Red cats: why house tigers are so fascinating
Created: 10/04/2022, 10:30 am
Red cats are considered to be particularly cuddly - but also crazy and clever.
We reveal which facts are really correct.
Whether breeds like the British Shorthair and the Norwegian Forest Cat or just a wild crossbreed: cats come in all coat lengths and colours.
For many fans of velvet paws, however, animals with a certain coat color are considered to be particularly funny, intelligent and cheeky: red cats are said to be different from their fellow cats.
But does the color actually have an influence on the character of the animals?
And what distinguishes the orange fur tigers?
We have the answers.
Red Cats: What Makes Red Cats So Special
Red cats are considered easy-going and affectionate.
(Iconic image) © Panthermedia/Imago
Unlike other species, such as the British Shorthair, the fur of red cats is not monochromatic.
Instead, a very specific coat pattern emerges there: the so-called "tabby".
There are four different variations of the pattern – from mackerel or brindle to spotted and ticked.
Color and pattern make red cats very special, much like red-headed humans stand out with their bright hair color.
Human and animal redheads have one thing in common: the pigment pheomelanin is responsible for the extraordinary hair and coat in both.
In addition, red cats have a particularly large number of small spots - or freckles - for example on the nose or paws.
However, it is still unclear why they are so common in orange cats.
Red Cat: She has these characteristics
They dash through the apartment, cuddle like champions and entertain their owners with their funny ideas: there are many videos of red cats circulating on the internet.
But are they actually more playful and affectionate than their peers?
These facts are really true:
Red cats are popular, according to a study by the University of California, Berkeley.
The participants rated the house tigers as particularly nice and affectionate.
The Garfield role models are mostly male - only 20 percent of orange kitties are females.
This is because the father and mother cat must be red in order for a female red cat to emerge.
For males, it is enough if the father is orange in colour.
Whether Garfield or Bob the Stray - there are many legendary orange cats in books and films.
Their positive portrayal in the media is probably also the reason for many to buy a red cat.
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Red cats and their spiritual meaning
Today they are TikTok stars - but centuries ago there were stories about the red strays.
One of them: Holy Mother Mary is said to have especially blessed red cats.
It is said that a red cat kept Jesus warm in his manger.
To thank her, the Mother of God bestowed her blessing and left her initial on the cat's forehead.
In fact, a striking number of red cats carry the characteristic "M" because of their tabby pattern.
The orange strays also appear in other world religions.
In Islam it is said that one day the Prophet Mohammed was deep in prayer.
Meanwhile, a poisonous snake approached him, which he did not notice.
One of his cats - supposedly a red one - but yes.
She protected her master by biting off the dangerous animal's head.
By the way: Basically, the prophet is said to have been a big cat lover.
According to stories, he even cut off part of his robe so as not to disturb a kitty sleeping on it.
