![]() ![]() Mainly female, a calico cat is fairly easy to recognize because of its orange, black and white patterned coat. The calico cat coat can come in a wide variety of coat patterns, and no two are alike.Ĭalico is not the name of the breed but a description of a color pattern that appears in many different cats. In either case, their coat may be a healthy mix of dark black or chocolate, with shades of ginger, red or orange color mixed in.Ī tortoiseshell cat has a reputation of having a distinct, strong personality and feisty attitude, a phenomenon commonly referred to as “tortitude.” What Are Calico Cats? This can occur on the face or throughout the entire body. Because torties are not a specific breed of cat, their overall coloring usually appears brindle.Ī chimera coat describes a tortoiseshell cat that is one color on one side of its body and a different color on the other side. “Dilute” tortoiseshell cats are a lighter gray and orange rather than black and orange. Traditional tortoiseshell cats are a blend of deep orange and black colors. Tortoiseshell coats show up in many different purebred domestic cats, as well as in non-purebred cats. In the rare event that a tortoiseshell cat is a male, he is usually sterile. Tortoiseshell cats are almost exclusively female. By definition, a tortoiseshell cat is a feline with a coat that resembles the mottled or particolored shell of a tortoise. Tortoiseshell is not the name of a breed, but a description of a color pattern that can appear in cats of many different breeds and mixes. ![]() These XXY guys are called Klinefelter males, after endocrinologist Harry Klinefelter who first identified the condition in the 1940s.Tortoiseshell cats are almost all female. So a male with XXY has the two required X’s to possibly make him a rare and beautiful kitty indeed. It’s a genetic anomaly! Rarely, a cat-or even a person-has three chromosomes. So How is There Ever a Male Calico or Tortoiseshell Cat? (This has led to the misconception that only male cats are orange tabbies actually, most are simply because girls have more chance to be other variations with orange.) This is because only a cat with XX chromosomes can be calico or tortie. The girls, though, are commonly calico, tortie, or orange tabby whereas the vast majority of males are only orange tabby. So, it stands to reason that either a male or female cat can be or have orange coloring. High school biology refresher: females have XX chromosomes. Orange coloring in cats comes from a gene in X chromosomes. There are some rare exceptions! According to a study by the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, only about 1 in 3,000 calico cats are male! It’s All About Chromosomes The actual, scientific fact of the matter is that most calicos and torties are female. Or do they? After all, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time something resembling an old wives tale is taken as fact with few questions asked and shoulders shrugged in reply. It’s an interesting example of how genetics dictate some pretty predictable results. Are All Calico & Tortoiseshell Cats Female?Īre all calico cats female? Are all tortoiseshell cats girls? You’ve probably heard before that they are. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |