Calico Cats

Calico is a type of coloring of a cat, not a cat breed. In order to be considered a calico kitten, the kitten must have black, white, and orange coloring. The coloring is not mottled and mixed like tortoiseshell cats. A calico kitten typically has a white background color and orange and black colored patches.

A common coloring of a calico cat is mostly white with a medium to small patch of black and a patch of orange on their backs. This is not the only acceptable pattern of a calico cat. Calico cats can have large blocks of black and orange that extend to their heads, legs, and tail.

A very small percentage of calico kittens are male. Almost all calico kittens are female because the genetics of the calico coloring is linking to the X chromosomes. A cat must have two X chromosomes in order to have calico coloring. Two X chromosomes allows the cat to be orange and a non-orange color. In the case of calico cats, the non-orange color is almost always black, though some variation in calico colors seems to be possible. Some claim that gray and cream are possible variations.

Females have two X chromosomes, which is what determines the cat will be female. Males cats have one X and one Y chromosome. However, it is possible for a genetic abnormality to cause a male cat to have an extra X chromosome. A male cat with an extra X chromosome has on Y chromosome and two X chromosomes which make it possible for it to be calico. This genetic abnormality is very rare. Male cats with this genetic abnormality are sterile.

Many different cat breeds have calico coloring as one of their standard coloring possibilities. Persian cats are an example of a cat breed that can have calico coloring. Tortoiseshell coloring is also a predominantly female characteristic since there is the same genetic necessity of two X chromosomes. Tortoiseshell cats have both orange and a non-orange coloring. However, the coloring of tortoiseshell cats is typically mixed and mottled, with the orange and non-orange colors blending throughout the coat.