A man has long chosen an animal that won his heart. This animal is a cat. The red cats have gained particular popularity among cats. There are many legends, tales and superstitions about red cats.
According to some beliefs, it is believed that such a cat charges a person with energy and brings wealth. One gets the impression that ginger cats descended to our planet from the sun itself.
You can find different variants of red color: black and red, white and red and many others. Spots and stripes can be bright or barely noticeable. This coloring is considered the standard for many cat breeds.
Breeds with red color
There are currently quite a lot of animal breeds with a similar coat color, but this color is most common among ordinary yard cats and cats.
British shorthair cat
Rarely has a red color. There are 3 varieties: Red - uniform color, no white hairs, tortoiseshell and tabby - several shades of red fade into each other. The coat is thick and very dense. Size is medium to large when mature. A very affectionate and calm breed.
Read more in the article about the British.
Scottish lop-eared
Among the representatives of this breed there are also differences in color: cream (light red) and red marble (more saturated stripes with fancy bends in the coat).
British and Scots can be red with different coat lengths: short-haired and long-haired. The price for kittens starts from 15 thousand rubles.
Also read about the most beautiful cats on our Planet.
Siberian
A fairly large breed of cat, weight can reach 10-12 kg, semi-long, soft hair, body with developed muscles, small tassels at the ends of the ears, like a lynx.
A special feature of these pets is that they are hypoallergenic.
Red color is very rare, but the eyes will be a dark orange hue. These are very calm and balanced pets. The cost starts from 15 thousand rubles.
Read more in the article about Siberians.
Persian
They are considered “aristocrats” among cats. They became widespread in Russia in the 19th century. Their distinctive feature is their flattened nose, located at the level of the deflection of the bridge of the nose next to the eyes (break), which are relatively large.
The red shade of fur is the rarest among the others; cream, red, lilac, black, gray and blue colors are also found. Persians are very sociable and loving animals that easily get along with all family members. A pet-class kitten costs between 20-30 thousand rubles.
Also read the article about the Persian cat breed.
Maine Coon
One of the largest among purebred cats. They take a long time to grow up - only by the age of 4 do kittens fully mature. Pets of other breeds usually grow up by the age of two. They have an external resemblance to a lynx. Redheads are especially beautiful and valuable.
Despite their menacing appearance and large size, they are very kind, peaceful and sympathetic animals, able to get along with both children and other pets, such as dogs. Due to the love of communicating with a person, they tend to be somewhat “clingy.” The cost starts from 15 thousand rubles.
More about Maine Coons.
Exotic
They have Persian relatives, and therefore there is a similarity in appearance: the nose is depressed at eye level. The coat is very soft, quite thick, and comes in several colors, including red. These are medium-sized animals, weighing from 4 to 8 kg.
They are very attached to their owners, so they are not suitable for people whose work involves frequent business trips. Since pets will be very sad when they are with strangers. You can buy a fifth-class kitten from 50 thousand rubles.
Read more about the exotic shorthair cat.
Bengal
Little leopard, this is how these animals are often called. Currently a very common breed, cats bred through long and complex hybridization with the wild Asian leopard cat. They are large and reach a weight of up to 10 kg. The cats are lean with long legs and a muscular body, the coat is short, shiny and silky.
The most common color is “golden” with various spots (so-called “rosettes”). Despite their external resemblance to their wild ancestors, they are very affectionate, playful and kind pets. The price starts from 35 thousand rubles.
About the Bengals.
Toyger
The most common color is similar to tiger: darker stripes on a red background. They are close relatives of the Bengal. Their fur is short and soft.
Toygers are large animals, weighing about 9-12 kg, and height can reach 49 cm. They have a muscular body with long legs and high raised shoulder blades. The ears are rounded at the ends, and the muzzle is shaped like an inverted heart.
They love their owners very much and get along easily with all family members. Price from 25 thousand rubles and above.
Turkish van
One of the most ancient breeds, taking its roots from ancient times. It was officially registered only in the middle of the 20th century. This breed has common roots with the English and Persian cat breeds.
Representatives of the Vanir are not at all afraid of water and love to swim. Their wool is very soft, reminiscent of cashmere in its structure. They are large - they grow up to 10 kg and have long legs and a muscular body. The color with red spots on the coat is very common among representatives of the breed, but there are others: cream, black and blue.
They are very loyal and playful pets. The price starts from 15 thousand rubles.
American Curl
They have special inverted ears, which gives their pets an extraordinary charm. In this regard, it is necessary to pay close attention to the care of the ears.
You should not try to twist the ears, this can lead to pain in animals, and you can even break them this way.
This is a relatively young breed, officially recognized in 1982. The coat is medium length, has red spots on a white background, but there are other colors: brown, silver, white and blue.
They easily get along with all family members, especially love to play with children, as they consider their “pack”. Curls are very healthy pets; scientists have not been able to identify a single genetic disease in them. The price for kittens starts from 500 and goes up to 4,000 dollars, depending on the class of the animal and pedigree.
Napoleon
The breed was bred in 1991 by a breeder from the USA. It got its name due to its miniature size: the weight of an adult does not exceed 3 kg.
The Napoleon's muzzle is slightly flattened. There are several coat colors: gray, white, peach and red. They become very attached to their owners and have a hard time with partings, so you shouldn’t leave them alone for a long time. They have a genetic predisposition to kidney disease and obesity. The price in Russia is 35-80 thousand rubles.
Cymric
This breed attracted attention about 50 years ago; its representatives have no tail at all. In its place there is a small cartilage.
They have a compact build, but their muscular system is well developed. The coat is long with a soft undercoat, the most common are 3 colors: white, tabby and red.
Cymrics are very calm and will not attack furniture or curtains. They can be trained.
In Russia they are rarely found. The world price for a Kimra cat kitten is from 400 to 1500 dollars.
Kurilian Bobtail
The World Cat Association officially recognized the breed only in 1994.
Kurilian bobtails have not received widespread attention, and therefore are now on the verge of extinction. Felinologists in many countries consider them to be a variety of American ones, although this is the oldest natural breed.
It is believed that their ancestors are Norwegian forest cats.
Karelians have a variety of colors: red, smoky silver, coal black and others. Only animals with chocolate and lilac shades of fur are not recognized.
The cats are medium-sized and have a pompom instead of a tail. They are friendly and playful. They love to walk in the fresh air, so you can lead them on a leash like dogs.
Price 35-70 thousand rubles.
Ural rex
They appeared naturally and were not bred by breeders, so they have excellent health and are not prone to genetic diseases.
Life expectancy is approximately 16-17 years. The coat is short, wavy, thick, requiring brushing every 2 days. The most common colors are chocolate, blue, tortoiseshell and red (red). You can buy it for 7-15 thousand rubles.
Read more in the article about Ural rexes.
Abyssinian cat
These animals are highly intelligent, very active and cheerful. The body is of medium length, legs and tail are relatively long. The coat is short and quite hard.
These are very independent and curious cats, not afraid of water treatments and happy to play in the bathtub.
There are several color options:
- wild - double or triple ticket without a specific pattern;
- Sorel - coat color from red-brown to copper-red shades;
- blue - in gray-blue tones;
- beige;
- The fawn color is characterized by a coat of cocoa or café au lait shade.
Price from 15 thousand rubles and more.
Also read the article about Abyssinians.
Somalia
This breed is related to the Abyssinian.
They are small, the muzzle is quite narrow. The length of the coat is medium and the tail is very bushy. Somalis are peaceful, but owners can be jealous of the owner of other family members. They are prone to diseases of the gums and teeth, so it is necessary to pay attention to oral hygiene.
The cost starts from 15-20 thousand and reaches 100 thousand rubles.
What is the character of these animals?
The genetic characteristics of red felines affect their character and behavior. There is no scientific evidence that the orange gene affects the character of its owner. This connection was identified based on observations of “saffron milk caps”, which led to the conclusion that almost all red representatives of the cat family:
- have a high level of intelligence, which helps to avoid difficulties in raising and training a pet;
- playful (the “saffron milk caps” especially like to play with younger family members);
- independent;
- active;
- playful;
- cunning.
It should be understood that the character of a four-legged pet depends not only on the shade of the coat, but also on:
- Breeds. It is believed that yard cats are less picky and more good-natured than their purebred counterparts. In addition, the psyche of each breed of cat, including red cats, has certain characteristics.
- Heredity. A kitten can inherit from its parents not only health, but also character.
- Conditions of detention. If your pet is pampered from early childhood, it is unlikely that it will turn out to be a well-mannered and obedient animal. If there are constant quarrels in the family and a generally difficult moral situation, the kitten will grow up to be a nervous and fearful cat.
Not everyone believes that ginger cats have an affectionate and good-natured character. There is also an opinion among cat lovers that animals with the orange gene are real rebels and do not like to obey their owners. In fact, in this matter the situation is the same as with people. It is impossible to predict what kind of character the new “saffron milk cap” will have. If you love him and take care of the baby, and also raise him correctly, he will grow up obedient and affectionate.
Wild red cat – Caracal
This is a species of wild medium-sized cat that lives in steppes and deserts and is predominantly nocturnal. It is not recommended to have one in an apartment due to the love of freedom and large size.
The best option is a private house with a large enclosure for outdoor walks.
Caracals are very large animals, reaching a length of 85 cm and a height of up to 45 cm. The tail is short and mobile, ears with tassels at the ends are set high.
The coat color is red ticked (red), it is thick, dense and quite tough. Animals have good immunity; with proper care, they rarely get sick.
You can buy it only in nurseries that breed caracals, the price is approximately $10,000.
Scottish (low-eared and straight-eared)
This breed of cat has one characteristic feature - a special shape of the ears. They are pressed close to the head, very small and have a round shape. The Scots are small in size, their coat is quite dense and can be either long or short. The fur of such pets can have different colors. Red and white-red cats are very rare.
As for their character, the “Scots” are somewhat reminiscent of dogs. This is confirmed by the fact that animals become strongly attached to their owners and are incredibly loyal. And having chosen “their” owner, such cats stop paying attention to other family members.
Genetics of red color
The red, or more correctly red, shade of an animal's coat depends on the presence of the Orange gene or simply O. It is located on the X chromosome, and therefore cats with this color are more common than cats. The presence of this mutation, which is dominant, leads to the fact that the body begins to produce the pigment pheomelanin, which leads to a red color.
Its peculiarity is that it is never solid, forming a bizarre pattern, spots and stripes on the pet’s fur coat.
If the recessive diluent d has entered the animal's genome, the color of the cat will change from red to cream. Another feature of the Orange gene is that when it is present on both X chromosomes (heterozygous state), the kitten acquires tortoiseshell fur. Since the gene is located on a specific chromosome, it is possible to predict the coat color of future kittens based on the color of the parents.
People will be born red if:
- Mom is red or cream, and dad is black or gray. Ginger cats and tortoiseshell cats will be born.
- Both parents have a red tint to their coat.
- Mom is black, and dad is red - the cats will take after their mother, and the cats will turn out to be tortoiseshell in color.
Kurilian Bobtail
The Kurilian Bobtail is a practically unique cat breed bred in Russia. Its distinctive feature is its tail, which cannot even be called a full-fledged tail, because most of all it looks like a ball of hare fluff.
The soul of a dog, the appearance of a lynx and the jumping ability of a hare - these are the features that the Kuril Bobtail acquired after crossing. This is a graceful and large animal, unusual in its disposition.
An amazing fact: in Russia as a whole, the majority of owners of such pets are women, while in the Far East male owners are extremely proud of these pets.
Mr. Cat recommends: character traits of ginger cats
The character of ginger cats of street origin can vary greatly. Some of them are easy-going and calm, others are restless and playful. But there is one common feature that unites all animals with a fiery color - cunning. Even at an early age, they use this character trait to win the love and affection of their owner.
Often cats with this coat color are literally forced to be taken into their home.
People have noticed a special relationship between the coat color and eye color of a pet with its character:
- the green color of the eyes indicates the cat’s cheerful disposition and tireless energy, which infects everyone around him;
- yellow or copper shade of the iris - a calm and balanced couch potato, whose favorite pastime is relaxing in a comfortable place, for example, an armchair or sofa.
- Blue eyes in such cats are quite rare. It can occur in pets with spots of a red tint, but is never found with a solid red color.
There are many legends and signs associated with ginger cats and cats. One of them: if you adopt a pet with a fiery color, it will bring happiness to the family, and the larger the food bowl you give it, the greater the well-being and prosperity there will be in the house. Read more about signs associated with red cats on our portal.
Maine Coon
Maine Coons were bred quite recently, but their temperament is quite wild. Although they are generally friendly, like most cats, they do show aggression quite often. They are quite large in size, and their weight can reach 16 kilograms. The color of the coat can be varied, including a red tint. Due to its size and weight, the Maine Coon cat is considered unique, and its appearance is simply terrifying to some, which continues to make it popular among connoisseurs of unusual pets.
Care, maintenance, health
The care and maintenance of animals with a red color have no distinctive features from cats with a different coat color. It all depends on the characteristics of specific breeds, but if the pets are of “yard” origin, regular checks at the veterinarian, good nutrition and the love of their owners are what will make them happy.
There is a relationship between color and some features of the cat’s body. For example, it is known that whites are prone to hearing loss and are often naturally deaf.
As for redheads, some experts believe that they tolerate anesthesia somewhat worse during operations. But this is not a proven scientific fact.
Siberian cat
Back in the 16th-17th centuries, Siberian cats were found throughout almost the entire territory of the Russian Empire, including Siberia. The harsh climate with frosty winds and snow contributed to the appearance of long hair in animals, protecting them from the cold.
By nature, furry pets are friendly and affectionate. Animals of this breed love children, are sociable and neat. They get along well with pets, but do not tolerate rodents. Siberian cats are easy to care for: just brush them and add vitamins to their food.
Popularity of ginger cats
Animals with fiery fur have been popular at all times, but now it’s a real boom. They are featured in advertisements, and cartoons are made about them that people like. For example, the same Garfield leaves neither children nor adults indifferent with his constant pranks. Or Puss in Boots from the cartoon about Shrek. His bottomless eyes and wit make millions of people and children around the world smile.
Among creative individuals there are also lovers of fiery animals. They are also painted in paintings, figurines are made, and soft toys are sewn. For example, the contemporary Russian artist Vasya Lozhkin has a whole series of works about red cats.
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What kind of eyes do “saffron milk caps” have?
The eye color of representatives of the cat family is in harmony with the shade of their fur. This is why cats of different colors within the same breed can have eyes of different colors.
Kittens are born with blue eyes. As they grow older, their shade changes. Adult animals that carry the orange gene may have green, gold, or copper eyes. The last 2 colors are most common. Green-eyed “saffron milk caps” are amazing creatures. You can see what they look like in the photo below.
