Above: Apple is a fiery red tabby and white. She wears a collar with an apple motif to announce herself to the world!
Apple was a stray cat, living outside when she was brought to Home for Life® along with her 3 kittens by a neighbor of the sanctuary, who had been feeding the little family when she saw Apple struggling to survive and care for her babies. We took Apple and her kittens in, and over the weeks, it was wonderful to see them grow up as Home for Life® doesn't often have baby animals at the sanctuary. We were able to find loving homes for Apple's kittens, and also found a home for Apple. But Apple herself had different ideas. She was unhappy in the new setting and expressed her upset by fighting with the other cats of the household and being generally ornery and unfriendly. The adopter brought Apple back, to Home for Life®, where Apple obviously wanted to be, and the little cat has been happy and content with us ever since. Sometimes animals choose—their home, their people, and make their preferences known the only way they can!
Apple is a fiery redhead, a red tabby and white, and rare as a ruby for most orange tabby cats are male. According to Cattime.com "Orange cats are usually male.
"The reason? The gene that codes for orange fur is on the X chromosome. Since females have two X's and males have one X and one Y, this means that a female orange cat must inherit two orange genes — one from each parent — whereas a male-only needs one, which he gets from his mother.
"This orange gene can appear in calico cats and tortoiseshells too.
"In other words, male orange cats always come from mothers with an orange gene, but female orange cats also require e a father with the same gene. That's why orange cats are usually male."
But as Cattime.com notes, "orange is an optimistic color, radiating warmth, happiness and enthusiasm for life." Our Apple certainly embodies all these qualities now that she has loving care, a place to belong (of her own choosing), and a Home for Life®.