Hundreds of marmalade moggies are looking for their forever homes while people celebrate Ginger Cat Appreciation Day today (Saturday 1st September 2018).
The RSPCA is highlighting the orange-furred felines in its care, with figures revealing the charity had more than 1,600 ginger (or ginger and white) cats come into its care over the last three years.
Of these, 291 were female and 1,344 were male cats – and there’s a scientific explanation behind it.
The majority of all ginger cats are male because the gene that determines whether a cat is ginger lies on the X chromosome.
A female cat needs two copies of the ‘ginger gene’ to be ginger, whilst male cats only need the one.
Figures from the RSPCA’s national centres also reflect this, with ginger Tom cats outnumbering the ginger females by 4:1.
Sam Watson, the RSPCA’s cat welfare expert, said: “This Ginger Cat Appreciation Day the RSPCA is urging people to consider adopting a rescue ginger instead of buying one.
“These cats and their striking colouring are very special and even more so is the less common female ginger cat.”
Sam added: “This interesting bit of science gives us an insight into why ginger cats are so special.
“It would be great if owners celebrate any cat with a bit of ginger in their coat today, and appreciate the neat genetics lesson ginger cats have to offer us.
“We would urge anyone considering adopting a cat to take a look on the RSPCA’s Find a Pet website where there are lots of lovely ginger cats waiting for their forever homes.”
