Most cats are loving and affectionate, with some breeds known as more affectionate than others. But, like canines and humans, cats have their own personalities. And like other species, personalities are affected not only by genes but also by early life experiences and their environment.
However, something to note is that ‘tabby’ isn’t a cat breed. Many different breeds can include tabby. Tabby refers to the striped fur markings and the M shape on their foreheads, and their color comes in shades from yellow to brown.
- Mackerel tabby
- Ticked tabby
- Classic tabby
- Patched tabby
- Spotted tabby
This means that the fur markings or color of the cat doesn’t make them more affectionate. Especially when several different cat breeds can be tabby.
What makes orange tabbies so affectionate
Since we know that the markings and color don’t affect the personality, we have to look at other factors that influence their nature.
Early socialization with other cats and people is essential to helping a cat be more trusting and friendly towards humans. This is why kittens should not be separated from their mothers too early in life. Living within their family unit helps them learn to be social.
Positive human interactions also help kittens be more trusting towards humans. A trusting cat will be friendlier and more affectionate with humans. Playing with kittens builds trust and provides a sound basis for positive human/feline relations later in the cat’s life.
For any cat, orange or otherwise, a stimulating cat-friendly environment will also help improve their personality. A bored cat will become frustrated and grumpy, the opposite of an affectionate furry friend.
Human perception on Cats
Most people are drawn to colors on the orange spectrum. Orange is strongly associated with warmth, energy, vitality, cheerfulness, and good health.
Kittens are super cute, and most people will want to pet them and play with them. So when we see an orange-colored kitten, we will be drawn to it, giving it lots of attention and playing with it.
We are unwittingly creating positive early experiences for that kitten, making it more likely to be affectionate. Hence, an excellent reason why orange tabby cats are affectionate.
Cartoons have also pre-programmed us to see orange tabby cats more favorable. From Disney’s Tigger to the lazy, lovable Garfield. “In my head, the sky is blue, the grass is green, and cats are orange.” – Jim Davis, American cartoonist, creator of Garfield. It is no wonder why we are drawn to orange tabby cats.
Scientific reasons that orange tabby cats are affectionate
There have been no exclusive scientific studies that prove orange tabby cats are more affectionate than other cats. However, some scientific facts may contribute to their being perceived as more affectionate.
- 80% of orange cats are male
- The orange color is sex-related – the X chromosome is responsible for the orange pigment
- Orange male cats are bigger than other male cats
- Orange male cats are more common in rural areas
- Orange male cats engage in more risk-taking behaviors
Being more of a risk-taker may explain why male orange cats are friendlier towards humans. They are more confident in approaching people.
Are orange tabby cats more affectionate
Overall though, I would say that it has more to do with human perception than genetics that orange tabby cats are more affectionate than other cats.
Orange tabby kittens are more likely to receive lots of positive interaction from humans than other colors of cats, simply because people are subconsciously drawn to the color orange. This means that the orange tabby cat will be more familiar with humans and more inclined to be affectionate towards people.
A word of warning, though, just because a cat is an orange tabby does not automatically mean that it will be affectionate. Each cat has its own personality and life experiences that will have shaped its nature. For example, my cousin had an orange tabby, and he was a terror, a total beast. He was definitely NOT affectionate and terrorized all the dogs in the neighborhood and the children!
I hope that you have enjoyed this article.
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