10 orange cat breeds

If a red-coated kitty leaves your eyes bulging and heart melting, we’re in the same boat. From copper, amber and marmalade to tabby, tortoiseshell and calico, colour and pattern is nothing short of eclectic when it comes to orange cat breeds.

And while every breed of orange cat brings something unique to the four-legged scene, sometimes fur colour is all these distinct cat breeds have in common. So, if you’re welcoming a fluffy friend home, finding a cat sitter or going cat sitting, let’s tell them apart with this handy guide to help you decide which ginger cat is your ideal feline sidekick.

Popular orange cat breeds

Orange cat breeds come in all shapes, sizes and patterns. Here are 10 to get you started!

• Abyssinian
• Somali
• Scottish Fold
• Maine Coon
• Cornish Rex
• Devon Rex
• American Bobtail
• Exotic Shorthair
• Turkish Angora
• Persian
  

Abyssinian

If you’re on the lookout for a curious kitty with a zest for life, an Abyssinian might be up your street. This breed of orange cat LOVES activity and their mischievous, show-off nature is truly endearing. These feline friends will wake the day with a drive to pounce high and low about your home - poking their (very sweet) snouts into all of your business. 

And along with their fun-loving nature, these cuties come with a deep amber coat that’s pretty hard to miss, and rather unique in the cat world. Unlike many other orange cats we’re going to chat about, Abyssinians only have one coat pattern, i.e. the ticked tabby. If you haven’t heard about this rather original pattern before, not to worry…

The ticked tabby pattern (rather than the go-to stripes we’d often think of on a tabby) is made up of agouti hairs. This means that each hair over these cuties has more than one band of pigmentation - they’re often light nearest the root with multiple stripes of colour as we move towards the tip of each hair. So, rather than blocks (or stripes) of pigmentation across the cat’s body, felines with a ticked tabby pattern get their colour variety from each individual hair instead.

These orange fluffies (known in the cat world as red or sorrel Abyssinians) tend to have a lighter, copper-coloured base, moving along to brown tones towards the end of the hair.

Somali

Like their short-haired cousins, Somalis are another breed with orange fur, except they’re long-haired. And it’s not only their coat that’s similar to the Absyssinian - these cuties are no lap cats either. They’re full of energy, super smart, and have a need for stimulating exercise. So, if you live an active lifestyle AND you love nothing more than a jog around the house with a fluffy feline in toe, maybe the Somali breed of orange cat will be your ideal kitty companion.

Scottish Fold

Known for their adorable ears, Scottish folds can be found in an orange colour which is often paired with glossy, copper eyes. And it’s not just these cuties’ fur that’s a stunning red colour - find it on their paws, underside, nose and even paw pads! The Scottish fold is also an orange and white cat breed - these coats are known as ‘red chinchilla’ or ‘shell cameo’ in the feline world. And if you’re after some cat trivia - we don’t disappoint: the famous folded ears of these fluffballs is actually a genetic mutation. They’re born with ‘standard’ ears, and the folds start to occur in the early kitten days as the cartilage doesn’t develop fully. Another fun fact - did you know that these cuties are also found in a soft, gray color? To find out more, check out our blog on breeds of gray cats.

Maine Coon

Did you know that the Maine Coon is one of the largest orange cat breeds? While these long-haired felines are on the larger size, they’re truly gentle giants and make for affectionate family pets. This larger cutie is always long-haired and sometimes orange-coloured. These include so-called ‘solid red’ (but look closely and you’ll find that your fluff ball is in fact an orange tabby cat); ‘red smoke’ with darker tips and a white base; and the ‘red tabby’ - the most common orange Maine Coon with its variety of light and dark pigments and tabby patterns.

Cornish Rex

Another orange cat breed, the Cornish Rex is known for its distinctive undercoat of fur. It can be found in a variety of colours (including cream, black, blue, white and chocolate), and sits by itself rather than the more common three-layered coat on other domestic cat breeds. While you’ll find orange tabby cats, Cornish Rexes can also have a tortoiseshell pattern showcasing orange, black and white. And it’s not just their coat variety that makes these cuties interesting - they’re super fun and always up to mischief of some kind - perfect if you’re looking for a strong bond with a lively feline.

Devon Rex

With a similar face shape, large eyes and curly coats to their Cornish Rex cousins, the Devon Rex is also an orange cat breed that can be found with light-coloured fur. And while the tabby pattern is the most typical, these cuties can be found with a whole host of different patterns - some with a white underside and paws. This light orange cat breed is known for their sense of humour, so find a funny cat name to suit their nature!

American Bobtail

Another orange cat breed (and also a seriously cute one) is the American bobtail. Like many of their feline cousins, the tabby pattern is the most common with these bobbed tail cuties, but other patterns and colours can be found. And if you’re not into grooming so regularly (your cat, that is…) have an American Bobtail with a short-haired coat as your new fluffy companion (and be sure to pick the right name!).

Exotic Shorthair

If you melt at the sight of a flat-faced fluff ball, look away from the Exotic Shorthair cat! While they can be found in multiple colours, this breed of orange cat is known for their tabby, tortoiseshell and calico fur markings. And if you’re into calm kitties, the Exotic Shorthairs will be up your street - their cool, collected nature isn’t fair from their Persian cousins.

Turkish Angora

As you may have guessed, these cuties are originally from Turkey - they’ve been around since the 1600s and may be one of the earliest long-haired cat breeds to come into Europe. While they can be found with stunning orange coats, Turkish Angoras are also white (as they were originally), along with cream and black as well. The colder coloured fur is often paired with blue or green eyes, while the red fur is found with yellow or orange. And when it comes to personality, these cuties love to be social with their two-legged family members, valuing play time and mental stimulation. 

Persian

Persian cats are known for their long-haired fluffy coat and flat faces. With fur to envy, these cuties are perfect for any family looking for a sociable, people-loving fluff ball. They’re one of the most popular breeds in the US, and we can see why! Whether it’s their plush (sometimes orange-coloured) coats or their slightly squashed cute faces, Persian cats are one desirable breed found in a variety of pattern and colour combinations. And while their fur is one of their stand-out features, a Persian orange cat breed’s two-legged companion needs to be committed to daily brushing and a bath once a month to keep that fur mat-free.

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