#312 Tricolor Coat

Fun facts about calico cats and their beautifully unique coats…

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Calico cats are loved for their striking tricolor patterns and one-of-a-kind looks. Here are a few interesting facts behind that special coat:

1. Calico is not a breed, it refers to a coat color pattern.

• Their fur shows distinct patches of orange (or red), black (or gray), and white.

• This tricolor pattern can appear in many different cat breeds, as well as in mixed-breed cats.

2. 99.9% of calico cats are female. Male calico cats are very rare.

• The genes responsible for orange and black fur are found on the X chromosome.
  To display both colors, a cat needs two X chromosomes (XX) which typically are Female.

• Male cats usually have XY chromosomes, so they usually show only one of these colors. In rare cases, a male cat is born with XXY chromosomes, allowing the calico pattern to appear. These male calico cats are usually infertile.

3. Maneki neko (beckoning cats), traditional Japanese lucky charms, are usually calico Japanese bobtail cats with white, black, and orange markings.

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Reference

1. International Cat Institution

2. Japan Tourism Agency

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