What makes ginger cats ginger?

[Retro]

Well, wot? This is wot!

Garfield, Puss in Boots, Aristocats' Toulouse – cultural icons maybe, ginger most certainly.

And now scientists across two continents have uncovered the DNA mystery that has given our furry friends, particularly males, their notable colour.

They discovered that ginger cats are missing a section of their genetic code, which means the cells responsible for their skin, eye and fur tone produce lighter colours.

The breakthrough has brought delight to the scientists but also the thousands of cat lovers that originally crowdfunded the research.

The scientists hope solving the puzzle could also help shed light on whether orange coloured cats are at increased risk of certain health conditions.

It has been known for decades that it is genetics that gives orange tabby cats their distinctive colouring, but exactly where in the genetic code has evaded scientists till now.

Was a bit obvious it's in the genes, wasn't it?

So, some people describe them as orange cats. Well, they're certainly orange, but a shade of orange called ginger, whatever actual ginger colour they are and they do vary a fair bit.

Decades-long mystery of ginger cats revealed

Researchers in Japan and US have unlocked the 60-year mystery of what gives cats their orange colour.

www.bbc.co.uk

Here are pictures of two differently gingered cats.

1. A chunky ginger blissing out.

Photo by Melanie Andersen on Unsplash

Sunlover – Download this photo by Melanie Andersen on Unsplash

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2. A devastatingly cute ginger kitten.

 

[Retro]

@Geffers @Hitcore @Mars @Tiffany Usual suspects, it's time to be fascinated by this fascinating fact and melt at the pictures.

 

[Mars]

@Geffers @Hitcore @Mars @Tiffany Usual suspects, it's time to be fascinated by this fascinating fact and melt at the pictures.

Oh that kitten....
yeah have seen that article on the news. Lucky me have one of those with a missing section of their DNA code here at home with me; very good he is, especially when it comes to looking out of the window and nicely falling asleep on a sunny windowsill.

 

[Tiffany]

It's interesting that some coat colors are most likely in male cats. I had known Calico's were commonly male, but not Ginger cats. I truly love the color. Both of my Pom's and my ChiChi are mostly of the orange shade with mixed reds, beige and browns. I want that kitten, omg!!

 

[Geffers]

@Geffers @Hitcore @Mars @Tiffany Usual suspects, it's time to be fascinated by this fascinating fact and melt at the pictures.

Had a ginger cat once, its sister was black. Had that one too.