#AnimalScience

A long-standing puzzle about why orange cats are so commonly male has been finally explained by new genetic research published in Current Biology. Scientists identified a specific deletion in DNA near the ARHGAP36 gene on the X chromosome. This mutation activates orange fur production, clarifying why most orange cats are male, while females require two copies to display full orange coloration. The discovery also explains why calico and tortoiseshell patterns are predominantly female, due to different X-chromosome inactivation. The findings come from independent studies by teams from a renowned U.S. university and a leading Japanese university, marking a milestone in feline genetics and veterinary science.

A century-old mystery surrounding the striking orange coats of domestic cats has finally been unraveled by new genetic research published on May 15 in the journal Current Biology (source). Scientists have identified a unique “meow-tation” in feline DNA that not only gives orange cats their distinctive hues, but also explains why the vast majority of them are male—a question that has perplexed geneticists and cat fanciers alike since the early 20th century.