What is the most rare cat?

Incredible Rare Cat Breeds You Will Fall in Love With

Cats are about the most familiar furry companions we have. After all, we’ve had thousands of years of co-habitation to get ourselves accustomed with every little quirk and different coat pattern of these lovely creatures. We recognise their sleek fur, the long tail or the pointy ears straight away. Their looks, no matter how distinguished they are, come as no surprise to us.

Yet if we start to look closely into the huge feline family photo album, we will discover that not all kittens seem to have gotten the cat dress code memo. These are the rare cat breeds. For these felines fur seems to be optional, the familiar pointy ears just a cliché and the eye colour is a description not a shade.

Thanks to selective breeding or just good old genetics, we have a bunch of unusual cat breeds we can admire and fall in love with. Here they are!

Sphynx

Their nearly hairless body has made this rare cat breed a superstar among kittens.

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Immediately recognised as unique amongst its feline cousins, Sphynx cats often have personalities true to their superstardom status — they love the attention they get and particularly from humans. Their peculiar looks include wrinkled skin, tall ears and no whiskers or eyelashes.

This is truly a one-of-a-kind cat, so expect to be starstruck in its rare presence.

Scottish Fold

The Scottish Fold cats offer us another original take on a common anatomical feature. These kittens prefer their ears folded forwards. Interestingly they are not born this way. In the first few weeks of life, these cats look no different to your next door cat. But sometime after day 21 of their kittenhood, these balls of fur decide to get their rare cat breed credentials as their ears start to get folded.

And just to add to their cuteness, another distinguishing feature in their bag of tricks is the «Buddha sleeping position». Don’t expect these kittens to curl up too often for a cuddle when they need a good night sleep. They prefer to sit with their back straight and their legs stretched out. No worries, there are plenty of cuddles coming your way during their waking hours as these cats are extremely gentile and affectionate.

Japanese Bobtail

These kittens are good luck charms back in Japan, their home country, and they are the inspiration behind the popular manga character Hello Kitty. But what truly makes them part of the rare cat breed club is their tail. People are still divided on whether the little stub they have for tail can actually be called a tail or not, but one thing is for certain — the Japanese Bobtail is one of the oldest cat breeds and a friendly and intelligent companion.

Selkirk Rex

This laid-back cat is really at home amongst the unusual cat breed types. With their atypical curly hair that seems to be paying tribute to the 1980s human hair styles, the Selkirk Rex is a cat ready to stand out. They are large with a chunky build and come in a variety of colours. Their extremely sweet nature makes them the perfect addition to the family.

Turkish Angora

Graceful but full of energy, the rare cat breed Turkish Angora has some pretty stunning members, among which the white cat with multi-coloured eyes is the one to catch most admiring eyes. These delicate creatures are considered a treasure by their lucky owners. It’s not just their unique looks that make them a favourite in any household they’re in, it’s also the loving and playful personality that turns them into children’s best friends instantly.

NutriSource Blogs

All about orange cat breeds: Surprising facts and rare finds

January 12, 2023

Orange cats have long delighted feline aficionados. The warm, sunny hue of an orange cat’s fur coat makes them distinctive and photogenic.

If you desire an orange cat of your own, the first thing to know is a cat that is orange does not indicate a distinctive breed of cat. Rather, orange fur along with any markings is one of many genetic expressions of the cat’s particular lineage, whether mixed or purebred.

Fun facts about orange cats

Ginger cats, as they’re sometimes called, most often have eye coloring that’s amber or gold. An orange cat with green or blue eyes is especially rare.
Most orange tabby cats — 80% — are male. Orange fur originates from the so-called “ginger” gene — a recessive gene in the X-chromosome. Producing an orange male requires just one of these genes from the mother, whereas females must get copies of the ginger gene from both parents.
Nearly all orange cats have stripes, spots and/or patches of white fur. The rare exception is a solid red Maine Coon, whose fur is uniformly reddish-orange from ear tip to tail.
Orange cats are friendly. Or vocal. Or mean. Or daring. Or lazy. These are just some of the myths pet parents believe about their orange cats. As with any feline friend, the breed and socialization your marmalade cat received early in life has the largest impact on its personality.
Orange cats can develop black freckles, which are visible around their gums, lips and noses.

What are the top orange cat breeds?

There are several feline lineages in which orange fur presents itself as a variation. These five orange cat breeds are best known and most common.

Orange tabby

Picture an orange cat with stripes. That’s your quintessential orange tabby. Like any other tabby, its calling card is the striping that forms a capital “M” on the forehead. Unlike other cats on this list, the tabby cat isn’t a breed. Rather, they’re cats of mixed lineage broadly known as domestic shorthairs. Tabby is a way to describe the markings and patterns in their fur.

Red Maine Coon

Some call these orange Maine Coons, but the Cat Fanciers’ Association classifies their color as red, and these are typically a deeper, brick red compared to the tabby.

However you call it, you’d better get them on camera. A Red Maine Coon is not only a rare sight but they are seriously striking creatures worthy of a social post. With a fluffy mane-like coat and elongated nose, you can’t help but wonder if you’ve come across a domestic cat with a direct lineage to the lion.

Despite that lion-like stature on a 20-pound kitty frame, the Maine Coon — red or otherwise — is a gentle giant that comes with plenty of smarts, a mellow personality and a heart brimming with love and loyalty for their humans. What more can you want?

Orange Turkish Angora

A true pedigree cat, the Turkish Angora is one of the ancient cat breeds with a plumed tail and short silky fur that puffs out over its graceful, fine-boned body. Though they’re best known as princessy white felines, they come in a range of hues, including a soft sherbet orange.

Regardless of their shadings, the Turkish Angora will quickly establish their reign as your home’s alpha pet. And they’ll impress your guests with their impeccable hosting skills, holding court and mingling with the party from start to finish.

Orange Egyptian Mau

The Egyptian Mau is a head-turner. For starters, you’ll notice the mark of the tabby “M” on the forehead, contrasting with a spotted body. Those of the orange variety are stunners with their deep rust-colored markings. Their intensely friendly personality charms everyone they meet and they’re famous for adapting to just about any living situation. But they also have their loyalties, as they single out one family member as their favorite.

Abyssinian

The Abyssinian stands out because the standard has a reddish-brown or coppery orange coat with darker ticking patterns. With their large ears, wide almond-shaped eyes and long lean bodies, the Abyssinian has a statuesque form and glamorous bearing that has captured hearts for decades. Yet, these are active cats with lots of personality. If you’re inclined to the Abyssinian, be sure and provide plenty of interaction along with a feline companion or two.

The care and feeding of orange cats

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Good for Life is just one of the ways that NutriSource is a family like no other. Find NutriSource at your local, independent pet supply retailer.