For the past thirty years a succession of red tabbies males [my "little red-headed boys"] have "found" me. They have been the most fabulous cats of my lifetime. I just lost my 20 year old.
Almost 2 years ago, I broke the pattern by taking in a little feral female patch tortoiseshell [at least she has patches of orange] because she was starving. She has gone from frantically wild to one of the sweetest, most affectionate indoor kitties I have ever seen.
As long as they have a loving home they will turn out well.
One of my happiest Hurricane Katrina stories is about a friend who had to evacuate, left her two cats inside, and had someone lined up to feed them. They got out. After 6 weeks when she was finally able to go home ... her two cats were waiting under the house for her. Many people have put food out for the animals. There have been sad stories but many people have done wonderful work with the animals and deserve credit for a job well done.
Why did your friend have to evacuate?
While I would generally say that is true, some kitties just have personality problems. I have rescued every single kitty I have ever come across that needed it. But some can never recover mentally from the trauma, and some kitties are just meaner than snakes. But I love them all just the same.
My whole life I have been around orange toms. My Grpa loved kitties, and he always had a big ol orange boy. Several of them.
Now my Dad has one who hangs out in his shop. They are just the sturdiest little creatures. I have no idea why.
I have never had one myself. But I have always wanted one. My sister recently adopted two from her local HS. Great personalities.
My current three, all rescues, are on my page.