Calico Cats: Why Almost All Are Female and What Makes Them Special

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 20, 20264 min read

A calico cat is hard to miss. Splashes of orange and black on a white background make each one a unique piece of living art. People often assume that calico is a breed, and some believe that these cats are lucky, rare or sassy. The truth is more interesting, and it begins with a chromosome.

What is a calico?

Calico describes a coat with three colors: white, orange (or red) and black. The patches are usually well-defined, and white is the dominant color, often covering the belly, legs and chest. Dilute versions, with blue-gray and cream patches instead of black and orange, are called dilute calicos or calimanco cats.

Calico is a pattern, not a breed. It can appear in domestic shorthairs, domestic longhairs, American Shorthairs, Maine Coons, Persians and many other breeds. In the United States, the word calico is used for the tricolor pattern; in some countries, the cats are called tortoiseshell and white. See domestic shorthair.

The genetics: why calicos are female

The gene for orange versus black fur is carried on the X chromosome. Female cats have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y. A female can carry one X with the orange gene and the other with the black gene. In each skin cell, one X chromosome is randomly switched off early in development, so patches of cells produce orange fur and others produce black. A separate gene causes white spotting, which results in the white patches.

Males usually have only one X, so they can be orange or black, but not both. A male calico must have two X chromosomes and a Y (XXY), a condition called Klinefelter syndrome. This happens in about one in every few thousand calicos. Most male calicos are sterile and may have health issues, such as heart or bone problems, though some are healthy. See cat coat colors and patterns for more on coat genetics, and tortoiseshell cats for the closely related pattern without large white areas.

Are calico cats lucky?

Many cultures regard calicos as lucky. In Japan, the calico is the model for the maneki-neko, the beckoning cat, and in the United States the cat is associated with good fortune. Sailors once considered them lucky aboard ships. There is no scientific basis for luck, but the legends add to their appeal.

Personality: fact or myth?

Owners often describe calicos as spirited, feisty, independent and sometimes moody, a trait sometimes jokingly called tortitude (a term more often used for tortoiseshell cats). A few surveys of owners suggest that cats with certain coat colors, including calico, tortoiseshell and black-and-white cats, are reported to be more aggressive toward people in some situations, but studies are small, based on owner reports and cannot show that color causes behavior. Genes, early socialization, environment and individual temperament matter far more. See cat personality types.

Care

Calicos need the same care as any cat.

• Food. A complete and balanced diet in measured portions. See how much should I feed my cat.
• Grooming. Depends on coat length. See how to brush a cat and grooming longhaired cats.
• Vet care. Vaccines, dental care and checkups. See cat vaccination schedule.
• Spay or neuter. See when to spay or neuter a kitten.
• Sun protection. White areas, especially on the ears and nose, can burn and are at risk of skin cancer. See cancer in cats.
• Enrichment. Play, climbing and scratching. See indoor cat enrichment ideas.

Health

Calico cats have no special health risks tied to color. Health depends on the breed or mix. Male calicos may have Klinefelter syndrome, which can bring fertility problems and sometimes obesity, heart disease or weakened bones. Ask your vet about checkups if you have a male calico.

Finding a calico

Calicos are common in shelters. Choose a cat for its personality, not just its coat. See adopting a cat from a shelter and how to choose a kitten.

Calico, tortoiseshell and tabby: telling them apart

People often mix up the three most talked about patterns. A calico has large patches of white mixed with orange and black. A tortoiseshell has the orange and black blended with little or no white. A tabby has stripes or swirls, and some cats combine patterns, such as a calico with tabby striping inside the colored patches, which is called a caliby. Pale or washed-out versions of any of these are dilutes. If you are not sure which your cat is, look at the belly and legs first: wide white areas point to calico, while a mottled mix with no white points to tortoiseshell. None of this affects care, but it helps when you fill in adoption forms or talk to a vet about coat changes, such as new patches, thinning or skin that looks irritated.

When to see a vet

See a vet within a few days of adoption and whenever your cat seems unwell. Use the US vet directory to find a clinic.