Having one cat is a lot of work, but four requires a lot of time, commitment, and patience. While I wouldn’t have it any other way, I decided to investigate whether the colour of their coats affects their behaviour, and I was surprised by what I found.
I have two ginger cats, one boy and one girl. If you know anything about ginger coat colour, you’ll know that ginger girl cats are very rare. I also have two calico, or tricolour felines, and they all act so differently, each with distinctive personalities.
However, the ginger or orange cats made me want to investigate their personalities further, as they are absolutely crazy.
When I say crazy, I don’t just mean the typical “zoomies” that felines sometimes experience, I mean extremely stubborn, very vocal and mischievous.
My male cat, Chester, also will not leave my side and will continuously cry if a door is shut between us. Sometimes the two of them will stare intensely at one another until one of them gives up, yet again showing they are stubborn.
My female cat, Lily, constantly walks around the house crying and will partake in feline gymnastics, climbing up anything she can find. She is also incredibly particular and demanding, compared to her sister, who is calm and laid-back.
From my first Google search, I discovered that many ginger cat parents also wondered the same thing: Are orange cats crazy because they’re orange?
While there is no significant or conclusive evidence, some studies suggest that there may be a link between behaviour and coat colour.
According to Falls Village Vets, around 80% of orange cats are male, which may explain why they tend to be bolder and more vocal around strangers.
Saying this, however, it is my orange cats who are the most loving and affectionate.
Compared to my two calicos, the ginger felines are always up for cuddles, purr immediately, and sleep on the bed.
Nicky Trevorrow, Petplan expert and behaviour manager at Cats Protection, said: “While there is some emerging research in this area, there is still a great deal that is not understood, so further research is certainly needed.
“In particular, looking at causation rather than simply correlation, for example, do particular genes for a coat colour also affect the temperament?”
It is also important not to pick a cat based on their coat colour, as black and tuxedo cats are less likely to be adopted, according to the RSPCA.
