Scientists discovered the reason behind orange cats’ coats in a new study crowdfunded by cat lovers around the world. 3 A new study revealed the genetic mishap responsible for orange cats’ color.

She said orange cats found homes quickly for reasons of both standout appearance and personality. “I’m partial to orange cats,” she shared. “I grew up with an orange cat — that was my baby.

All orange cats have this deletion, but non-orange cats do not,” Kaelin explained. “The mutation is not located in a gene (the part of the genome that encodes for proteins).

Researchers identified an unusual genetic mutation in orange domestic cats that has not been found in any other animal, according to a new study.

Most orange cats are male, about 80%, to be more exact, according to the Regional Animal Protection Society. And the findings from the recent studies make sense of why.

Approximately 80% of orange cats are males, including the four orange cats owned by the Short Wave team. Scientists have long suspected that orange color was a sex-linked trait — hiding ...

Male cats with orange-colored parents only get one copy of the orange mutation and thus end up with entirely orange fur. Female cats, however, have two X chromosomes.

The scientists found that in orange cats' melanocytes – the pigmentation cells – the gene ARHGAP36 was more active, and all had the missing piece of code.

Researchers identified an unusual genetic mutation in orange domestic cats that has not been found in any other animal, according to a new study.