Your orange cat is not any dumber than its feline mates: Busting cat-color myths

The current viral fame of an orange tabby named Jorts led to arguments about whether or not Jorts was much less clever than different cats as a result of he has orange fur. Some stated it was unfair and prejudicial to guage the cat on its look. 

However is there actually a medically identified tie between cat fur shade and character or intelligence? Folks assume so, however science would not, Zarah Hedge, chief medical officer on the San Diego Humane Society, advised me.

“Whereas there could possibly be some genetic elements related to coat shade that additionally influence character, there may be little scientific proof demonstrating this to be the case in home cats,” stated Hedge, who has 5 cats of varied colours. 

The concept that fur shade dictates character is not as loopy because it sounds. Some research do present associations between coat shade in different mammals and their habits — silver foxes, for one. However that hasn’t been confirmed in home cats. And cat fur shade can range even inside the identical breed. The frequent home shorthair cat is available in many fur colours, so actually, the stereotypes are sometimes evaluating apples to apples.

Nonetheless, even when cats do not act a sure method due to their fur shade, we people may assume they may, and that may trigger issues.

“Regardless of not having stable proof linking coat shade to character, folks, to some extent, possible make selections on which cat to deliver into their house primarily based on this,” Hedge says. “It might probably arrange folks to have unrealistic expectations for the way the cat will behave within the house.”

Orange cats: Pleasant however dim?

Let’s take a look at the stereotypes: Orange tabby cats are thought-about by many to be essentially the most gregarious of felines, although some, as seen with the weird Jorts and Jean saga, assume orange tabby cats are additionally the least clever. 

“I’ve undoubtedly seen and labored with lots of of orange tabby cats and seen all kinds of character varieties,” Hedge says. “I might say {that a} cat’s upbringing and socialization to people, different animals and totally different environments performs a bigger position (than fur shade) of their general character and the way they work together with people.”

Orange cats are also popular culture favorites. Morris the Cat, the 9 Lives cat meals mascot, in addition to comic-strip cats Garfield and Heathcliff, are orange. Hedges guesses that maybe the creators of those characters had orange cats as pets, however notes the artists could have been influenced by the stereotype of orange cats as friendlier and extra social.

“From a advertising standpoint, it type of is smart,” she says.

‘Tortitude’ and playful tuxies

Obtained a tortoiseshell cat? These cats might be from many alternative breeds, however have a particular tri-color coat. Does your tortie appear particularly sassy and energetic? That matches the stereotype about their shade sample, too.

“There was a long-held perception that tri-colored cats have what has been coined “Tortitude” or tortoiseshell perspective,” Hedges says. “Tortoiseshells are identified for being extra spicy and sassy.”

However she notes {that a} 2016 examine from the College of California at Davis discovered little distinction in cat perspective between totally different coat colours.

“I’ve additionally heard that tuxedo cats are usually extra playful (than most cats).” Hedges says. “And naturally, there’s been an extended superstition surrounding black cats. And having lived with many alternative cats through the years, and dealing with many extra within the shelter, I can say these stereotypes will not be true. Every cat has their very own distinctive character.”