X chromosome — and male cats only have one.

Here’s how it works: Female cats have two X chromosomes (XX), while males have one X and one Y (XY). To be orange, a female cat needs both of her Xs to carry the orange gene. But males only need one — if their single X chromosome carries the orange gene, they’ll have that fiery fur.

That’s why orange girls are much less common. They need a double dose of the orange gene to show off the color, while boys only need one.

There’s another twist: orange fur can be solid, striped, or even patchy — like in calico cats. But nearly all calicos are female, because those multi-color patterns require two X chromosomes.

So while orange cats might seem like they just have bold personalities, their color comes from some bold biology too. Next time you meet a ginger tabby, odds are you’re looking at a boy — and now you know why.