tx highrack i never heard of or saw any thing called a ringtail cat and i live in texas.
Ringtails are VERY common in Texas. Most people have never seen them and don't know they even exist. Nocturnal with a capital N! If you ever see one in the daytime, he is either in a trap or rabid.
My first thought was ringtail, but have never seen a reddish varient. Around here they are shades of grey, with abit of brown sometimes.
Only other reddish animal similar is the coatimundi, and the closest here are in the Big Bend area, a loooong way from NC.