# Cat Coat Color Conspiracy! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 9, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373 "2007-04-09T21:13:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/1 "2007-04-09T21:13:40Z")
A good friend has a birthday coming up. I decided to get her a bit of mass produced mirth to send in the mail. Since this friend has cats, and I’m partial to critters in general, I was drawn to birthday cards with felines on them. There were cartoon cats for varying infamy, pictures of cats that had creepy photo shopped eyes, and there were just regular cats. As I perused thru these cards, I noticed a trend: orange tabby, orange tabby, grey tabby, another orange tabby. . . All the cats were tabbies! No solid colors, no Siamese, no calico, no every-damned-color-and-few-new-ones (I worked for a Humane Society, these cats do exist). At first, I was puzzled. Do tabbies photograph better? Are they easier to find or train? Then the dark, sinister part of me spoke up. “Don’t you see,” it said. “These are made a huge companies with their eyes on the bottom line. Cats with just one color would be boring and unappealing. To many colors would scare them. A calico looks disorganized and out of control! A tabby has nice, regular stripes in colors that please the eye. CEO’s wear pin-stripped suits! Read between the lines!” “Could this be true?” I thought. (Well, actually, my first thought was “Ah, fuck. Gotta change meds again.” But I digress.) Then I thought about all the cats I’ve seen on TV and film – lots of tabbies, especially orange ones! Also, I live with one of these tangerine conformists! Have I been compromised? :eek: Maybe it’s not limited to the cats. Some Hollywood stars are looking kind of orange as well. Is it a bad tan, or an effort by the Powerful Illuminati to make being citrus-colored acceptable? Rise up Dopers! Fight the Red-Yellow tide! Our battle cry shall be “AGOUTI!” ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/2 "2007-04-09T21:32:28Z")
Weird…I was just commenting on a similar, personal situation. I have four cats. One is a flame point Siamese, one is solid black, one is a grey tabby, and one is a tortoiseshell. Guess which cat I have the most pictures of? Yep, the tabby. She’s not the cat I’ve had the longest, so that’s not the reason either. She likes to pose the most (plus, she was one of the two cats I got post-digital camera era, natch, more pictures of her kittenhood). ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/3 "2007-04-09T21:47:09Z")
Maybe they’re more dramatic? I have an orange tabby and believe me, he’s a drama queen if I’ve ever seen one. My other cats are all stupid and happy and he wanders the halls whining, “Meh. Meh.” I also notice that of our four cats, he’s the one who gets the most compliments on cuteness. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/4 "2007-04-10T00:44:04Z")
I have an orange tabby, a brown tabby and a calico. I see lots of mass-produced goodies reflecting all these color coats and more! ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/5 "2007-04-10T00:57:49Z")
Our last two cats were a calico and a tortie. Current cats are a brown tabby and a grey with white. 1/4 tabbies. Yup, a conspiracy!!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![liberty3701](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@liberty3701](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liberty3701)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/6 "2007-04-10T02:02:23Z")
_Eyes [Horatio](http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/liberty3701/Horatio/DSCF0616.jpg) suspiciously_ I think you may be onto something. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/7 "2007-04-10T02:07:35Z")
I just gave my husband 4 birthday cards with cats’ pictures on them. One was a kitten-like tabby, just like my AG, another was a sleek tabby, just like Ishtar; another was black, just like Shaku; another was calico (from me) just because I love calicos and we don’t have one. While I was looking for these cards, I saw a lovely card with a blue point siamese, and another one with a Russian blue. Maybe your card shop was just out of the others, MM. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/8 "2007-04-10T02:09:22Z")
[QUOTE=liberty3701] _Eyes [Horatio](http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/liberty3701/Horatio/DSCF0616.jpg) suspiciously_ I think you may be onto something. [/QUOTE] OMG, your Horatio is lovely! ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/9 "2007-04-10T06:45:41Z")
[QUOTE=Boscibo] Weird…I was just commenting on a similar, personal situation. I have four cats. One is a flame point Siamese… [/QUOTE] Oh, you must share photos! I don’t see flamies very often–here’s my guy [Opie](http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/scrabblesmartie/detail?.dir=8034&.dnm=d1a1.jpg&.src=ph) relaxing on my laundry. I do, however, have a greeting card with a flamepoint on it. My mom bought it for me because she thought it looked just like Opie. ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/10 "2007-04-10T17:45:29Z")
[QUOTE=liberty3701] _Eyes [Horatio](http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/liberty3701/Horatio/DSCF0616.jpg) suspiciously_ [/QUOTE] Horatio is a name that just screams “trouble.” It looks like he’s plotting the next step in ginger world domination! Here our little spy as a [little kitten](http://new.photos.yahoo.com/dandyaster/photo/294928803149606361/9) and as a[big kitten](http://new.photos.yahoo.com/dandyaster/photo/294928803149607283/3) Of course, we have [someone to keep him in line](http://new.photos.yahoo.com/dandyaster/photo/294928803149607523/2). (Elwood the ginormous three legged kitty!) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/11 "2007-04-10T18:02:46Z")
[Bruno](http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w98/nicksmcvie/Tiger.jpg) and [Lloyd](http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w98/nicksmcvie/HandsomeTawnyEyes.jpg) don’t think I need to be posting to this thread. I’ll try to come back later! ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/12 "2007-04-10T18:04:55Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] [Bruno](http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w98/nicksmcvie/Tiger.jpg) and [Lloyd](http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w98/nicksmcvie/HandsomeTawnyEyes.jpg) don’t think I need to be posting to this thread. I’ll try to come back later! [/QUOTE] Don’t let them use their [powers on you!](http://www.stttelkom.ac.id/helpdesk/download/wallpaper/Shrek%202%20-%20Puss%20in%20Boots.jpg) **DO NOT LOOK INTO THE EYES**!!! ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/13 "2007-04-10T18:06:47Z")
According to my cats, there is [no](http://www.mortalwombat.com/Special/Pets/kitties.jpg) [tabby](http://www.mortalwombat.com/Special/Pets/Sloopy_with_Dali.jpg) [conspiracy](http://www.mortalwombat.com/Special/Pets/zim-kits.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/14 "2007-04-10T18:10:46Z")
SOYLENT GREEN has nothing to do with TABBIES! ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/15 "2007-04-10T18:14:34Z")
[Cuervo](http://picasaweb.google.com/lrm229/CatPictures/photo#4978487694824112146) fails to see [what all the fuss](http://picasaweb.google.com/lrm229/CatPictures/photo#4978490968035950610) [is](http://picasaweb.google.com/lrm229/CatPictures/photo#4978492304488398866)[all](http://picasaweb.google.com/lrm229/CatPictures/photo#4978489298574442514) [about](http://picasaweb.google.com/lrm229/CatPictures/photo#4978492431185870866) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/16 "2007-04-10T18:16:32Z")
_nodding_ No…tabby…conspiracy. I will now bring…tuna. ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/17 "2007-04-10T18:56:41Z")
[Sammi](http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m55/shamrock22769/5b8d4e59.jpg) told me that you are making it all up. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/18 "2007-04-10T19:55:47Z")
The [fuzzy](http://img15.imagevenue.com/aAfkjfp01fo1i-14004/loc1137/34883_Tybalt_onchair_122_1137lo.JPG) [black](http://img25.imagevenue.com/aAfkjfp01fo1i-7314/loc1188/34658_Tybalt_underdesk_122_1188lo.JPG) [land shark](http://img165.imagevenue.com/aAfkjfp01fo1i-14338/loc95/34664_Tybalt_headon_122_95lo.JPG) is [bored](http://img101.imagevenue.com/aAfkjfp01fo1i-27635/loc954/34675_Tybalt_yawn_122_954lo.JPG) by this talk of conspiracies. [Now is the time when we sleep](http://img159.imagevenue.com/aAfkjfp01fo1i-30496/loc94/34678_Tybalt_asleep_122_94lo.JPG). ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/19 "2007-04-10T20:07:56Z")
I think they’re the most common coat pattern, for one. They’re also not so…uh…temperamental as Siamese and Burmese for photo shoots, and they are just pretty because they tend to be more symmetrical. A standard [splotchy calico](http://www.messybeast.com/images/tabby-patched2.jpg) is cute and all, but not as pretty as a more symmetrically decorated [calico tabby](http://www.petfinder.com/fotos/NJ347/NJ347.6545352-3-pn.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373/20 "2007-04-10T20:13:35Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] _nodding_ No…tabby…conspiracy. I will now bring…tuna. [/QUOTE] Resist! Resist! Fight it! Sing Beatles tunes! Don’t give in! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-coat-color-conspiracy/399373.md?page=2)