Last updated May 31, 2024
What do famous cats like Garfield, Morris, and Milo have in common? They’re all orange tabby cats. The orange tabby cat is not a breed, but it is certainly one of the most iconic (and some would say cutest) cats out there.
While the term “tabby” doesn’t refer to a specific breed of cat, it does represent one of the most common coat patterns seen in the world of cats – both wild and domestic. Tabbies are known for their striped coats and, while they come in a wide variety of colors, the orange tabby is uniquely beautiful.
How can you not love a ginger cat, especially one with tiger stripes?
Because the orange tabby is not a specific breed of cat, it’s difficult to make overarching generalizations about things like temperament and personality. That being said, there are some interesting facts about orange tabbies you should know. Keep reading to find out what they are!
Wish you could learn more about the genes that make your cat special? Cat DNA testing could be the answer. Click here to read our review of the Basepaws cat DNA test kit.
What Makes Orange Tabby Cats So Special?
All cats are beautiful, but orange tabby cats are known for their colorful coats and unique pattern. The term tabby refers to the combination of stripes, spots, and swirls which cover the cat’s body.
Depending on the breed of cat and its individual genetics, the tabby pattern can be localized to patches or certain body parts, or it could cover the entire body of the cat.
The tabby pattern comes in five different varieties:
- Mackerel
- Classic
- Spotted
- Ticked
- Patched
While tabby cats come in an array of patterns, most have some degree of striping on their coats. In some orange tabbies, the stripes may be bold and clearly visible running down the length of the cat’s back and body. In other cats, the striping is much more subtle or appears only on the cat’s legs and tail.
Though each orange tabby is different, tabbies in general have specific characteristics that are easily identified. These include:
- An M-shaped marking on the forehead
- White or dark lining around the eyes
- Pigment on the paws and lips
- Thin “pencil” lines on the face
- Pale color on the chin and belly
- Banding on the legs and tail
Now that you have a better idea of what physical characteristics define the orange tabby, let’s take a closer look at each of the five tabby patterns.
1. Mackerel Orange Tabby Cat
When you hear the phrase “orange tabby” this is probably the variety you picture. The mackerel tabby is the iconic “tiger cat” with narrow stripes running parallel down the length of its body. In an ideal example of the pattern, the stripes are evenly spaced with no broken lines.
Though they may look like tiger stripes, they actually branch out from a single stripe running down the cat’s spine which creates a pattern that resembles a fish skeleton, hence the name “mackerel.”
2. Classic Orange Tabby Cat
While the mackerel tabby may be the quintessential tiger cat, the classic tabby is the most common. These cats have bold, swirling patterns on their backs that resembling the marbling you’d see in a cake. They have a random series of dark and light orange swirls, much like a bullseye.
3. Spotted Orange Tabby Cat
Tabby cats are primarily known for their stripes, but they can also have spots. Spotted tabbies have bright spots of varying size all over their sides which can be difficult to distinguish from the mackerel tabby pattern. In fact, experts aren’t quite sure whether spotted tabby cats developed from mackerel tabbies or whether they simply have different genes.
4. Ticked Orange Tabby Cat
This tabby variety is the most unique and can be difficult to identify as a tabby because there are no obvious spots or stripes. Ticked orange tabbies have the typical tabby markings on their foreheat and the same agouti fur, but any stripes or spots are very subtle and may not be visible except in strong light. The most common breeds of ticked tabby are the Somali and Abyssinian breeds.
5. Bi-Color Orange Tabby Cat
While traditional tabby cats often exhibit the same solid orange tabby pattern all over their bodies, orange tabby cats can often be seen in a bicolor pattern. These tabbies have a combination of tabby patches which are darker in coloration than the rest of the body. A common example of a bi-color orange tabby is an orange tabby cat with pure white patches.
Genetics
When it comes to feline genetics, characteristics like coat color and pattern are carried on the X chromosome. Female cats have two X chromosomes (XX) while males have one X and one Y (XY).
Cats inherit a combination of genes from both parents, though the wide variety of colors you see in cats come from just two main colors: black and orange (or red). A kitten inherits two copies of each gene from its parents (one from each), and each gene can be either dominant or recessive.
The gene for orange coloring is dominant (O), so a kitten need only inherit one copy of the orange gene to display some degree of orange color in its coat.
This interesting fact explains why most orange tabbies are male. Because a female orange tabby must have two X chromosomes to be female, there is only about a 20% chance an orange kitty will be female.
Whether a kitten displays the tabby pattern depends on whether it inherits a dominant or recessive agouti gene. The term “agouti” refers to hair that has alternating bands of light and dark color – this produces a speckled or “salt and pepper” appearance.
Kittens that inherit a dominant agouti gene (A) will display a visible striped pattern while kittens that inherit the recessive gene (a) will not. Solid-colored cats can still display subtle tabby pattern – often called “ghost striping – if they inherit two copies of the recessive gene (aa).
Personality And Temperament
Because the orange tabby is not a breed in its own right, it’s difficult to make generalizations about things like personality or temperament. When it comes to orange tabby personality, the better gauge is the cat’s breed and upbringing.
Unfortunately, determining your cat’s breed can be difficult if you adopted the cat from a shelter or as a stray. One way to learn more about your cat’s genetics is to use the Basepaws cat DNA test.
Basepaws takes a swab of your cat’s saliva and runs a thorough DNA test, comparing your cat’s genetics against the largest cat DNA database in the world. You’ll receive a detailed report detailing the breed groups to which your cat belongs as well as a list of wild cats he’s genetically related to.
To give you an idea what breeds your orange tabby cat might be, here’s a list of cat breeds that exhibit the tabby coloration:
- Abyssinian
- American Bobtail
- American Curl
- American Shorthair
- American Wirehair
- Birman
- Egyptian Mau
- Exotic Shorthair
- Javanese
- Maine Coon
- Manx
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Ocicat
- Oriental
- Persian
- Ragdoll
- Rex
- Scottish Fold
- Siberian
- Somali
- Turkish Angora
- Turkish Van
The American Curl is known for its unusual ears which curl back from the cat’s face. These cats are born with straight ears that begin to curl over the course of several days. American Curl cats have soft, silky coats and friendly temperaments – they also tend to form strong bonds with their owners.
The Egyptian Mau is a small- to medium-sized breed and a fairly rare one at that. These cats are the fastest runners of all domestic cats and they are very friendly, playful, and loyal.
The Javanese is sometimes called the colorpoint longhair and it is a variation on the Oriental breed. These cats have long, silky coats and they tend to be very vocal. They love to play, and they can be very needy, following their owners around the house seeking constant attention and cuddles.
Also Read: 8 Gorgeous Orange Cat Breeds That Make Great Pets (With Pictures)
The Ragdoll is another color-point breed, known for its large, muscular body and soft, silky coat. These cats can be relaxed by nature, but they also tend to have bold personalities. Because they are highly tolerant of children, Ragdolls make great family pets.
Though you can’t make generalizations about all cats with a certain pattern, orange tabby cat lovers have been known to describe their cats as friendly, intelligent, and tolerant of children and other family pets. Just keep in mind that your orange tabby’s genetics and upbringing play a large role in determining his personality as an adult and into his senior years.
12 Fun Facts About Orange Tabbies You Probably Did Not Know
Here are some fun facts about orange tabby cats you probably didn’t know:
- Orange tabby cats are often nicknamed ginger or marmalade cats. These nicknames have been used for many years to differentiate traditional from orange tabby cats.
- Most orange tabby cats are male due to their unique genetics. The gene for coat color is carried on the X chromosome, so male cats need only inherit one copy while female cats need two. Only about 20% of orange tabby cats are female.
- The gene for orange coat color is dominant over all other coat colors except white. This may be why many bi-color orange tabbies exhibit white as their second color.
- Orange tabby cats tend to have dark freckles on their nose and mouth – this is a very common in tabbies and these markings tend to develop by the age of 2.
- The personality of an orange tabby cat is influenced more by its breed than its color. Orange tabbies can be found across a wide range of breeds including British Shorthair, Maine Coon, American Curl, Manx, Ragdoll, Somali, and more.
- All orange cats are technically tabbies, though not all tabbies are orange. Many orange tabby cats exhibit “ghost striping” which is faint striping you may only notice on the legs and tail in bright sunlight.
- One of the most distinctive markings seen in all tabby cats is the M-shaped marking on the forehead. Tabbies have inherited this marking from their wild ancestors including the African wildcat (Felis lybica lybica), European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris), and the Asiatic wildcat (Felis lybica ornata).
- Though temperament varies greatly across orange tabbies, National Geographic reports that personality may be somewhat linked to coat color. They also suggest orange tabbies tend to be more talkative than other cats.
- Garfield (the lasagna-loving cat) is one of the most famous orange tabby cats. He made his debut in American culture in 1978 and holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for the most syndicated comic strip.
- Winston Churchill owned an orange tabby named Jock that he received for his 88th birthday. Churchill loved the cat so much he decreed that an orange cat would always live in the Churchill home, even after he died. The current inhabitant is Jock VI, an orange tabby with a white bib and four white socks.
- Morris, the mascot for 9Lives cat food, debuted on television in 1968. The original Morris passed away in 1978 but the current mascot lives under the care of Rose Ordile in Los Angeles.
- Stubbs, a ginger cat, is the honorary mayor of a town called Talkeetna in Alaska. The town has no human mayor, but Stubbs was awarded the position in an effort to attract tourists. He has successfully held office for nearly 20 years.
Relevant Articles:
- All About Ginger Cats
- Tabby Cats 101 – Colors, Lifespan, Personality, And Fun Facts
- All About Tortoiseshell Cats
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all orange tabby cats male?
No, but the majority of orange tabby cats are male due to their genetics. Male cats only need to inherit one copy of the orange tabby gene while females need two – this is why orange tabbies are male three times more often than female.
Do orange tabby cats have health problems?
Certain breeds of cat are more prone to health problems than others, so your orange tabby’s health is more likely related to his breed than his color/pattern.
How long does an orange tabby cat live?
Generally speaking, the average indoor housecat has a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. Providing your tabby with a healthy diet and routine veterinary care can help maximize his lifespan.
My orange tabby cat eats everything it lays eyes on
Well sadly yesterday. My orange tabby. My best friend Oz. Is 6 years old such a awesome cat loyal and always near me. Was diagnosed with heart failure.? making me very depressed the vet is telling me orange tabbys life expectancy is 6 to 8 years. And he will be in and out of there for the next year for heart failure. He showed no signs prior. And is still the most friendliest thing with needles in him. This sent me into a depression on what I coulda done to make him not have to go threw this. Hes went threw 3 major sugerys for P.U sugerys and another for ulcers on his eyes. My cats been threw hell. Just really sad rn ? he made me from a dog lover to a complete feline lover. I dont know if putting him down is the right way to go or to let him continue his life with these issues.
Simply was my one and only friend..
I am so sorry to hear this my male tabby Tigger is also just gotten very sick breathing issues? Nothing is getting better inhalers he is struggling he has been by my side my best friend through so much.. I lost my mom my best girlfriend my dad my stepmother in the last 4 years my boyfriend six months ago and another good friend I lost in the last six months Tigger has been by my side snuggling with me as I caries my eyes out now Tig? Is sick I feel your pain more than you know
Don’t put him down. So sorry you had to go through this- just keep giving him lots of love and research what types of food is best to ease the symptoms if not curable. Bless you both.
Hey there my orange Tabby cat is 10 years old so dont panic he could live a very long life yet. I wish you the best of luck for your little family member. ?
I lost my 10 year old at waldoxie state park . Female crybaby is her name or comes to a whistle. She is mean and sweet . There is a reward. Her ears are ragged on the fighting please if any info. I will ask no questions. I figured if someone took her in they would be ready to get rid of her by now she has a nasty temper.
I am very sorry to hear all of your guys cats arent doing well I just lost my dog in june 2019. She was one of the best dogs her name was Cloe no H.
I am so sorry at least your cat had a good life for 6 years, I had a black tabby his name was Ike he lived up to be 13 he died from a stroke in 2014, even if I have a new little little buddy , he’s a little Tuxedo kitten I named him Salem from the tv show Sabrina the teenage witch, Salem is sweet when he wants to be ,he will mostly come to me not to my parents like my other cat who was very friendly and sweet to everyone , Ike was more like a dog in a cat body. When my sister -in law Jessica knew about the new little dude she went aww… he’s a Tuxdeo .Salem is 6weeks old and still in the middle of being trained but he’s he’s getting better with everything.
hawthorne berry herb is good for hearts ….. one small cap for a week might help. I had a domestic orange pal who passed away december 11 2020 from renal failure …. he was 18 years 11 months. Lost his right hand in a farm accident. Hit by truck, broken pelvis, cured. Had Rabbis, glycol poisoned, kittynapped and other incidents in his life. He actually saved my life! I fed him dry food and, as a hunter, I also fed him game and raw wild cod, pollock, haddock, and other frozen fish which was comparable, if not less, in price to canned.
Funny I have also a orange tabby he will not eat any kind of human food but loves to eat none the less he will remind you when he is to get his can and if he doesn’t get his temptation when he ask he will get them himself the chunky monkey he has stolen our hearts alittle over a year Tigger is the only one
Brenda how cute.
We just inherited a stray orange tabby. He is full of life and will eat anything insight. He will steal from our older cat, who is not a tabby. We have name him Kramer (he reminds us of Kramer on Seinfeld) he moves and dances more than any cat/kitten I have ever seen.
He will eat human food, by grabbing it off your plate. My husband like to sit on the couch and watch TV to eat his dinner. Kramer will come grab it off his plate while he is watching TV. He jumps every where he can, countertop,s, bathroom counter, toilet, bathtub and dressers. I have added shelves above the bed for my older cat and he has taken them over.
I’ve had tabbies before, but not a orange one. Kramer is way different than any of them. He is very cute, but man, he is out of control. He is 6months old and I certainly hope he grows out of this. I will run out of squirt bottles if he don’t.
Haha! My orange tabby Cheerio is like the opposite, he will only eat his same kibble and treats hes 15 and still climbing trees ive had him my whole life
So does mine! And he’s persistently annoying until he’s fed. 6 – 6:30 am everyday, I get the gentle pat on my face wake up call.
I just got mine, he’s 6 mo tha and I thought there was an issue because he seems like he’s never full!
I loet my orange tabby of 15 years april 9, 2018. He was amazing. I warn you that these cats will win you heart and you will get very attached to them. Mine followed me everywhere and slept right beside me every night. I am about to adopt another orange tabby. They are amazing companions. I love them dearly
Your comment was touching. We have had many cats but the orange ones absolutely LOVE everyone. I’m sorry about the loss of tour guy. I know you will find your next best friend.
l’m so sorry for your loss my orange tabby passed i didn’t come out of my room for a week my mom put my food out side my door. That cat was my life my heart i wear this neck less everyday i see him in my head everyday to.But one night my mom found a pic. of a gray main coon that my dads friend at work sent him they where moving to a place that didn’t allow pets that was when my grand dad was over because his house got flooded 9 in. my cat was so nice to everyone even you he was laying on the carpet way before my dad showed my mom the pic. of the gray main coon listing to them talk about new things for my grand dads house then he started getting bigger for no reason he wasn’t even eating much my mom when’t to the vet i kissed him by before the check up i didn’t really now if he was going to pass but then i saw my moms car out the window me and my sister where the only ones home shes 13 i yelled to her THEIR HERE! we stood at the front door i saw my mom crying caring the pet holder me and my sister followed my mom and dad in the living room my mom set down the pet holder and my mind played sad music because he passed i picked up his tail it fell down my eyes watered then tears then heavy tears we said by and hugged and kissed him for 1hr then i saw my sister wiping tears away she never crys she never let her feelings out then my dad picked up the pet holder and was going to barry him at mt grand dads this guy who is helping my grand dad on is house made a grave for him but then one day came my dad got the pic. of the gray main coon my mom really wanted one them i said to myself tango (my cat) knows want we want i new he wold do anything for us. my dad texted everything we need to know the food what he likes what time to get him. the guy said tom. morning. the next day my mom woke me up and i got ready it was a long way away but i sleeped the ole time then my dad woke me up and said where here so i ran out of the truck and we knocked on the door the guy my dad works with kid opened the door and said come in welcome he was laying on the floor we put him is the pet holder and put him in the car and when’t home and my mom and sister came home with toys and a litter box and the grey main coon we named Eli hide be hide the couch all day long for like 3 or 4 days and thats my story of tango
I am sorry for your loss. My dog (adopted at a Kill Shelter as an adult). Just seemed to love cats. I prayed to God that a neighbors cat would jump the fence and play with Annie. God was listening and decided to do it his way. One morning I woke to leave Annie outside and in the yard was a skinny Orange Tabby. I picked him up and asked what is your name. He replied Meow Meow. That is his name. Annie and Meow Meow LOVE ❤️ EACH OTHER. Meow Meow wakes me up biting my hair to wake me to feed him. If I don’t get up he get s on mt dresser and knocks things off. He is personality plus. On Father’s Day he should probably get about a 1,000 cards…..Hmmm, I had heim nurtured and shots within 3 days of his arrival.
Several of appearance. I love my oranges headed man.
I am sorry that you lost your orange tabby ?❤️
Spencer was adopted by me on July 20 2019
I am in love – I have had many cats – never have I had one so loving , so bright and almost human – like
I know that a beloved pet can NEVER be replaced but since these cats are THE BEST – I am hoping that another one has found its way to you
Affectionately yours ,
Spence
Brenda I had an orange Tabby named tigger in 2003 he had cat aids he was a year old. My cat cuddles had kidney failure ,sadly Tigger had to be put to rest, I was so heartbroken.. he was a beautiful cat he had blue eyes to.and took half my bed.. I now have a flame point siamese named Charlie.. Cuddles passed away to in 2012 9 years after Tigger they are up in heaven playing now…. Cuddles was 17 in a half years old…I would love to have alot of cats but since I am not on my own I can’t..
I know, i had one for 6 years up until last week. he got killed by a dog….i miss him and its killing me…he was mostly white with some orange…im interested in finding another one like him.
Scott I am so sorry to hear your kitty was killed..
I have 2 orangetabby kittens 4 mos. Who are so wonderful but need a good
home. Any one interested
I am sorry that you lost your orange tabby ?❤️
Spencer was adopted by me on July 20 2019
I am in love – I have had many cats – never have I had one so loving , so bright and almost human – like
I know that a beloved pet can NEVER be replaced but since these cats are THE BEST – I am hoping that another one has found its way to you
Affectionately yours ,
Spence
I’m sorry for your loss. I lost my Tabby today. 🙁 I’m devastated. We had him for 10 years and he was just the very best cat, our neighbors absolutely loved him too! He basically owned this neighborhood, everyone loved him. He will be sadly missed for a long time. I can’t keep I do t want to eat. I’m too sad.
Robby I am so sorry…
I have a reddish orange flame point siamese he is very loving to he is 7 in a half and his name is Charlie. I have a pomeranian puppy,and I love to see my cat be a great big brother to her he loves her so much.. he was so heart broken like I was when we lost our Cloe she was a chocolate pomeranian dog she was a wonderful big sister to charlie… Lucielle is an all white pomeranian with orange tips she matches her brother in colors….
Yes, I agree. My condolences to your first tabby cat.
I just lost my orange tabby Tiger late Saturday night. He was the sweetest loveable baby!!! I miss him so much already. My home and myself will never be the same without him. Love you Tiger!!!
Ruby I am so sorry to hear that it does get better with time, but you never will forget.. your baby is in your heart Always…. It maybe healing to get an orange cat again to help heal… I know when I lost my Cloe dog Lucy came into mine and Charlie’s life 4 days later, yes it is very soon, but she has helped us so much with healing… Charlie is my cat him,and I would cry everyday .and now we are a little better…. I dont want to rush you just a thought….Charlie,and lucy wash each others heads I got so lucky they love each other like my older pommie loved Charlie….
I have my first orange tabby. His name is Gary England, after our meteorologist. 🙂 He is silly, loving, cranky, energetic and my absolute heart. He makes me happy every single day that I have had him.
Love that his name is Gary england
We had an orange tabby kitten show up last year while I was out back rebuilding our shed. Told my wife and girls to come out but don’t pet him or feed him. We already had indoor cats and really didn’t need another. He was so friendly and my family just Loved him from day one. Turns out he and the mother cat got out from a house a block over and due to circumstances the previous owner let us have him after he got out again and came back to our house. We always laugh because realistically it’s a cat we would have never picked out, but my family says we will always have one because of his kind nature and patience. He loves the outdoors and will not stay in to be an indoor cat. His name is Little Man and everyone on the street Loves him and watches out for him.
Little man so cute… Charlie’s nick name is my little man …
We called our guy, Little Man! Although his full name was Sneaky Pete. We adopted him from the local shelter. He was in a room full of kittens and all of his siblings had already been picked. There was another litter in the room and he had had to be in the center of everything. My mom said, you need to pick that little orange guy. So the next day, I went back and adopted him. Brought him home and tried to keep in the carrier until our other cat could check him out. He wanted nothing to do with that. So we moved him to the bathroom, well that lasted about two hours. We went in to see him and he had cried so much his little lips were bleeding on the sides. So we let him have reign of the master bedroom and bathroom for the night. The next day, when we left him in the bedroom alone, he started yelling again, so at that point he had free reign to the entire house. Then he discovered outside. That little guy for the rest of his life would spend each and every day, all day, outside. He loved his temptations, so he would sleep with us at bedtime. He once jumped on my jeep and got on the roof of our house. We were out I. The back porch and could here him and I looked up and there was his sweet face meowing at me from above. He forgot how to get down. When we would travel and come home after a long weekend, he would be so excited to see us that he would pee, thank goodness he grew out of that! When we moved, the movers loaded up a bedroom onto a truck, Pete’s bedroom mind you. He jumped onto the truck, and stated loudly “this is my stuff”. He loved his new neighborhood. Lots of other cats and dogs and people walking by daily. He spent everyday on our front porch guarding our door and doing his daily rounds around the house to make sure nothing was going to get us. He would take nightly walks with us around the neighborhood. The UPS and FedEx men loved him. My neighbor goes out every morning to fill up his bird feeders and Pete was right there by his side to watch. Pete even killed a couple of mice at my neighbors house. He was the cat that so many people have said to us “I don’t even like cats but he’s the coolest cat ever”. He sadly passed away in his sleep last week. He was 14. I don’t really know what happened as he seemed in good health and his last blood panel was good. I miss him so much but I am firm about getting another kitten to keep our other kitty company and am firm that it’s going to be another ginger man Little Man is playing at the rainbow bridge waiting for me to bring him treats and to go for a walk.
You don’t adopt a cat, the cat adopts you!
I love your story.
When Mary and Joseph were in the barn with baby Jesus, there was a cat that comforted Mother Mary. Mary took her finger and made an “M” on the cats head. That is the legend of the Tabby cats.
I’ve never heard this legend before; thank you for sharing! I just adopted a orange tabby today, and I am so excited to know this now. 🙂
Nicole congrats. On your new kitty…..
❤️❣️❣️❣️❤️
Love that story.
He comforted Baby Jesus because He was cold and crying and could not get to sleep. The tabby got in the manger with Him and warmed Him until He fell asleep. In gratitude Mary marked his head with an M.
I have an orange tabby cat who is the most social, people friendly cat I have ever see. Right now he is 12 1/2 years old, how long might I expect him to live. He is not around any other animals, has never been nor have I allowed him outside. He goes to the veterinarian once a year for a check up. Any idea how long he might live?
Hi Joseph,
According to PetMD Indoor-only cats can be expected to live to around 14 years of age
My buster is 16years strong. Indoor outdoor as well. A awesome cat. I call him big fat buster. He answers to big fat cat. I would bite someone who named me big fat Alisha.lol he is the best. I also has a black female named sammy. She lived 23 years. I still believe it’s because I let her eat prey. Rabbits and mice and in her plus years a can of cat food every day, with her hard food. I feed big fat buster the same. I love my babies.
My angel cat/love of my life passed away a year ago very abruptly from cancer that basically came out of nowhere. He was 13 years old and ate only natural and organic food for the last 4 years of his life. Hold onto that sweet baby as long as possible! My heart is still not the same.
Ashley I am so sorry for your loss of your kitty…
I would say 15 to 16 years this is only my guess…. this is only if he is very healthy,and doesn’t get sick of course…
These stories are so sweet and sad. I’m balling my eyes out. Recently I’ve takin in a stray cat with an M on his head. We call him Tunces (From SNL, Tunces the driving cat.) He’s the most precious cat I’ve ever had. He sleeps on my chest and loves on me constantly. He’s so appreciative he’s now brought in several gifts. The live rat in my bed was not fun. The very same night, a baby rabbit that he hunted down in the room while I’m standing on the bed screaming not knowing what else was in the room. By the time I got help, the rabbit jumped out and he took a bite out of its head. He was showing me his hunter skills so I’m told. That was a traumatizing night for me. But I’m laughing just the same. And this wild thing sleeps on top of me? But he’s so precious and grateful, I can’t help but love him dearly. He’s a gift from God. It’s time to put my very best friend in the whole world down, Coraline, my very old Black Lab of 12yrs. Coraline has been my everything. We adopted her as a pup at the Humane society and 5 yrs ago I had to go on disability. She, with no training for this, became my therapy dog. She distinctly runs through my legs before a seizure. She never licks my face unless I’m having an attack. She’s saved my life so many times. Helps me when I fall. We read each other minds. She’s so intelligent. She and Tunces are good friends. I will smother him once Cora”s gone. I pray I have the strength to do what I need to do. But I’m grateful Tunces will be here to help me through it. What a sweet forum. I’m happy I found your beautiful stories today. God bless you all.
My orange boy is 15 years old now. He used to be let out twice a day until he was 12, when we adopted him. Due to him being declawed (no, I didn’t do it), we don’t let him out any longer. I was told stories about how he was a great hunter, despite no claws. He makes up for it with his bite I suppose.
We are his fourth home (and last one!). You never can tell with cats, some live less than 10, some live to 20. We put him on a diet because he was up to 23 pounds. Now he’s down to 19 and looks like about the right weight. He’s a huge cat, long and tall. Maybe he’s part Maine Coon. Sweetest thing, cuddles on the couch every time you sit down. Well-behaved and doesn’t do stuff if we tell him we don’t like it.
My orange fur ball passed away a few weeks ago. For 15 years he went everywhere with me including my boat. He loved boating. When we got to the island, he got full access to everywhere. He was so well mannered that everyone welcomed him aboard their boats. A Total people cat! He would walk the docks with that lion/tiger swagger carrying his tail high over his back. The cool cat smirk expression on his face as he walked up and look into your eyes. I’ve known many cats, but none close to as great a company as he was. God I miss him.
This made me cry. I’m so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine what a puddle I’ll be when I lose mine. I almost did lose mine a year ago when he came into contact with a lily. I paid thousands of dollars to keep him alive and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. At the emergency vet hospital I was bawling before they took him in to hook him back up to Ivs and he was wiping my tears off my face with his forehead. He wraps his front legs around my neck to hug me, and the Vets said it was like he was a person trapped in a cat’s body. Ugh again I’m sorry for your loss. Your cat sounded amazing!
Dear Karl, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. He sounded amazing. I just lost my angel Julee 2 weeks ago to Lymphoma and I’m absolutely devastated. Our bond was epic and there will never be another one like her. Thank you for sharing your story.
Karl he sounded like the perfect cat ..for you… I am sure he misses you to..
I would have loved to have met him. He sounds like he was truly special.
So sorry for the loss of your dear friend. God bless, Mr. Jensen.
Our adopted orange mackerel tabby just turned 5 months old. He and his twin brother were left motherless at 2 weeks old. An angel (Anne) adopted them from a shelter and her daughter now has the twin, Brian, and we have Jack, the bigger guy. What an amazingly happy disposition he has, having been through so much. And so smart!
Three years ago I lost my ginger boy named Dinky Do, & he would not acknowledge any other name. He was a feisty bad boy, but my heart! He was raised with two big dogs. They taught him to dig like a dog, if that isnt a site! But mind you he was 100% the boss of the house! I got him as a abandoned kitten, too young to have been separated from his mother, every night the only way he would go to sleep is to suckle on my ear lobe, he did this still at 2 hrs old. My ear & surrounding area, were scratched continuously from him kneeding, but i didnt have the heart to deny him
My first orange Tabby was Throckmorton (Mort for short). He was mine for 15+ years.
My current orange Tabby is Mr. Simba. I’ve had him for a month now. I lost my Meeser, a black Domestic Shorthair aged 19 years in January.
A friend contacted me just a few days after her death. Her brother in law had passed and she needed to re-home his cat. Even though it was less than a week, once I saw his pictures, I knew I wanted him.
He is 3 years old and weighs 17.6 pounds. He is very loving and playful. The beginning of a wonderful friendship!
We love our Zippy boy. Loyal like a dog and super sweet. Has slept with us every night since we first adopted him 14 years ago.
I have not been fond of cars my whole life. I didn’t hate them, but I was always a dog person. Then, one day a little orange tabby cat, about 6 months old found her way to my doorstep & would not leave. She was incredibly sweet & eventually won our hearts. We’ve had her about 4 months and Nippy is the most amazing cat. I am so attached to her. She sleeps beside me every night.
Do you mean cats.
Our Orange male is named Patch. He was a stray (vet said he may be 2 yrs old) Came for dinner every night at 6pm.
He was blind in left eye and has a unhealed cut above that eye , and missing large chunk of fur from his back. He was semi wild stray…We kept him after several dinner dates locked in garage. He was not happy for the 1st day. Then off to the vet for much needed help. He is the best cat I have ever seen! loves to play with anyone at anytime. talks endlessly. follows us around the house, loves our other cat and dog! I have never been much of a cat person until I meet Patch! Two years now in our house. I cant say how much he has enriched our life! Orange Tabby males Rule!!!
I am glad you have the tabby now my guess is the owner who had him abused him. I hate stupid people who abuse… glad you are a nice person randall. And you love him…
i just got one male so he is my garfield now and i love him so much. just wondering how big he will get at almost 6 months (kitten) looks full size.
Cute name Robert I like the name Garfield…
Mine is huge. He’s down to 19 pounds and looks about normal, I’m stopping the diet food when he gets to 18 pounds. Catsusually weigh between 8 and 12 pounds average, but some breeds are big.
My Orange Tabby, Tigger was a stray at 6 months old. We took him in, he would still get out against our will, but would come home in a few hours. He contracted Feline Herpes 7 years ago, gets a shot from vet every 6 weeks and is as happy as ever at almost 17 years old now!
I have an orange tabby Persian named Mosey. I call him Mo or MoMo. He is very attached to me, as I am to him! He is quirky, very talkative and needy. He wants my attention all the time. He is strictly an indoor cat. When I adopted him at 11 months old he had been declawed already. He loves telling me about his day when I get home from work. I have found him sleeping with his beard in the water bowl. He snores and shorts. He is flat faced so I have to clean his face everyday. It would be very lonely without my smoosh face baby. I love him dearly
I have an Orange Tabby Female I rescued from the Arch of San Juan March 2018
I named her Tulip, but often I call her Orange Muffin. Her first owners had her front paws declawed which made it hard for Tulip in many ways like jumping & being able to keep her balance landing on the floor. Five months later I ended up taking a 3 week old grey & black Tabby from a woman who found her & she was in the cat food isle I was in. She had 2 dog’s so I took her, bottle fed her, got her shots & we’re taking her soon to be spaded.
We named her Yuna.
As Yuna grew she began to protect Tulip by showing her how to jump & play together & Yuna never uses her claws on Tulip.
Tulip is out of her shell & they both are the cutest together & apart. Tulip is a talker & cuddler. She’s always sleeping on me especially when I go to sleep
If I’m laying on my sideTulip lays on my side & I don’t know how she does it but she lays all over me. Also at night I will look up at my night stand & Tulip is there standing perfectly still just staring at me. Tulip can stand that way for a long time. I believe a person lives inside her. Tulip & Yuna have changed my Family for the better with their unconditional love
I have an Orange Tabby at 4months old from my niece Denises daughter Kayla .I went to Mississippi ,for three months last year from a broken right foot for my birthday that I didn’t know I broke my foot before I went down.When, I came home my boyfriend an I picked him up at my niece’s house to take him to my place permanently.Now ,he’s had neuturing an all his shots since he’s been with me 9 months.Hes putting on weight every since he’s surgery.He weighs 10.7 lbs .Is that overweight for a nine month old .I feed him a half a can every day morning an night an he feels his getting too fat
So I found a baby oarnge tabby female stuck in a wall of my house I have no clue how she got there but I busted a hole in my kitchen wall to rescue her she’s around 3 months old and I’m totally in love with her, her name is Sister Ginger Puss!
Sister Ginger Puss!! How adorable. I Love her name. She’s fortunate you found her. ❤️
I am the proud owner or a super hyper orange tabby female I named Blaze! She is certainly a little fireball full of spunk and energy!
I have three orange tabby cats I love cats!!!!!
Me too!!! Orange Tabby’s are adorable… as with all cats of course
Can someone tell me how common the orange tabby’s with the bullseye coat pattern are?
I was working on my cabin halfway up my mountain in Appalachia. It is a remote but beautiful valley far from the hectic city. I have been feeding a colony of ferals kitties 6 miles away that someone dumped into the wilderness. I feared they would all die and fed them but also knew they would always be cautious of humans (as they should). To my surprise, a female orange cat with a notch on her ear ran up my mountain toward me. She looked so anxious as she meowed at me. I was shocked to see this kittie up on my mountain and lucky for her, I had cat food that I was feeding to the feral colony. She gobbled down 5 cups of food and then rubbed against my leg. I hoped she would stay, and sure enough, the next morning she again appeared from the wood and ran to me in search of food. Well, it didn’t take long for me to move her into the sunroom of my cabin and soon, into my actual cabin where she makes herself comfy sleeping on my leather chair the down comforter draped over my sofa. I thank God for sending me such a loving cat to keep me company during our long winters. I named her Maneki Neko but she answers to only Neko. Maneki Neko is Japanese for lucky kitty and is what they call the gold ones you see as statues in Asian restaurants. I had no idea that she is a rare kitty. A friend told me that she is a Creamsicle which is a fairly rare tabby especially since it is a girl. She is so attached to me that I once went down the path of my mountain and she ran lickety-split all the way down to catch up with me. And they think dogs are loyal.
Cats are loyal in their own way…
My orange tabby cat has lived with me and my family for 17 years. His name is George named after my wonderful grandfather. In the past year or so we noticed some problems happening. He wakes all of us in the middle of the night meowing half the night. He meows and meows all day until we feed him. Even after that he still done that. Just this past year we found out that due to old age, (17) he will die any day now. I loved my little kitty he was such a joy to grow up with him then loose him after I was so close to him. At least he will be even more happy when he has eternal peace. Farewell George. You were the best ( and only cat) that I ever had and hope that you’ll be happy once your gone. I will miss you and think about you all the time.
Sadly yesterday we had to euthanize our beloved orange tabby Maggie. She was 11-almost 12. She developed a tumor which blocked her bladder and colon and infiltrated her rear leg. There was no treatment for her. We are heartbroken. She was such a big presence in our lives. She was a real people cat. Loved kids and would walk with them to the bus stop in the morning. When they were playing outside she would be right in the thick of things. Goodbye my dear friend ?
My orange tabby cat died in 2006. He was so special that I still can’t bring myself to try to replace him. When you entered a room, he started purring. He was absolutely a love.
On this Christmas morning I truly enjoyed all the loving Orange Tabby stories! My heart goes out to each and everyone of you that lost or may lose your wonderful cat! We also have Tommy, the greatest cat in America! He was living in the sewer top shelf across the street from our home. My wife thought he might not make it thru the up coming snow storm almost 3 years ago! Tommy went from homeless to demanding in 24 hours! We did not rescue Tommy, God sent him to our family and on this Christmas Day, may you all continue to love your cat and say thank you for the gift they give us everyday!
Your post was just lovely!
I have had two great Orange Tabbies one lived 15 years and the last one 17 years
the first one retrieved bottle caps brought use chipmunks snakes etc he was wicked smart
the second one was the greatest sitter, he had a habit of always touching me with his paw
and loved to eat bread even through plastic
at the Cabin there is a stray that everyone owns and takes care of “Cabin Kitty”
I love Orange Tabbies and will continue to have them the rest of my life
all my cats are Farm cats
Took in 2 strays years ago who grew up together. Both stole my heart. Couple months ago just days before my own cancer surgery vet told me my 13 yr old beautifulvmaine coon boy had liver cancer. While I was in hospital after my surgery my parents who were cat sitting said he took a turn for the worse & my mom took him to be euthanized. I wish I could have have been with him his last moments. I miss him so much but he is forever inside my heart & I will always love him. I have no doubt he knew he was loved. My other cat is almost 14. An orange and white tabby. I took him in almost a year before I took in the Maine coon & he took the Maine coon under his wing & taught him, groomed him, & took care of him. They were best buds. My orange boy stole my heart the very first day. So full of love and affection …still is. Both of them just full of love. They will both be in my heart forever. I pray my orange tabby can stay healthy & be here with me a lot longer. Such special lovey boys!
An orange tabby decided to grace us with his presence a year and a half ago…he was just a kitten. He followed us inside after we had just lost our precious Fiona (siamese) of 18 years and he’s never left. He is the most loving and affectionate baby to our family. Even getting along with our other new replacement cat Mary Jayne (male… long story hahaha). They are buddies. But we named this orange kitty Puff Puff…I swear he is a dog in a cats body….comes when we call him and follows us everywhere!!! Even had to trick-or-treat with our family. He is honestly the best cat!!! We absolutely adore him! He brings us so much joy and gifts of his catch (Lizards which we didn’t know we had). Snuggling us constantly and purring. He likes to lay anywhere we are in the most peculiar places. We have been blessed. I wish I could post a picture because we take tons of him. ?
I am someone who does absolutely feel so insanely sorry for all of you who have lost your orange kitties, but I am comforted in knowing that I am just like all of you. We are connected through this wonderful love of cats, and I never thought about reaching out when I lost my best friend and Cat4Life, zeke, a cheetah-ish normal (but not at all) 20lb tabby.
I went numb. I put up missing posters. I looked for him EVERYWHERE. Day and at night. And when I finally had to accept he wasnt coming home to me, I allowed the feelings to flow only a trickle, which was
Sobbing so hard it hurt.
The ache inside me was excruciating.
Where did he go? He got outside when the door was open for a few seconds
.and I lived out of town surrounded by farm fields.
I checked roads. Preparing myself for a body struck by a car..(if u have been there before u know how awful it is, 12 yrs old. Different story)
But days turned weeks to months.
I felt worthless. Like I had let him down.
Blame. It hurts to blame yourself.
But I did, I still do.
Long story short, a rare sickness landed me in the hospital. I somehow suffered multiple strokes and had sepsis.
I’m only in my 30s. 2 months in the hospital fighting for my life. And miraculously I walked out, fully functioning in my body and with a brain that had showed severe damage.
And that’s when he showed up.
This stray orange tabby was just at my house one night. Made him a box on the porch and he slept in it everyn night.
He would come in the house a few seconds before getting scared and running out. And the days turned into weeks, and this big round soft heavy kitty was now sleeping for 9 hrs in my bed.
HE WAS ADORABLE. like, it HURTS he’s so cute. He wasnt full grown, but big and happy.
But ya know that feeling? The one where u tell yourself ur not going to let yourself love another animal?
Becuz your heart cant take another loss?
Well, he is currently curled up on my lap, and I love him with all my heart. He helped heal me. He is now called Gus Gus, after the fat mouse in Cinderella.
And I feel like Cinderella, with a happy life.
I still cry when I see a picture of zeke. And the ache is still there.
But cat lovers like all of us have to try and realize we are going to live a long life, and it’s too short for blame or keeping yourself alone when there is a feline out there just waiting for your personalities to color the world.
Your cat loves you. And all of you are, well, awesome.
I thought you meant Zeke came back, I am so sorry for your loss, and that you got sick too.. I am glad another kitty found you…,and that you love this kitty just as much also.
I never liked the orange cats before, I always gotten gray tiger cats. Then 6 months ago I got my first ginger kitty, Teddy aka Ted Ted and a month later I fell in love and brought home my second orange kitty, Ted’s brother Colby Cheddar. They are my husband and I babies. They sleep with us, Colby has a problem with laying in my hair and nursing on it (hopefully he will grow out of that), they follow us from room to room, when we go outside you can here them crying for us, and Ted even goes to the garage to work on the racecar with dad. They are so loving and loyal. I am grateful I had a change of heart on the orange cat.
Me too.. orange cats are very cute.. Charlie is my 2 orange cat. I had one named Tigger ,and now Charlie… I had a Norwegian Forrest cat named Mouser. And a brown tabby named Cuddles the only thing brown about Cuddles was her belly she was mostly grey.and black. She was very loving so was mouser.and tigger . I loved them all. I had them at separate times…
Ashley I am so sorry for your loss of your kitty…
I thought you meant Zeke came back, I am so sorry for your loss, and that you got sick too.. I am glad another kitty found you…,and that you love this kitty just as much also.
i got my cat from an spca shelter almost 7 years ago. he is orange on top and white underneath. he was 7 years old and had been in the shelter for 9 months. i touched him and he hissed at me. i took him home the next day. i put the cat carrier in my living room and opened the door. he walked calmly out, brushed against my ankles and spent 4 or 5 minutes inspecting the house while i sat in my recliner. after 4 or 5 minutes he walked back to the living room, jumped on the sofa and curled up and went to sleep. at night when i was going to bed i was happy he found a good place to sleep. i then got into my bed and 2 or 3 minutes later the cat jumped on my bed,walked across my stomach to the other side of the bed. when i woke up the next morning he was still asleep. made a mistake and got a cat harness. he hated it at first. now i put on his harness, open the door and he pulls me outside. he decides where and when to go, when to roll around and when to go back inside, a few times he kept me outside for about one hour, he is a tyrant. i don’t know what i would do without him. his name was sammy when i got him. now the only name he will answer to is beautiful.
My tabby is 17years old and the doctors say he looks like 8 yes old. I’ve had her m since my son was 1yrs old and now my son is 18, my Max is very healthy and lazy and loves to follow me around
I miss my tabby Daisy! She was a gift from a coworker on my job after losing another after 19 years passing in my arms I was heart broken. I promised to care for this new one also. She lived for 14 years ..should have lived longer,but due to life changes in career I had to uproot her from our peaceful home. She never recovered it was quite sad. She didn’t like the new home people scared her..sadly she died in my arms also.I gave her a proper burial at the old home. I hope one day to have another..their personalities are so sweet cats will make you laugh so much..they are just like people if you love them
I think Ginger’s are one of the most beautiful creatures in the world. I have a male called Lubu – named after a historical Chinese Warrior hero. He is affectionate and not selfish at all. A magnificent cat with such honor and respectfulness. He is also fearless, and isn’t scared of the compound female dog. I have always loved cats…. most of my family have owned grey tabbies never ginger’s. And now I have one, I will and plan on getting some more… I love Ginger’s!!!!
Any reason you don’t include Munchkins on the list of breeds that can be orange? My first Munchkin, Rikki Tikki Tabby♡, was red snd white. Our Munca♡ and Chief♡ were red tabbies.
My cat Izzy is a female Orange tabby. She is the sweetest, most gentle and kind cat I’ve ever had. She is fading away now, I took a week trip and had a friend/pet sitter feed her but upon returning home I could tell something was not right. She has no energy, is not affectionate (totally not like her) and looks thin. I already took her to the vet a month ago for allergies but will take her again to see what is going on. She is 13 years old but was very spry up until the trip. Thanks for listening everyone. Blessings to all of us and our sweet, loving animals.
Hi Nina, I’m sorry to hear that your cat wasn’t the same after the trip…I hope you get some good news at the vet. All the best to you and Izzy.
I have two male one orange one orange and white miles is all orange and Sammy orange and white at my boyfriends parents house they live out in country and have a lot of ferro cats they feed and they are hard to catch except for these two kittens wanted no part of the out doors they were just babies begging to come inside we let them in they were covered in fleas and so skinny we feed them and they were growling while they were eating and I could not leave them I took them to the vets they were so sick I had to rush Sammy. To the emergency room one night for fluids finally was able to get them to good health and have been my sweet angles ever since it’s been 6 years now and had to have. Sammy put down he had congestive heart failure my heart is broken I will never be the same without him thank the lord I have his brother miles still and is in good health they truly are the most loving cats in the world I am truly blessed for them in my life
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of Sammy. Six years isn’t old, but I’m sure you have many good memories. Take care, and I hope you’ll give Miles an extra treat, scritch, pet, or whatever he loves today. – Mallory
Thank you so much Mallory
Hello All,
I found Bridges (Orange Tabby Polydactyl) under one of the “Bridges of Madison County” 12 years ago. When I brought him home the vet guessed him to be about two years old – So, though would make him around 14is now.
I’ve never been a cat person before Bridges, but this cat has been more like a dog in almost every respect. He’s been an indoor/outdoor cat over the years but I recently have been keeping him because he’s been getting into something and vomiting.
Over the past 10 days, or so, he has taken a terrible turn. He hardly eats and secludes himself often. I brought him to a vet who claimed his blood and urine work were in normal ranges.
I fear that:
a) He’s nearing the end but how can this be so abrupt??
b) He’s depressed because I no longer let him outside
Any advice would be appreciated as I’m having a difficult time believing that dying can come out of nowhere and so quickly.
Hi John, thanks for commenting. It really is a difficult situation, and it’s hard for me to make any comment on what’s happening—I’m not a vet, and I haven’t seen Bridges in person to make an assessment. A cat who’s barely eating and hiding a lot is certainly showing signs of both illness and depression, so both are possible issues.
I would look for other symptoms to point you in one or the other direction:
– Does he show interest in going outside?
– Is he still vomiting?
– Are his bathroom habits normal?
– Is he playful?
– Is he drinking water?
– How much is he sleeping?
– Have you noticed any lumps or other physical changes?
A combination of behavioral changes plus interest in going outside and no other symptoms of illness might suggest stress or depression, but this is, of course, something you would want to confirm with a good veterinarian. Otherwise, I would suspect that there is a health issue at play. The best bet would be to write down all of the symptoms you’ve noticed and get a second opinion from another veterinarian, who may be able to give you something more conclusive. I’d also advise mentioning that “something” he’d been getting into and vomiting. I wonder if it could have been connected to the symptoms you’re seeing now.
In the meantime, keep monitoring his health and behavior, and check your environment to make sure that it’s adequately enriched—does he have places to climb, play, and scratch? Does he have food and water that he enjoys?
Again, I’m not a vet, and the best idea is to get a second opinion from another veterinarian. I hope you’re able to figure this out and come to a happy conclusion—I’d be as baffled and worried as you are by such a sudden turn for the worse.
Best,
Mallory
My orange tabby is named Buffy and she is 17 years old. She has been really healthy until recently. When I took her in to check her out, the doctor was amazed first to a 17 year old cat and secondly to see an orange tabby female that was 17 years old who was very healthy. Turns out the issue she has developed is an allergy to fleas. I also told him she has been going through 3 to 4 cans of wet cat food every day and he told me that older cats can have thyroid issues. If she isn’t showing any issues eating or other, she’s fine. Just continue as I’m doing and if she shows any signs of losing weight or not eating, then worry. I’ve been blessed to have her this long and pray for many more years with her.
We sadly lost our orange tabby in November. She was 18 1/2 and my best friend. Thanks for everyone’s comments, it’s nice to know that similar ginger cats have given so much joy to people.
Thank you for joining as well—wishing you peace.
I just had to euthanize my almost 15 yr old black domestic short hair Princess. I found her in a parking lot by luck. Heard her meowing but she was hesitant to allow me to get close to her but she finally did and I took her home. She was a great cat and had good health most of her life. Last 3 months she started to go downhill. Multiple vets and tests nothing showed anything to explain her symptoms. Turns out she had bone cancer for sure in her jaw, maybe elsewhere. It is a very rare cancer so the vets were not looking for it. It was also very painful but I did not know the degree of pain she was in as she hid it well. She was under general while the vet took X-rays of her jaw and found the cancer and I had her euthanized right away so it would be painless. I am considering adopting an orange tabby kitten that my vet has available which brought me to this site. I have a pure bred Thai Siamese that is more like a dog than a cat so I figure an orange tabby would be a good pair.
For those that have an older cat any change in eating or weight is a sign that something could be wrong. Cats are creatures of habit. My Princess avoided dry food at the onset which she used to love which I took her to the vet for but vet did blood work and exam and found nothing wrong. Her left eye watered when it never did before and she would sneeze a bit especially after eating, both dismissed by the vet. I noticed she was eating a TON but that only kept her weight stable when in a healthy cat that would cause weight gain – sign of cancer. Things progressed quickly for her until one side of her face on her upper jaw appeared swollen just by looking at her face. Vet said she needed a dental and that was too much for her body to handle or the cancer just reached a critical point.
Iam sorry for all your loses, last Wednesday I took Autumn to the Vets because I felt a lump on her left breast, I, I asked the Vet thought it was a cyst so I asked him if I could have some antibiotics then asked about removing the cyst after seeing how the antibiotics works. He sorry steven Autumn has breast cancer after hearing that it felt like someone took a 80 pound sledge Hammer, it has been 8days since the bad news. she still purring and in a good mood, enjoying her treats, and mommy’s and Daddy’s affection. I was a nurse the Vets Nures say’s has 1 to 2months to live. I am just taking 1 day at a time and watch her. When I see she is in too much pain quits eating or doesnt urinate I will have her put down. It will kill me but Iwill put her down. I pray to god. every Nite that he would take her when it is time. To be honest I don’t want euthanize her.
God bless and
I’ve never met an orange kitty that wasn’t unusual. They are different than other kitties. They take more chances. I’m leary of them because they tend to win my heart then die quickly or something weird happens to them. One, that stands out best for me is Buster. He was a community cat and moved into the outside colony one year from a neighboring street. I guess he saw that the colony was fed regularly twice daily. He came on his own and lived his own code. A neighbor kindly helped me get him neutered and shots up to date. Then we just left him alone. A few times he got ill in the winter. A vet familiar with the colony helped me with his meds and Buster knew how to take them in his food and for how long. So, it wasn’t his first rodeo with working with people. One winter it was very, very cold. Buster, who I never really handled, just trapped him for his initial care, moved into my home. Three tries and he ran under a piece of furniture with a look that said, “I’m not leaving.” Okay, I said, if you are a good houseguest, I’ll let you stay. And stay he did. Couldn’t handle him, though he was caught for pest treatment. He lived comfortably with us, going out on warm sunny days and coming home in the evening. We left him live on his terms and as I thought when he came in that he was most likely ill and decided we were his retirement plan, he was ill. But he passed on his terms also. And I miss that cat. There are others, all with their own stories. Survivors, they are, despite their way of getting into trouble.
My last cat was a tubby tabby who ate better than I did: Mushroom omelets, lasagna, etc. but he was also somewhat of a survivor: riding a 30-mile round trip under the hood – on top of the wheel well – and just under the fan belt of my Dad’s car….and lived to MEOW about it. His real name was PEANUT; but I nicknamed him LUCKY after this episode of riding from Groton, MA to Nashua NH…and then BACK to Groton clinging to the wheel well for a collective 30 miles!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your fascinating article, “All About Majestic Orange Tabby Cats.” Your in-depth exploration of the various tabby patterns, from Mackerel to Bi-Color, provides valuable insights into the unique and beautiful world of orange tabby cats.