Clever Orange Cat Pretends to Be Napping While Slyly Stealing Sweet Treat
There are many rumors and legends about orange or ginger cats. Some claim they are the goofiest type of cat, “sharing a single brain cell,” as if intelligence is carried on the same gene for their fur color. But that’s certainly not true for the orange cat in this video, who has worked out a way to steal food while looking like he’s just taking a snooze.
Of course, we’re not fooled for a minute, smart guy.
In this video, a “sleeping” orange cat on a kitchen counter is ever so slowly sliding the lid of an ice cream carton over to himself, all the better to snatch a lick of the smooth, creamy treat. We don’t know if he actually thinks he’s fooling anyone with this move, but he’s certainly amusing us.
Related: Cat Sneaking Treats to Dog Is Leaving Us in Stitches
The action is a curious one, for though cats are not above a bit of subterfuge or slyness, it’s unusual for them to be in hunting mode without their signature intense focus. For instance, when my cat “pretends to sleep” while watching me, you can always tell, because her eyes are open the tiniest slit, and the tip of her tail is twitching.
In the case of this kitty, he subtly shifts his head as the lid gets closer, as if just double checking to make sure that he’s on the path to victory. And then, when it’s close enough, he raises his head to start in on his little snack.
Nice move, cat.
Can Cats Really Drink Milk?
Though milk is one of the more well-known treats for cats, most adult cats are actually lactose intolerant and may have stomach pain or digestive issues with dairy products like ice cream, yogurt, or milk. You may have to experiment to see if your cat is one that has these issues. If your cat is okay with dairy, the small amount this one might lick off the lid of the ice cream container is unlikely to cause major health problems from the extra sugar or fats. Just keep it as a sometimes treat.
Before giving your cat dairy treats made for humans, make sure there are no ingredients in it that may be harmful to your cat. For example, artificial sweeteners of any kind are toxic to cats, and they are often used in low-calorie dairy products. Similarly, do not allow your cat to eat chocolate ice cream.
Why Are Orange Cats Usually Male?
Cat coat genetics can be a complicated topic, as there are several different genes which control the appearance of a cat’s fur—whether it has white spots, whether the color of the cat is temperature dependent, whether its coat is solid or has markings, and what those markings are shaped like, and even whether the base color the cat comes through clearly or more “faded.”
For instance, orange cats from the same litter could be a deep red color or a creamy yellow butterscotch based on whether or not one got the “dilute” gene affecting their orange (technically “red”) coloration.
Eighty percent of orange cats are male. This is because the gene for red cat coloration is on the X chromosome for cats, and female cats must have two copies of the orange gene on their X chromosomes to appear orange. Male cats, who are XY, only need the one.
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