![]() ![]() Male tortoiseshell cats are incredibly rare and only found due to genetic mutations. It is a recessive code, meaning that two X chromosomes are needed to code for the tortoiseshell pattern, and therefore, these distinctive cats are almost always females. The distinctive tortoiseshell pattern is carried in the cat’s genetics, with the responsible gene found on an X chromosome. Calico cats have tri-colored fur, with white added to the black and amber, and usually in larger color patches or blocks rather than the more mixed, brindled look seen in the traditional tortoiseshell pattern. A “torbie” is a cross of the tortoiseshell pattern mixed with tabby stripes. Dilute torties have a similar pattern of colors, but include paler gray and cream colors. The traditional tortoiseshell pattern has multiple variations. The tortoiseshell pattern can be found in many different breeds, or mixed breed cats, although it is a common color in Maine Coons, Persians, and American Shorthairs. Tortoiseshell coats are usually a marbled mix of black and a ginger red, but can this color pattern can also contain creams, white, and orange. ![]() The name refers to multiple colors mixed into a tortoiseshell pattern. Tortoiseshell cats are defined by their marbled mix of black and ginger fur, but some have cream, white, and orange shades in addition to black and red.Ī tortoiseshell cat is not a breed of cat, but rather a reference to the color of their fur. Though they have the genes for displaying the same colors as a standard calico, dilute calicos will display muted colors of cream, strawberry-blonde, and grey instead of white, black, and orange.Pictured: Dr. But dilute calicos are even rarer, sporting faded colors that make the cat appear pastel. Considering how rare they are, this just might be true! After all, only 1 in 1,000 cats is born calico. In many cultures, calico cats are thought to bring good luck. Image Credit: Aleksei Verhovski, Shutterstock In addition, they hold more body fat, which can cause diabetes, heart disease, and continuous joint pain. Male calicos also tend to have behavioral problems due to mental development impairment. These cats have less bone mineral content, which means a greater risk of broken bones. Only 1 in 10,000 male calicos are fertile. Because of this, male calicos are generally very unhealthy and sterile. However, 1 out of every 3,000 calico cats is born male due to a genetic anomaly known as Klinefelter syndrome. Furthermore, they require an unrelated gene to introduce the white coloring.īecause it requires two X chromosomes to create a tri-color coat in a cat, generally speaking, males cannot display such a coat. For a cat to become calico, it must have an X chromosome with orange coloring and another X chromosome with black coloring. Females have two X chromosomes while males have just one. The X chromosome carries the genes for color. It takes a very unusual chromosome pattern to create a calico cat. The breeds that can produce the calico coloring include: ![]() Image Credit: Elisa Putti, ShutterstockĪs we mentioned, calico cats come in many breeds, though not all breeds can produce calicos. Their colors are also blended and mixed instead of exhibiting specific patches of color. Calico cats must have white as one of their colors and the other colors appear as patches over the white. However, the way that the colors present themselves is very different from a calico. Tortoiseshell cats also have tri-colored coats. While tortoiseshell and calico cats are very similar, they’re not actually the same thing. You’ll often hear tortoiseshell and calico used interchangeably. The white will dilute to cream, orange dilutes to strawberry-shaded blonde, and the black dilutes to gray.ĭilute calicos are also called calamanco cats or clouded tigers. Dilute calicos have the same tri-colored coat that calicos have, but the dilute gene causes the colors to be muted and appear faded. When thinking of dilute in relation to a cat’s coat, you can replace it with the synonym muted. What Is a Dilute Calico Cat? Image Credit: Pixabay Calicos are exceptionally rare, despite the fact that this coloring can appear in many breeds. The coat of a calico cat features distinct patches of color with white being the base. This means that you can have calico cats in several breeds. Many people assume that calico is a breed, but it’s only a color pattern. They’re prized for their gorgeous coats, but there’s a lot of misunderstanding surrounding these cats. Most often, the other colors are black and orange. ![]() What Is a Calico Cat? Image Credit: loicp90, PixabayĪ calico cat is a cat with a coat that displays three colors, with one of them being white. ![]()
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