When Grace Kellyann found a tiny ginger creature hidden under her barbecue, she thought she was simply doing a good deed. But a routine first visit to the vet turned this standard rescue into a highly unusual genetic surprise.
On her TikTok account, user @gracekellyann shared footage of her vet visit with the little feline, whom she temporarily named “Tommy” while waiting to find out the sex. The check-up revealed that the tiny creature weighed just 1.3 lbs and was around six weeks old. But the biggest surprise was yet to come.
A highly unusual genetic combination
While examining the kitten, the vet quickly corrected the young woman: “Oh, she’s a girl! I was wrong. Apparently, ginger females are very rare. So we’ve found a rare gem!”
In the feline world, having a ginger coat is a mostly male trait. The gene responsible for the orange colour is linked to the X chromosome. Males (XY) only need one copy of the gene to be ginger, while females (XX) must inherit it from both parents. This is why it is estimated that only 20% of ginger cats are female.
Care and tips for living together
This early medical visit was essential for such a young kitten separated from her mother. The little rescue was able to receive a flea treatment and some eye ointment to treat her eyes.
As her owner started showing signs of allergies, Grace’s community stepped in to offer solutions. Several online users recommended using allergen-neutralising lotions on the kitten's coat once she is old enough, or taking a daily treatment so she can keep this rare ginger beauty close by without sneezing.