How Do Orange Cats Get Their Fur Color?

The Genetics of Orange Cats

Orange fur comes from a gene on the X chromosome.

Inheritance

• Males (XY) need only one copy of the orange gene to be orange.
• Females (XX) need the gene on both X chromosomes to be orange; one copy often produces tortoiseshell coloring.

The orange gene is not breed-specific and can appear in many cat breeds.