There is a belief that most orange cats are males and almost all calico cats are females. But is this really the case?
Among people with red hair, there are approximately equal numbers of men and women. However, the situation is different with cats.
The genes responsible for fur color in cats function differently than the genes that determine hair color in humans. Therefore, there is no clear gender division among red-haired individuals.
The “orange gene,” which is responsible for the orange fur color in cats, is located on the X chromosome. Males have only one X chromosome, so they can either be orange or not. For a female to be orange, this gene must be present on both X chromosomes. This means that for every orange female cat, there are approximately three male cats.
Thus, only females can have a calico coloration (black, white, and orange), as it is the X chromosome that determines fur color, and only females have two X chromosomes.
However, there are exceptions: sometimes (very rarely) male cats have an XXY set of sex chromosomes and can have a bi-color or tri-color coat. In such cases, males are always infertile and may exhibit behaviors typical of females, such as caring for kittens.
Additionally, there is a common belief that orange cats have a “special character.” However, this is not true. Color does not affect a pet's temperament, unlike its breed.
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