I was chatting to a lovely lady the other day who suddenly asked: ‘What is it about orange cats?” I, being the proud owner of a handsome orange-and-white cat, knew exactly what she meant. They are just “different”, so I assured her I would have a think about it and write a column.

As promised, here are my thoughts, anecdotes and a little science about orange cats.

They owe their vibrant colour to a specific genetic variation that codes for the production of the orange pigment phaeomelanin. These genetics can result in a range of shades, from light gold to deep, rich orange.

The gene responsible for the orange colour is located on the X chromosome. Male cats, having only one X chromosome, need just one copy of the gene to display the orange colour. Female cats, with two X chromosomes, need two copies (one on each X chromosome) to be orange. This is why orange males are more common than orange females.

While individual personalities can vary greatly, many people believe that orange cats are particularly friendly, outgoing and affectionate. However, this might be more of an anecdotal observation rather than a scientific fact.

My own ginger boy, Rusty, is a lover not a fighter. He regularly gets a playful beating from my much smaller female Abyssinian and takes it like a champ. He sleeps almost all day with a half-hearted lazy groom here and there, but nothing like the meticulous and self-obsessed preening of the Abyssinian.

He only really comes alive at mealtimes, when his insatiable vocalisation echoes through the whole house like a baby’s cries. As if he has not been fed for three weeks and in case you should forget, his clockwork yowls leave you in no doubt that he will starve to death if he is not attended to immediately. After his speedily ingested meal, he goes back to sleep not to be disturbed.

It is well known in the veterinary world that orange male cats get blocked, meaning they are suddenly unable to urinate, which is both very painful and an emergency.

I remember one perfect Saturday morning sitting in my garden drinking my first coffee of the day. I then saw Rusty scratching around in the dirt, posturing to pee then howling as nothing came out. Sure enough, he was blocked. I have treated hundreds of blocked cats in my career but never my own cat. I spent the next hour in the clinic unblocking Rusty, who was duly grateful and soon went back to his usual routine none the worst for wear. I have only fed him wet food from then on and he has never blocked again. (A useful tip for all you orange boy-cat owners.)

Rusty has put his limited free time to good use training the staff to add to his calorie count on demand. He knows which door to go to on which day for the correct staff member to be summoned. They dutifully present him with hugs, treats and catnip and chastise me for not feeding him, as he relishes their attention and winks a roguish eye at me.

Every cat of every colour is unique and incredible, but orange cats do have a little something about them, a knowing look, a loving head bump and a way of charming their way into your heart that is very endearing if not a little impish.

• Lucy Richardson graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005. She started CedarTree Vets in August 2012 with her husband, Mark. They live at the practice with their two children, Ray and Stella, and their dog, two cats and two guinea pigs. She is also the FEI national head veterinarian for Bermuda