9 Beautiful Calico Cats and Kittens (2024)

FAQs

Why are calico cats so special? ›

Calico cats are thought to bring good luck in Japan. In past years, Japanese sailors would travel with Calicos onboard their ships for protection. In the U.S. and U.K., male Calico cats have been thought to be especially lucky because they are so rare.

Because the genetic determination of coat colors in calico cats is linked to the X chromosome, calicoes are nearly always female, with one color linked to the maternal X chromosome and a second color linked to the paternal X chromosome.

What Makes Male Calicos So Uncommon? Genetics are the reason calico tomcats are so rare. Coat color in cats is typically a sex-linked trait—in other words, color is coded into certain chromosomes.

Due to their unique genetic makeup (and the fact that male calico cats are born sterile), calico cats cannot actually be bred. Rather, nature produces these colorful kitties randomly.

While it's a generally independent cat that doesn't require constant attention, the calico is also sweet, loving, and loyal. It will readily bond with a single owner but enjoy the company of an entire family, too.

Two X chromosomes are needed to create the tri-color coat, and an XX pair also results in the cat being female. If the cat gets one orange-coded X and one black-coded X, she will be calico—with the white patches resulting when she also inherits a gene unrelated to the X and Y chromosomes that codes for white fur.

Health and Lifespan

While the rare male calico may encounter some health issues and have shorter life expectancies, female calico cats are just as healthy as cats with other coat patterns, with an average lifespan of 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of calico cats is 12 to 16 years.

Of all the cats we discussed, the true albino cat is the rarest. These cats will have an all-white coat with blue eyes. The non-albino white cat is the next rarest, followed by other cats with white fur due to albinism, or the gene that prevents color from reaching the skin.

The short answer is no. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that cats can have autism. However, cats can exhibit behaviors that are similar to those seen in humans with autism.

Dupont also explained that male calicos are often called "unicorn cats" due to their rarity, leading to this little kitten being nicknamed "Unicorn." Stock image of a calico kitten. Only one in 3,000 calicos are male, due to the genetic expression of their characteristic coats.

What are the odds of having a calico cat? ›

The odds of a male calico are 1 in 3,000. “We love all the felines who make their way to us.

Notwithstanding the incredible permutations of patterns and colors, calico cats traditionally are believed to be bringers of good luck and even money, especially in Japan.

To be called “calico”, three colours must be present: black, white and orange. Another interesting fact is that approximately one calico in 3,000 is male. So, if you see a Calico cat, you can almost be assured that it will be a female cat. A similar cat to Calico's is the Tortoiseshell or Torties for short.

Calico kitten facts. Sometimes, your calico kitten may be confused with a tortoiseshell cat, (or “tortie” for short.) They both tend to have brown and orange fur, but calico cats will have a lot of white coloring as well. Here are some important facts when doing research on your new calico kitten.

Now, you can easily tell the difference between Tabby cats, Torties, Torbies, and Calico cats. Tabbies have a legendary “M” on their head, while Calicos are mostly white with a few patches of orange and black. Torbies, short for Tortoiseshell/Tabby, look like Torties - but they have stripes.

Personality and Character Traits

While some Calico cats may have cheeky or sensitive personalities, others can be much more relaxed and affectionate. A study conducted at the University of California found that Calico cats hiss and exhibit more aggressive behavior compared to cats of other colors.

Character: Calico cats have a reputation for having cat-itude. However, as any calico kitty carer will tell you, this is plain wrong. Although independent, they are incredibly loyal and affectionate with their humans. Smart and easy going, they mix well with other pets and children.

The University of California-Davis research team theorized that the more hostile attitude from calico or tortoiseshell cats could be genetic because they tend to have two X chromosomes, which makes the majority of them female.