Calico cats are one of the most popular types of cat, boasting a range of beautiful patterns and colors. In this article, we will reveal more than 25 calico cat facts about these beautiful cats and show you the story behind their unique patterns.
You really can say that no two calico cats are alike.
What some people don’t know is that these divine, tri-colored felines we take for granted have some unusual quirks. Over the years, people have seen them as lucky mascots or able to cure warts. One famous calico cat even became a stationmaster!
Here are some of the things you can find out in this article:
You won’t look at your calico cat in the same way once you see these awesome feline facts.
You’ll notice that we now have more than 25 facts! That’s because we updated the article in response to reader comments and questions.
The most important thing to remember about Calico kitties is that they are not a separate breed. Calico coloration can happen in most breeds, even hairless cats.
So, before we give you the fascinating facts, we should look at one important question. Are calico and tortoiseshell cats the same? They sure look similar!
Are Calico Cats and Tortoiseshell Cats the Same?
People sometimes mix up calico cats with tortoiseshells. It’s a really easy mistake to make. Both cats come in such a wide range of colors that they can look exactly the same.
A calico cat always has three colors in its coat, something that we call tricolor. For a cat to be truly calico, this must include white.
Some calicos are almost all white, while others only have small white patches. These differences are what makes every calico cat so unique and gorgeous.
Tortoiseshell cats always have two colors, usually red/ginger and black/brown, although other colors are possible. Sometimes, torties can have orange or yellow patches instead of red. The dark patches can be grey, blue, or chocolate.
Calico cats and torties can have tabby patches.
Just to make things confusing, outside the US, some people call calicos ‘tortoiseshell and white cats.’ Maybe that is where the confusion comes from!
If you want to go all scientific, your humble calico’s colors are down to its genes.
Some people’s eyes glaze over when you talk science, but don’t worry. You don’t need to know about the genetics and can simply skip to the interesting facts.
So, now for a little cat biology!
Calico Cat Genetics
The reason that cats have colored coats is because they have melanocytes in their skin, and these contain color pigments. We have melanocytes, too. They make your skin go darker when you develop a suntan.
The color these melanocytes give is all down to a cat’s genes, which contain a blueprint for coat color. The color genes are on something called the X chromosome. Females have two of these, which we call XX.
For cats, the colors black and orange are found on the X chromosome. Because female cats have two X chromosomes, if they have a black gene on one and orange on the other, you will get a mixed color tortoiseshell.
Tricolor cats are more complex, because they have another gene on the X chromosome for white patches. If a cat has all three genes, it will be calico.
The white gene is usually dominant over the color genes, so the amount of white on a calico cat can vary.
What About Male Cats?
If we go back to our genetics lesson, instead of XX, male cats have XY chromosomes. The Y chromosome doesn’t have any color genes, so males are rarely tortoiseshell or calico.
Males can have color and white on their X chromosome, of course.
Interstingly, a rare condition means that a few boy cats can be calico. We will look at male calico cats later.
With the science lesson over, we can delve into our fun calico cat facts.
Fantastic Calico Cat Facts
You’ve likely seen the distinctive tri-colored pattern of the fluffy calico cat, but you might not know all the unique traits of these fabulous felines.
Not only are Calico cats gorgeous, they have some unique characteristics.
In this article, we are going to explore 30 of the most fascinating calico cat facts!
One – There Is No Such Thing As A Calico Cat!
Did you know there’s no such thing as calico cat breeds? Really!
Well, then, what is a calico cat?
Let us clarify things. The term calico refers to the tri-color coat on the cat. Furthermore, a number of different breeds can have the calico’s signature orange, black, and white hues, and all of these are still called calico!
A calico pattern is mainly white with spots of orange and black, meaning that you can have all types of calico cats.
You can have a calico tabby, an American shorthair calico, a muted calico, a calico Persian cat, or even a longhaired calico cat! One of the most popular is the American Shorthair Calico.
Two – Gentle American Shorthair Calicos
The American Shorthair calico is a variety of the much-loved American shorthair cat breed.
Shorthairs are renowned for their kind nature and their ability to mix with kids and other pets.
It’s no wonder that many owners love this variety of calico cat.
If you want something more exotic, Persian cats can be calico, too.
Three – Exotic Persian Calico Cats
Calico Persian cats have the distinctive Persian look, complete with the fabulous calico color scheme!
Although they are lovely cats in terms of appearance and temperament, the Persian breed does have some health problems potential owners need to consider.
We recommend some research before adopting any Persian cat so that you are fully prepared.
If you are thinking of buying a calico Persian cat, then check out this article to find out more.
Most people love Persians because of the long hair. Of course, most longhaired breeds can be calico.
You are spoiled for choice!
Four – Divine Longhaired Calico Cats
Persian cats are one of the breeds that can produced longhaired calico cats. But, they are, by no means, the only one!
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A long and luscious calico coat can be absolutely divine.
While longhaired calico cats are beautiful, they need a little more care.
You’ll need to groom your longhaired calico kitty at least a couple of times a week, and potentially have to deal with a few more furballs too!
You can find some lovely long haired cat breeds in this article
Most kitties love grooming, especially if you give them a tasty treat afterwards, and it can strengthen the bond between you and your cat. Grooming time is never wasted time!
For all you shorthair cat lovers, they usually love grooming time, too! Don’t make them feel left out!
Now, let’s look at some of the different calico cat colors, starting with something called dilute calico.
Five – Dilute Calico Coats
You might have a calico cat that has muted, pastel colors.
It looks like it has been painted in watercolors!
We call these dilute calico cats, where the term ‘dilute’ simply refers to the vibrancy of the colors.
A dilute cat’s coat is paler and has gray/blue instead of black, and cream or gold instead of red and chocolate. These light calicos are common and just as beautiful
Like almost all calico kitties, they are almost always girls.
Six – Are All Calico Cats Female?
Are all calico cats female? Yep, pretty much.
Almost every calico kitty is a girl!
How does this happen? It’s all in the calico cat genetics. If you really want to go into it, we talked about it earlier.
You can find out all about how they work in this interesting article
You may be asking why we said ‘almost all.’ If some calicos are male, how many?
Seven – How Many Male Calico Cats Are There?
So if almost all calico cats are girls, then how many are male?
Well, it’s thought that the figures lie somewhere in the range of 1 in 3,000 calico kittens!
If we go back to the cat genetics, a male calico cat has XXY chromosomes instead of the normal XY.
To give the technical name, this is called Klinefelter syndrome.
Can this create other problems such as sterility?
Eight – Is My Male Calico Cat Sterile?
So, we know male calico cats are very rarely born.
Which, logically, leads to the question: are calico cats sterile when they’re male?
Unfortunately, the answer is ‘Yes!’ For the male calico cat in question, he’ll be almost assured of being sterile and cannot breed.
Talking of breeding, if you love calicos, can you breed them?
Nine – Calicos Are A Happy Accident
The simple answer is ‘no.’ Again, due to genetics, it is difficult to breed cats and end up with your beloved calicos.
You can’t ever plan a purely calico litter, so treat them as a happy accident!
Fortunately, this makes every calico unique and something to be treasured.
Ten – Every Calico Kitty Is Unique
We already talked about the calico patterns and pointed out that they vary widely. Every calico cat has its own markings.
This uniqueness also extends to personality.
The calico cat temperament and calico cat behavior can be as distinct, and as different, as any individual cat.
Because calico is a color pattern and not a calico breed type, there aren’t any common calico cat traits.
They’re all unique.
However, one interesting study showed that people assign personalities to different cats based upon their colors.
As a result, some people see calicos as more aloof and intolerant than other cat breeds, although there is no evidence to back this up! It’s just to do with people’s perceptions.
That said, it is still possible to find a calico with the temperament you want.
Remember, we said that calicos can be almost any breed of cat. Handily, that means you can look for a breed that has the personality traits you want.
Eleven – Can I Choose A Calico Cat Personality?
One way to predict the calico cat temperament is to buy a calico cat from a specific breed.
Therefore, a purebred Persian calico cat will have a temperament in line with her parents and grandparents. Likewise, the same will be true for an American Shorthair calico cat.
Of course, finding a furry friend with the right calico cat personality is never exact, but the unpredictability is one of the things that we cats lovers adore most about our furry buddies.
We have given you some great information about your calico, so how about some wacky calico kitty facts. Here are some things that you won’t believe!
Twelve – Maryland Loves Calico Cats
Calicos are the official cat of the state of Maryland!
They were chosen because their coloring is reminiscent of the state bird (and baseball team!), the Baltimore Orioles.
Maybe they can pass some of their legendary luck onto the baseball team!
Thirteen – Lucky Calico Cats
Had a bad streak? Add a calico cat to your life.
Some cultures believe that these tri-colored beauties bring good luck. And, because they’re so rare, male calicos are considered extra lucky!
Many cultures see calico cats as a blessing that brings money or even helps them catch fish.
Fourteen – Calico, The Money Cat
Nicknamed the Money Cat, calicos were said to bring extra high fees to their breeders.
Oops…the genetics tell us this is just an Old Wives’ Tale, because it is impossible to breed a calico cat purposefully.
Today, a calico cat price can vary from “free to a good home” to $100 or more.
Of course, the price can be much higher for pedigree breeds.
Mind you, calicos are said to attract wealth. Maybe your calico kitten will make you rich! The Japanese certainly think so.
Fifteen – Japanese Beckoning Cats
You’ve likely seen a sweet, waving cat statue in the doorway of your favorite Japanese restaurant or business.
Although usually gold colored, these “beckoning cats” are based on a calico and are thought to bring wealth and good business.
Not content with that, the Japanese also think that calicos help them catch fish!
Sixteen – The Calico Fishing Cats
Japanese sailors and fishermen have long kept these felines on board their vessels as a talisman for safety and a bountiful catch.
We don’t have any idea if this is true, but we are sure that these calico ships’ cats have as much fish as they can eat.
Let’s look at something even more crazy. Some people believe that calico cats can cure warts!
Seventeen – Can Calicos Cure Warts?
Into natural remedies? Grab a calico cat!
Some people in Ireland believe that the calico’s tail will cure warts…if it’s rubbed on the wart…in the month of May.
Hmmm…we’re not buying it.
Old wives’ tales aside, where did calico cats come from? If so many cultures revere them and have beliefs, they must have a long and noble history.
Eighteen – Calicos And The Pharaohs
Some archaeologists and researchers tell us that calico cats likely originated in Egypt and worked their way across the continent. They were common in the ports of Ancient Greece and the Middle East before people took them everywhere.
Maybe that’s where the calico exotic shorthair comes from!
We are not sure if their Egyptian origins are true, but they have been around for a long time. Artists have included calico cats in paintings for hundreds of years.
We have looked at the history of calicos, but where does the name come from?
Why do we call them calico cats?
Nineteen – Where Does The Word ‘Calico’ Come From?
What is the calico definition? Originally, it was a type of fabric made in India, but the word soon spread.
Today, calico fabric is a small floral patterned print, often used by quilters. The calico may have gotten its name from this fabric, which has small patterns.
Now, the word calico has been used to name many other things.
Twenty – The Calico Crab
Guess what? People named the calico crab after the calico cat. The crab’s large, orange spots resemble the calico cat characteristics.
The crab lives in the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay.
Twenty-One – Calico Beans
Calico beans, a favorite recipe of old-time cooks, was named after the cat.
The dish features a trio of beans in a tomato based sauce with ground meat.
Twenty-Two – Calico Cat Names
What are some great names for calico cats?
Many owners like to choose a name that suits their coloring, while others will choose an old standby. Chloe, Bella, Lucy, and Angel are just four of the most common calico cat names.
You can find loads of great calico cat name choices here.
Twenty-Three – How Long Do Calico Cats Live For?
How long to calico cats live? Well, much like humans, the answer depends on their lifestyle and breed.
A healthy diet, plenty of exercise and lots of love will typically result in a 15-year calico cat lifespan.
Again, unfortunate for the rare male calico, he’ll likely live a much shorter life due to his unique genetic makeup.
You can find out all about cat lifespan in this article.
Twenty-Four – Calicos Are Gorgeous And We Want To Adopt One
Ready to bring a calico cat home? Here’s the best fact of all: your local rescue group or animal shelter is sure to have a few beauties to choose from.
And, we’re guessing you might have a hard time taking just one!
Twenty-Five – What Breeds Can Be Calico?
It’s almost easier to ask which breeds can’t be calico. Seriously, almost every type of cat you can think of can be a calico. That’s before we even look at our lovely mixed-breed moggies!
If we look at show breeds that are allowed to have calico coats, there are eleven:
- Manx
- British Shorthair
- Arabian Mau
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Japanese Bobtail
- Turkish Angora
- Siberian
- American Shorthair
- Turkish Van
- Exotic Shorthair
- Persian
Of course, these are just the recognized breeds. Mixed breed cats can be calico, too, and are just as gorgeous.
As with any cat, being aware of the breed can be useful because this means you will be aware of any potential health issues and dietary needs.
Knowing the breed means you will know the likely personality, size, and lifespan.
If you are not sure, ask your vet. They might be able to pinpoint the cat’s lineage.
Twenty-Six – A Cat of Many Names
We already learned that calicos come in many colors, such as white, black, and orange/ginger, or white, brown/chocolate, and orange. They can be dilute calicos, or they can be tabby. These tabbies are called ‘caliby’ cats.
Diluted calico cats can be called calamanco cats, or sometimes ‘clouded tiger,’ which we think is really neat!
Calicos can have different names around the world:
- Tri-color
- Brindle
- Tortoiseshell and white
- Tobi Mi-ke – ‘triple fur’ in Japanese
- Lapjeskat – ‘patches cat’ in Dutch
So, we have talked plenty about calicos, but are there any famous ones? You bet!
Twenty-Seven – Famous Calico Cats
Are there famous calico cats? Of course!
Instagram’s most famous tri-color cat, @pudgethecat, has more than 672,000 followers!
Twenty-Eight – The Calico Station Cat
One Japanese cat, Tama, became a famous stationmaster for Kishi train station in Japan. She was a stray cat regularly fed by the station manager and passengers.
When the station was due to be closed, in 2004, citizens protested and the station remained open, but the company cut the staff at all its stations to save money.
Instead, they chose people from local businesses to become stationmaster and greet passengers.
At Kishi Station, they chose Tama! Her job was to greet passengers, and she was paid with food.
Believe it or not, she became so famous that people made journeys just to see Tama. This led to an increase in the number of passengers and money for the local economy from ‘cat tourists!’
Now, after meeting Tama, a cat who helped people, did you know that calicos may actually save human lives.
Twenty-Nine – Calico Cats Could Save Lives
Unbelievably, calico cats have been very useful for studying human health.
Using calicos, scientists can study the difference between genders in mammals, and this may lead to advances in knowledge.
Who knows, maybe a geneticist studying calico cats might come up with a cure for some nasty disease.
Calico Cat Summary
So, in this article, updated with a few new fascinating calico cat facts, you have learned that there is more to calicos than meets the eye. Now, you know much more about the calico cat color and the calico cat personality. Furthermore, you understand which breeds can be calico, and the calico cat lifespan.
Hopefully, you will be able to find the perfect calico kitty to adopt. Who knows? Perhaps it will bring you good luck, just like in the legends!
Do you have any interesting calico facts to share or stories to tell? Let us know in the comments!
Further Reading and Resources
- Delgado, M.M. et al 2015 Human Perceptions of Coat Color as an Indicator of Domestic Cat Personality. Anthrozoos Journal.
- Stelow, E.A et al. 2015. The Relationship Between Coat Color and Aggressive Behaviors in the Domestic Cat. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.
- Centerwall, W.R. et al 1973. Male Tortoiseshall and Calico (T-C) Cats. Animal models of sex chromosome mosaics, aneuploids, polyploids, and chimerics. Journal of Heredity.
- Gould, Laura L. 2012. Cats are not Peas: A Calico History of Genetics.
- Cat Fanciers’ Association
- Calico Cat Names
- Cat Lifespan
- Are All Calico Cats Female?
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Ty I enjoyed the facts about the caicos I have 1 myself very beautiful and very distinct markings .but I learned a lot from this much appreciated
My siamese looking calico cat has beautiful deep blue eyes. She is gentle and loving and an adorable pet.
I had a beautiful long hair calico for 15 years. She was a gentle and loving cat who loved to play and be groomed. She had some unusual behavior such as hopping and flipping backwards. She was a well behaved cat unless she was bored!
Can’t Main Coons beCalico? I didn’t see that. Breed on the list.
I have 2 calico barn cats and 1 calico who stays in the house with us. My indoor calico interestingly is named Lucky.
Omg. We have a stray kitten cat thats been with us for about 6 weeks. She just turned up on our door step and decided to stay with us. Shes a calico cat and we named her Lucky. Shes so lovable and enjoys hanging around us. Cheers
I have heard of what is usually know as tortoiseshell cats called a black calico. Actually a vet in my town uses this name & I like the sound of it. Do you think it’s ok. To use this name?