![]() Male calico cats do exist and are often the result of a disorder called Kinefelter’s syndrome in which they have an extra chromosome – XXY – and are generally sterile. A single X-chromosome offers either black or orange coloration, but not both, therefore making it very rare for males to be calico. Males, with their XY-chromosomes, only have one X that is able to show these traits (Y-chromosomes don’t contain any coat coloration genes). Since female cats, like people, have two X-chromosomes, they are much more likely to display the calico coloration. If you’re new to calico cats, you might be surprised to find they are…īecause the orange and black patch colorings are located on the X-chromosome, the majority of calico cats are female. When it comes to our patchy calico cats, there are some fun facts to learn. They can keep each other company as well as help each other stay fit and exercised.Calico cats are recognized for their unique coat pattern, but there are many more interesting things about them than one may realize.Īll cats are alluring individuals, each with their own special looks and personalities, but some coat colors have a bit of a history. Bonded pairs have a hard time getting adopted, but they have twice the amount of love to give. If you don’t currently have a cat, consider adopting a bonded pair of adult cats. While the staff may not be able to tell you exactly how a cat will act in your home, they may be able to guide you toward a cat they think will be a great fit. Keep in mind that the shelter is a terrifying place for most animals, and some may act completely shut down or aggressive in the shelter when they are amazingly sweet, affectionate and outgoing in a home. Let the adoption staff know about your home, activity level and if you have other pets, as many staff members will know the cats in their care exceptionally well. When choosing your new cat, be sure to base your choice on more than coat color. This is extremely rare, but it has occurred. This is referred to as a “chimera:” during the merge, one of the DNA strands can determine the coat color, while the other determines the reproductive organs. For a male calico to be able to reproduce they would have to have two double cells XXYY, which, as you can imagine, is very rare.Īnother way that a male cat can be a calico is through two fetuses merging in the mother’s womb. 1 in 10,000 male calicos are able to reproduce, but their genetic materials can be problematic due to their extra chromosomes. ![]() The first is that almost all male calicos are sterile. If you are one of the few people who ends up with a male calico, there are a few things you should know. The XXY gene sequence can cause health conditions such as weak muscles, slow growth and hormone imbalances and is referred to as Klinefelter’s syndrome. This extra X would be reproduced in all the cells, and if one of the Xs has the orange gene and one has the non-orange, the resulting kitten could be a male calico. In some rare cases, however, faulty cell division can cause an extra X chromosome. To get a calico coat, the kitten must have both an orange and a non-orange X chromosome, which one would assume means that all calicos are female. This means that the father of the kittens determines the gender. Each parent contributes one chromosome to a litter of kittens. The orange/non-orange coat color is carried on the X chromosome of a cat. The reason for this is completely genetic. While the large majority of calicos are female, one in 3,000 are male. It’s commonly thought that calico cats are female, but that’s not actually the case. ![]() This coat pattern is entirely unique and you will never find two calicos with the exact same markings. Many people believe that “calico” is used to describe a breed, but it is actually a coat color that can be found in many different breeds. Calico cats have arguably one of the most beautiful coats in all of the feline world.
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