Why are orange cats orange? Scientists finally know why.

Ginger cats really are a thing. Here's why they are orange:

😺🧡Scientists have discovered that in house cats, the X-linked orange (O) locus controls an unknown chemical process that stops cats from turning black or brown.

Instead, cats turn orange.

Tortoiseshell and calico cats have spots that change color between black and brown and orange. These spots are thought to be standard examples of how random X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) shows up in female mammals.

However, the O gene in the cat genome has not been found, and the genetic variation that gives cats their orange color is still unknown.

The article from Science Magazine contains the detailed information: https://www.science.org/content/article/gene-behind-orange-fur-cats-found-last?utm_campaign=Science+Magazine&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=ownedSocial

I asked AI to generate a beautiful orange cat near a picturesque fireplace. This is what it gave me: