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My little pet peeve

post #1 of 68
Thread Starter 
Why does it bother me so much when people call red cats "orange"? Orange is not a recognized cat color, but so what. Either is gray. Gray is called Blue. Either is brown, for that matter, which I only recently found out. Brown is actually officially called chocolate or seal. But I just hate it when people call red cats "orange". WHY? Why does it annoy me so much? It makes no sense for me to be so bothered by this. There is no such thing as an "orange" cat. The ginger shades are red.

But who cares, right? I do, for some unfathomable reason. laughing02.giflaughing02.gif
post #2 of 68

people who don't know anything about cat breeds (like me) don't know that orange is not a color. My last cat was a light red tabby wtih white markings. I called him Orange with white markings. He died last month and I joined this forum when I got a new kitten so I could buff up on what I would need to do as I hadn't had a kitten in a while. That's where I read, for the first time, that there is no such thing as Orange cats. So, not everybody is as knowledgeable on the subject. :)

 

On a side note, "Peeve" would be a great cat name.

 

:D

post #3 of 68
Thread Starter 
Thanks for your reply. I do realize that many people have never heard cats called red. Some even make fun of me for using the term, but having enjoyed the love of two consecutive red boys, I know in my heart red cats are red, not orange (or yellow for that matter).

But...why does it BOTHER me so much? It's so...illogical to be so annoyed when seeing a red cat called "orange". And I do see it, daily. There are people, who even knowing the correct color words, continue to call red cats "orange". That REALLY bugs me, LOL laughing02.gif!

I have a friend who had a red female rbheart.gif. She called her kitty "orange" all the kitty's life, until she met me smile.gif. Even after I gently corrected her, she had trouble, for quite a long while, even thinking of her kitty, or even my Tolly rbheart.gif, as red instead of "orange". But, since I got offended every time she called Tolly an "orange boy", she finally got used to it, and now I am proud to see her use the term red cat whenever the subject comes up. smile.gif
post #4 of 68

Because cats that are orange in colour are orange. Not everyone is a cat breeder and knows the terminology.

post #5 of 68
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trouts mom View Post

Because cats that are orange in colour are orange. Not everyone is a cat breeder and knows the terminology.

Thanks for your reply. You have misconstrued my intent smile.gif. I understand that not everyone knows that red cats are not "orange", that they are red. One doesn't have to be a breeder to learn this fact, but that's not my point. smile.gif

I started the thread because I don't understand why it bothers me so much, when I see red cats called "orange". A person can learn, easily enough, and if they care to, what colors cats come in. If they don't care to learn, or choose to be stubborn and continue to call a cat orange, even when they know the correct terminology, so what? Why should I care? It makes no sense for me to waste energy being annoyed by this, but I can't seem to get past it.

That's why I decided to go public with my peeve. Maybe someone can help me get over it. laughing02.gif
post #6 of 68
Quote:
Originally Posted by redvelvetone View Post

people who don't know anything about cat breeds (like me) don't know that orange is not a color. My last cat was a light red tabby wtih white markings. I called him Orange with white markings. He died last month and I joined this forum when I got a new kitten so I could buff up on what I would need to do as I hadn't had a kitten in a while. That's where I read, for the first time, that there is no such thing as Orange cats. So, not everybody is as knowledgeable on the subject. smile.gif

On a side note, "Peeve" would be a great cat name.

biggrin.gif

You mean like "Peeves" in Harry Potter books.
post #7 of 68

To hear a medical word mispronounced grates on my ears, though I never say anything.  Then I stop and think that everyone hasn't studied medical terminology...or cares if they get the word exactly right.  I guess the orange comes in because most cats in that color family actually look more orange than red.  Speck was listed as buff on his adoption paperwork, but I call him orange or red, whichever color pops into my head at the time.  The same thing goes with tuxedo cats.  I know tuxedo is not a breed, but if the suit fits...laughing02.gif  Anyway, I'm sorry if I offend.  I don't mean to; it's just the way I talk.

post #8 of 68
Thread Starter 
No, no, you guys are missing my point.

Okay, I know it sounds like I am complaining about people who call red cats "orange". I hate it, I admit it. And I appreciate you taking the time to explain how you happen to use the word "orange" to talk about a red cat.

But what is really bugging me, is that it bugs me at all. You see? I think it's ridiculous that this issue bothers me. It really really bothers me, but I think it's ludicrous that it does. Don't I have enough to worry about, without having this grate on me every time I see a red cat called "orange"?

So, HOW do I stop being annoyed by this? I am sincerely asking. HOW do I fix myself so this does not bother me?

I guess I should have not mentioned what the pet peeve is, instead I should have just asked:

How does one get over a pet peeve?
post #9 of 68
Being overtired, I'm really tempted to tell you that the cure is to go to the nearest shelter, adopt a red tabby and name him/her "Orange". catlol.gif

Trying to overcome a pet peeve would be a good New Year's resolution. I'd just have to decide which one of the many I have needs the most work, and then figure out how to go about it.
post #10 of 68
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcat View Post

Being overtired, I'm really tempted to tell you that the cure is to go to the nearest shelter, adopt a red tabby and name him/her "Orange". catlol.gif
Trying to overcome a pet peeve would be a good New Year's resolution. I'd just have to decide which one of the many I have needs the most work, and then figure out how to go about it.

I only just lost my beautiful sweet red tabby boy, and I will be paying off his vet bills for a while, so that is not an option. I've had the great pleasure of living with red boys twice, though neither of them were long lived (Baby rbheart.gif 1/2/98, was 14 1/2, Tolly rbheart.gif 11/29/11 was only just past 12. ) There may be another red cat in my future, you never know, but not just now. And though you never know what name a cat may choose, I would have a hard time calling ANY cat "Orange"laughing02.gif.

(Though I did rescue a red girl last spring whose name was, still is, Blue smile.gif She doesn't live with me and Mazy, Jennie and Queen Eva though, she is the Greeter Cat at the shelter.)

I know there must be a way to put mind over matter, and stop having this bother me so much.
post #11 of 68
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post


How does one get over a pet peeve?


LOL, I get your point, and I don't think you CAN get over them (that's why they're pets! laughing02.gif ). Honestly, just grit your teeth and bear it? I have my pet peeves too. My big one is "text-talk". Now, I can understand abbreviating something if you are texting on your phone. But if someone sends me an email, spell out "you", don't use "u". It's not that hard. It's 2 extra letters. It drives me crazy and is like nails on a chalkboard to me (actually, THAT doesn't bother me).

 

 

 

post #12 of 68
What's weird, now that I think about it, is that Germans always say "red", most Brits say "ginger", but a lot of Americans say "orange". Red tabbies are almost always males in Germany and practically always females on Malta.

My niece's red tabby, Trey, is 16 1/2 now, so some are long-lived. He's always had a lot of trouble with allergies, though.
post #13 of 68
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcat View Post

What's weird, now that I think about it, is that Germans always say "red", most Brits say "ginger", but a lot of Americans say "orange". Red tabbies are almost always males in Germany and practically always females on Malta.
My niece's red tabby, Trey, is 16 1/2 now, so some are long-lived. He's always had a lot of trouble with allergies, though.

Yes, the expression 'ginger tom' is almost generic in the UK for any big bruiser of a cat, whatever the colour!
post #14 of 68
Here you go, let me try to help you out:
Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange * Orange *
laughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.giflaughing02.gif
post #15 of 68


Same with me. I've only heard of Ruddy Abbysinians, not red cats. Most red cats look very orange to me, including my next-door neighbor's cat.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trouts mom View Post

Because cats that are orange in colour are orange. Not everyone is a cat breeder and knows the terminology.



 

post #16 of 68

I never knew this fact. I always called them orange. I'm totally going to pass this tidbit onto everyone I hear call them orange. 

 

But I think it's normal to have silly things get on your nerves. I know I certainly have a few, and in my head I know it's silly that it's bothering me, but I've just come to accept it. I'm not sure how to get over this, but I did enjoy the post above with the repetitive orange laughing02.gif

post #17 of 68

I'm not sure it's possible to not let your pet peeves annoy you. laughing02.gif I always got top grades in grammar and spelling, have been an avid reader my whole life (my parents don't even really know how I learned to read), and my biggest pet peeves in life have to do with incorrect spelling and bad grammar. I know it's never going to stop bothering me, so I just have to remind myself that in the grand scheme of things, it's just not a big deal when people don't know the difference between there, their and they're. I just acknowledge that it annoys me, and I move on. laughing02.gif

post #18 of 68
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mystik Spiral View Post

I'm not sure it's possible to not let your pet peeves annoy you. laughing02.gif I always got top grades in grammar and spelling, have been an avid reader my whole life (my parents don't even really know how I learned to read), and my biggest pet peeves in life have to do with incorrect spelling and bad grammar. I know it's never going to stop bothering me, so I just have to remind myself that in the grand scheme of things, it's just not a big deal when people don't know the difference between there, their and they're. I just acknowledge that it annoys me, and I move on. laughing02.gif


That is very helpful, thank you! I'll try that, because I really dislike getting so annoyed with myself. Then I am doubly annoyed, you know? Annoyed by the peeve, then annoyed at myself for getting annoyed. So rather than trying to "get over it" I should work on self-acceptance....! "This bothers me, so what, it's just who I am, so just allow myself to be bothered, love myself in spite of it, and keep on truckin."

Quote:
Originally Posted by nurseangel View Post

To hear a medical word mispronounced grates on my ears, though I never say anything.  Then I stop and think that everyone hasn't studied medical terminology...or cares if they get the word exactly right. 

Thank you, it helps to know others have these little peeves, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by calico2222 View Post



LOL, I get your point, and I don't think you CAN get over them (that's why they're pets! laughing02.gif  ). Honestly, just grit your teeth and bear it? I have my pet peeves too. My big one is "text-talk". Now, I can understand abbreviating something if you are texting on your phone. But if someone sends me an email, spell out "you", don't use "u". It's not that hard. It's 2 extra letters. It drives me crazy and is like nails on a chalkboard to me (actually, THAT doesn't bother me).

Your comment I bolded and underlined above is absolutely priceless and makes perfect sense!laughing02.gif. I love it! Text talk in e mails or in posts in forums bothers me, too. Not to the extent of the peeve I mentioned here, but it is annoying, though comforting to know that it bothers others too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by x2006nkg View Post

I never knew this fact. I always called them orange. I'm totally going to pass this tidbit onto everyone I hear call them orange. 

But I think it's normal to have silly things get on your nerves. I know I certainly have a few, and in my head I know it's silly that it's bothering me, but I've just come to accept it. I'm not sure how to get over this, but I did enjoy the post above with the repetitive orange laughing02.gif

Thank you. It really does help to know I'm not alone in having idiosyncratic irrationalities. Learning to accept that this is how I feel, rather than berating myself for it is the key, I think, I appreciate your help!
post #19 of 68

My advice is each time some calls a red cat orange, just ignore it. Don't make a response about how its not an orange cat but red cat. Reacting to it just makes it worse, you're pretty much telling that part of your brain that its okay to let it trigger your anger or anxiety, when your brush it off then it tells that part of your brain "who cares."   That method always works on my pet peeves. 

 

On another subject, I think people aren't really thinking on correct coloring terms when they talk about a cat's color, they see a cat that's about the color of the pumpkin they think orange because on the color wheel that's what the color would be called. If I saw a rest colored cat, I would call it red because it is, but if I saw an orange cat, even though I know the correct cat color would be red, I call it orange because 1) as mentioned, that's what the color would be called on the color wheel and 2) most people would say, "that cat's not red, its orange" because most people don't know that's what an orange colored cat is called.     Of course I usually just call a red/orange cat a Ginger cat anyways because then everyone knows what I'm talking about.

 

Other colors on a cat are the same.  A gray cat may be correctly called a blue but when generally speaking, the color makes sense for most people when you just call it a gray cat and on the color wheel it would be called gray (though there are some shades of gray that can be considered a shade of blue.)    As far as Chocolate and seal colors, if you're talking about a color point on a Siamese or other pointed cat, most people would know what you're talking about, however if you called a non-pointed cat, seal. A lot of people would look at you weird.  Chocolate is a little different because many people use the word chocolate as a synonym of brown because it sounds prettier.  Anyways, speaking of terms on actual colors, techniqually, white or black isn't a real color too. White is the absence of color while black is all colors, so if you get upset with people calling a red cat, orange, then you should get equally upset when someone calls white a color. 

 

You can also use that reasoning to help with your problem, each time you start getting angry you can tell yourself that you don't get upset when someone calls white a color, why should this get me upset.

post #20 of 68
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post

No, no, you guys are missing my point.
Okay, I know it sounds like I am complaining about people who call red cats "orange". I hate it, I admit it. And I appreciate you taking the time to explain how you happen to use the word "orange" to talk about a red cat.
But what is really bugging me, is that it bugs me at all. You see? I think it's ridiculous that this issue bothers me. It really really bothers me, but I think it's ludicrous that it does. Don't I have enough to worry about, without having this grate on me every time I see a red cat called "orange"?
So, HOW do I stop being annoyed by this? I am sincerely asking. HOW do I fix myself so this does not bother me?
I guess I should have not mentioned what the pet peeve is, instead I should have just asked:
How does one get over a pet peeve?



One good thing, at least as a pet peeve it's not such a bad one (not in IMHO, anyway).  It kind of bothers me if I see a picture just little bit crooked and I think "OMG...I'm like that man they're hunting on America's Most Wanted!"  laughing02.gif

 

post #21 of 68

Personally, I love the orange tabbies we have here in Canada. smile.gif

post #22 of 68
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yosemite View Post

Personally, I love the orange tabbies we have here in Canada. smile.gif



lol2.gif I agree 100%! I love the grey ones too! biggthumpup.gif

post #23 of 68

Everyone has their little foibles.  The good news is, it doesn't make any difference, in the long run. 

 

Just because some organized body says there is no such thing as an orange cat doesn't mean that everyone (or even anyone) else will see it that way.  The world is full of examples.

 

Now, personally, it annoys me when people say "snuck" as the past tens of "sneak," "dove" as the past tense of "dive," and when anyone talks about their "hot water heater."  But I'm not going to stay up nights worrying about any of them, and, more and more, the dictionary (which is descriptive, rather than prescriptive, much to the annoyance of language purists) says I'm fighting a losing battle.

post #24 of 68
Two things get me annoyed - one I think can be justified, the other not. The first is misuse of apostrophes - it absolutely infuriates me, though I know that these days it is not really taught in school, so it is unfair to blame people. But I get SO mad, as it is so simple to get right, and it SHOULD be taught in school. The other is a bit like yours - I feel mildly annoyed when people talk about 'white horses' because such a thing is actually very rare in nature and what most people see as a white horse is genetically a grey, and has almost certainly started as a darker colour and matured into 'white'. But why should people who are not horse peole know that, just as why should people know about 'orange' cats not being orange?
post #25 of 68

Ah, the apostrophe thing.  I knew it was a losing battle when I saw the door behind the college dean's secretary's office that said, "Employee's Only."

post #26 of 68

Regarding pet peeves, I HATE incorrect English.  For example:   "me and my husband".     "me and Paul",   etc.

 

Do you ever watch Judge Judy?    She always corrects incorrect English and I just love it.  The other day a litigant said "He ain't got no money".  You should have seen the look on Judge Judy's face!

 

Another example was one someone said  "I borrowed my friend the money".      It makes me want to scream.    You don't have to be a college graduate to know what is correct and what is incorrect.

 

Also - incorrect spelling on ads, commercials, etc.      A while back a local attorney advertising his services, said he specializes in   "seperations".    This was on TV.   I phoned his office, got his voice mail and told him it should be "separations".   I never heard back from him but in a few weeks the commercial was corrected.

 

Don't know why this bugs me so much ---- do any of you feel the same way?

post #27 of 68
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post

Why does it bother me so much when people call red cats "orange"? Orange is not a recognized cat color, but so what. Either is gray. Gray is called Blue. Either is brown, for that matter, which I only recently found out. Brown is actually officially called chocolate or seal. But I just hate it when people call red cats "orange". WHY? Why does it annoy me so much? It makes no sense for me to be so bothered by this. There is no such thing as an "orange" cat. The ginger shades are red.
But who cares, right? I do, for some unfathomable reason. laughing02.giflaughing02.gif


I absolutely hate it when people call red, cream, cinnamon, golden etc. cats orange (same goes for grey, tuxedo, flame point and other stuff like that)! It can pretty much mean any warm shade of cat, so without a picture I will have no idea what color they are really speaking about which bothers me because I like knowing what kind of cat is being discussed about. And to add to that brown cat list: brown tabbies are genetically black.wink.gif

 

It's even worse when someone is asking what color their cat is and people keep misinforming them and saying "he's orange" (sometimes they do that even if they know the term is red, which IMO is like giving wrong directions on purpose to someone who's lost and asking for the right direction). And if they don't know the terms, they shouldn't be giving wrong answers either, guessing is a different thing but it should be mentioned that the person replying doesn't know/isn't sure what he/she is talking about.You don't call natural red head humans orange haired either, so why cats?

 

Without this post I wouldn't know what the heck is a ginger cat, and I think last year was the first time I ever heard about a 'buff' cat. I think using the wrong terms annoys me specially because english is not my first language, so terms like buff, ginger etc. are total gibberish to me when they are supposedly color terms. Ginger is a plant/spice to me and buff is a very muscular person..laughing02.gif

I didn't use random terms when I was a kid, so I don't think being a breeder makes much of a difference here either, I just recognize different colors and patterns better now (for example the difference between a blue point and a lilac point, shaded and chinchilla).

post #28 of 68
Quote:
Originally Posted by jennyranson View Post

The other is a bit like yours - I feel mildly annoyed when people talk about 'white horses' because such a thing is actually very rare in nature and what most people see as a white horse is genetically a grey, and has almost certainly started as a darker colour and matured into 'white'. But why should people who are not horse peole know that, just as why should people know about 'orange' cats not being orange?


I assume horse owners know much better what color their horse is than a cat owner seems to know the color of their cat. If horse people know correct terms for the animal they have/are interested in, why isn't it so with cat people? It makes me think the lower appreciation to cat as a pet (they get dumped much more often than a horse or dog for example, so people just don't seem to be really interested in the animal they chose to live with. I see it as a lack of research which should have been done before getting the animal in question, what ever species it is, excluding random rescue cases).

 

post #29 of 68
NorthernGlow, you have a point there about calling people redheads not orangeheads....

I am aware that "orange cats" are called red cats. (You'll really hate me for this one otto! laughing02.gif ) I still call them orange. If of course I was filling out some kind of registration form I would put "red tabby", but if I'm just referring to what color my cat is, I say orange. Because:

THIS is red:
208

THIS is orange:
439

Out of those two colors, what color is this cat closer to?

450

If my eyes see right, I think it's closer to orange. As to help on how to get rid of your pet peeve, I don't know if you can. laughing02.gif
post #30 of 68
Quote:
Originally Posted by catbehaviors View Post



450
If my eyes see right, I think it's closer to orange. As to help on how to get rid of your pet peeve, I don't know if you can. laughing02.gif


I'd hate to break this to you, but I think your cat is not orange OR red, he looks like a cream tabby!tongue.gif

 

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