300 yuan is not considered expensive for an orange cat. Orange cats typically refer to domestic cats, and their prices generally do not exceed 500 yuan.
Orange is a very common color among domestic cats. Generally, you can find them priced between 60 and 500 yuan. The orange coat color is a common pattern seen in mixed-breed cats and registered purebred cats that do not have specific coat color requirements. It is not breed-specific, but rather a matter of coat color genetics. The orange color can range from a light tan to a deep reddish-orange, and like calico and tortoiseshell patterns, it is not limited to a particular breed. Orange cats usually come in two patterns: solid orange and orange and white. Solid orange cats often have subtle white stripes, and only a few will have white on their bellies. Orange and white cats have large patches of orange on a white base coat.
Factors Influencing the Price of an Orange Cat
There isn't a fixed standard price for an orange cat because 'orange cat' isn't a breed itself but refers to a coat color. Cats with either solid orange or orange and white coats can be called orange cats. For instance, Persian cats (often called Garfield cats) can have orange coloring and these can be priced at 3000 yuan or more. Domestic cats with orange coats may be available for as little as a few tens of yuan. Even some Golden Chinchilla cats, which can have an orange tint, can cost around 10,000 yuan. You'll rarely find non-purebred orange cats for sale in pet stores. However, there are often many orange cats available for free adoption online.
Understanding Orange Cat Genetics
The orange color in cats is due to a specific gene. It’s located on the X chromosome and has two alleles: orange (O) and non-orange (o). Because females have two X chromosomes (XX), they can be orange (OO), non-orange (oo), or calico/tortoiseshell (Oo). Male cats only have one X chromosome (XY), so they can be either orange (OY) or non-orange (oY). This is why most calico and tortoiseshell cats are female. The shade of orange can vary based on other genes that affect coat color, resulting in the wide spectrum of orange shades seen in cats.