

Tortoiseshell cats can also come in a dilute variety. Calicos often have a white-based coat, whereas tortoiseshells have a black-based coat with more of a blend of the colors together rather than the distinct color patches seen in calicos. Tortoiseshell (tortie, for short) is a similar coat pattern that is often confused with calicos.These cats will have the traditional tabby stripes, often within their orange and black color patches. Calibby is also a variety of the calico cat pattern and is a mix of a calico and tabby cat.There are some other terms that may be used to refer to calicos, or calico-type cats. But, all calicos will have distinct patches of orange, black, and white patches of fur (Stelow et al., 2016). Some calicos are known as dilute calicos, which may have grey and cream-colored patches instead of black and orange. Calicos have a distinct coat pattern typically made up of white, black, and orange. What Is The Definition Of A Calico Cat?Ĭalico is a type of coat pattern seen in domestic cats. The few instances where there are male calico cats are due to the presence of three sex chromosomes (Stelow et al., 2016).īefore we learn more about the genetics behind what makes a calico, let’s learn a little bit more about what calico cats are. The calico coloration is produced with two X chromosomes, which is why most calico cats are female. It is true that calico cats are almost always female, but in rare instances calico cats will be male. In this article, we will answer some of the most common questions about calico cats to help you understand more about these colorful kitties.

One coat pattern that definitely has a reputation for their behavior is the calico. One reason for this may be the reputation that some cats have based on their color patterns (Delgado et al., 2012). Many cat lovers have their own preferences for cat breeds or coat colors. So, consider yourself lucky if you find a male calico cat! Saying that males rarely have two X chromosomes, male calico (and tortoiseshell) cats are extremely rare.If you are a cat lover, you are probably well aware that there are many different types of coat colors and patterns out there for you to choose from. Male calico cats do exist, but they are very rare. Only if a male is borned with two X chromosomes and one Y will a male cat be a calico or tortoiseshell. Because of this, male calico and tortoiseshell cats are very rare. Males, on the other hand only have one X chromosome, which can never become inactive. All the cells that descend off of the activated X chromosome will have the same characteristics. If two X chromosomes are present (this determines the female sex), then one chromosome will be inactive sometime in the development of the fetus. For sex chromosomes, there is battle for dominance, especially for the X chromosomes. Now, why are they always female? Well, unfortunately, the answer is bit complicated.

However, there are a small number of male calico cats out there! So, Why Are They Almost Always Female? So, technically they aren’t always female, but they are almost always female. In fact, 99.9 (or 1 for every 3,000) of calico cats are female. The fact is, male calico cats are very rare.
