‘I’ve never seen a coat like that before': Feline father finds purrfectly unique orange-tortie cat to add to his loving feline family, becomes immediately smitten and adopts her

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Feb 16, 2025 12:00 PM EST

How many cats do we have, you ask? Well, a magician never reveals their secrets, but let's just say that our bed is more cat than hooman. However, that doesn't mean that if the cat distribution system were to happen to gift us another cat, we wouldn't say no. We're always open to growing our feline family, especially if it's for a cat in need! Purrsonally, we've never had to look for another cat, they always just seem to find us. But not everyone is furtunuate with the CDS, and this is why it's great to adopt shelter cats whenever you can!

Well, one feline father was doing just such a thing. He had very strict requirements for his new potential fur baby - must be female, good with other cats, vocal, etc., etc., and he was having trouble finding the right meow-ddition for his two baby boys. Until, one day, he came across one of the most unique-looking cats we've ever seen! Scroll down to read how he fell head-over-paws in love with her over just a few purrfect pictures, you won't regret it.

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  • 01

    An extraordinarily unique tortie!

    Cheezburger Image 10467254528
    via u/OhHelloMayci

  • Wow. We understand why he fell in love over this picture. We're already in love and we're not even adopting her! Just in case he doesn't want her, we'll happily take her. She looks like a stand-up gal! The fact that she's beautiful is just an added bonus.

  • 02
    I have been passively searching for an addition to my two existing boys for quite a while now, knowing that i'd only seriously consider anyone if it seems like it would compliment my boys' existing dynamic/relationship, as well as be exactly compatible with my cat parenting style. I'm not going to risk compromising any party's Quality of Life potential just because I want another cat. For context, my
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 03
    search filters and personal consideration requirements has been strictly limited to the following: adult female, special needs, listed for adoption 6+ months, confirmed good with other cats, vocal/chatty, and independent while still affectionate (my boys are already both maximally needy velcro cats that want to live under my skin 24/7 lol).
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10467254016
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10467251456
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 06
    It felt like my heart skipped a beat the moment that pic of her (same 1st slide pic shown here) came up on my screen as a search result on petfinder. I'm admittedly pretty familiar with cat coat pattern/color labels, or at least i thought, because it took me like an hour of immediate research full of intrigue for me to even come to the conclusion that she's a tortoiseshell. I've never seen
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 07
    or even imagined such an orange tortie before, so that alone threw me off. When googling "predominantly orange tortoiseshell cat" or various other synonymous key words, i landed with not much beyond 3 other cats throughout the history of reddit that come close to how this girl looks in terms of orange presenting as the primary color over black. But the 3 other gorgeous cats i found with this
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 08
    case still don't quite look like her, because she has such minimal mottling/brindling of the black and orange, resulting in a bolder contrast between the two colors than what i'm used to seeing from a typical tortie pattern. It looks as if her back right leg was replaced with one from a typical tortie cat, because the rest of her coat looks like a completely separated genetic mutation in comparison! You cover her black ear, and she has a perfectly clean orange tabby face. What!
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10467254784
    via u/OhHelloMayci

  • Paws for a moment and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for exclusively silly cat content!

  • 10
    I told myself there's no way she has enough provided info in her profile to validate my already-invested excitement for her, let alone info that clearly confirms she checks every box. After all, i've been passively sorting through dozens, probably hundreds tbh, of potential adoptions for the past year or so with nothing seeming quite right. Well, as soon as i
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 11
    saw she had a profile summary, that was it. This wasn't a buggy random search result. Her thorough backstory told me that she's been at a small no- k I shelter local to me for 8 months now, originally taken in as a sick stray momma with a rough history on the streets, resulting in a positive, but now stable/asymptomatic, FIV. She's somehow described even further as my absolute ideal perfect match, checking every behavioral and
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 12
    situational box: mature adult, has a lot to say, values the presence and attention from others while remaining independent, and loves playing with kittens (The golden tier for cat social skills! Score!)
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 13
    TL;DR / CONCLUSION- I've periodically searched so many online local adoption listings with a tight limitation of requirements and low hopes, with no contenders ever really coming close compared to where this girl excelled! Of course her coat pattern is so stunning and she's special for it, that's undeniable, but i know that's not what caused that special feeling to manifest in me the second i spotted her picture. It was
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 14
    the picture of my first boy's shelter photo 6 years ago, and the moment i locked eyes with my second boy on the street 3 years following. "Of course you're mine and I'm yours, where have you been?". None of the (now) three cats that i've "known" upon first sight really share any physical traits aside from being shorthairs, either! I'm going to be
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 15
    sorting out financial preparation asap, which is ofc necessary for bringing home any new pet, but even more so when FIV or any special needs tag along. The bigger safety net the better! before scheduling to meet the special lady. I have no doubts. (:
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 16
    If there's any chance someone has a very orange tortie that you're hiding from the internet, please bless my eyes and let us bask in her glory! I really did have trouble finding pictures!
    via u/OhHelloMayci
  • 17
    OhHelloMayci Really wish i had a full body pic showing more angles of her, but these are the shelter pics provided on her listing! Excited to show her to you guys (and probably the orange cat sub too?) once i have her home with me (:
    via u/OhHelloMayci

  • Yes, please! We absolutely need updates about this orange-tabbie beauty. It's not every day you get to see a cat with such a unique and rare fur pattern. Well, we actually have plenty of those here at I Can Has Cheezburger, so go and search for them if you're the teensiest bit curious.

  • 18
    Raymer13 I wonder if she gets the orange brain cell more often/longer since she has some orange missing.
    via u/Raymer13
  • 19
    pixel_pete Moderator Hmm I wonder if she's a chimera cat? I admittedly don't have much experience with chimeras but it would explain why her coat is so unique even by tortie standards, if she were actually a chimera of an orange tabby and a tortie. Just an idle thought that may help you learn more about this special lady!
    via u/pixel_pete
  • 20
    santamonicayachtclub Whoa!!! What a unique color distribution! She's a looker for sure, but there's also something beautiful about the personality she shows in her pics. Wishing you all the best luck!
    via u/santamonicayachtclub
  • 21
    TheNightTerror1987 What a unique look!! I grew up with a torbico who was predominantly orange but she was a much darker shade. I've seen one other cat that looked like Marlie over the years but I've never seen one like that girl!
    via u/TheNightTerror1987
  • 22
    Cheezburger Image 10467260928
    via u/TheNightTerror1987
  • 23
    alchemistofdragons She's so beautiful! I love the contrast of her fur. Your comments are interesting about the chimera stuff, I haven't heard about that before. Do you have any links about that?
    via u/alchemistofdragons
  • 24
    I have a similar kitten who is predominantly orange with some black spots! I've been meaning to post her but haven't yet. Being silly! -
    via u/alchemistofdragons
  • 25
    Cheezburger Image 10467261184
    via u/alchemistofdragons
  • 26
    JayofTea I've never seen such an orange prominent tortie before, she's so unique!
    via u/JayofTea
  • 27
    silvertoadfrog I have never seen a coat like that. It is unique and absolutely gorgeous. It sounds like it was truly meant to be for her to join your household! All the best to you and your kitties. You are a very thoughtful responsible pet parent and have obviously thoroughly thought through this adoption. My standard for kitty adoption is if they show up at my house. Lots of love to you and your fur babies!!
    via u/silvertoadfrog

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adoption rare animal rescue adopted coat feline cat rescue orange cats family forever home unique Cats loving animals Father rescue
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