I recently took my cat to a local spay and neuter program and the vet made the comment ‘oh a female red tabby, thats uncommon’. First I have had a slew of female cats with this coloring/striping (note the need for spaying), but when I asked ‘shes not orange?’, the vet responded there is no such think as an orange cat. Is this true? And is she uncommon?

kara
indiana

If there is no such thing as an orange cat it’s news to me. The vet you mention may have been referring to a piece of technical minutia–perhaps all orange colored cats are technically red or ginger. But I’ve met plenty of cats whose coats were orange, and in my opinion it’s silly to say that there is no such thing as an orange cat. They are orange regardless of whether some pedant thinks they don’t exist.

Certain traits and coloring patterns are more prevalent in one gender but aren’t really rare in the other. Most orange tabbies are males, but females aren’t that rare. Most tuxedo cats are males, but females aren’t that rare. Most cats with extra toes are males, but females aren’t that rare.

If you want to see a truly rare cat, look for a male calico or tortoise shell. They exist, but I’ve never met one and I doubt I ever will.