Definition of a Calico Cat
From Wikipedia:
“A calico cat is a domestic cat of any breed with a tri-color coat. The calico cat is most commonly thought of as being typically 25% to 75% white with large orange and black patches (or sometimes cream and grey patches); however, the calico cat can have any three colors in its pattern.
They are almost exclusively female except under rare genetic conditions. Calico is not to be confused with a tortoiseshell, which has a mostly mottled coat of black/orange or grey/cream with relatively few to no white markings.
In the province of Quebec, Canada, they are sometimes called chatte d’Espagne (French for ‘(female) cat of Spain’). Other names include brindle, tricolor cat, mikeneko (Japanese for ‘triple fur cat’), and lapjeskat (Dutch for ‘patches cat’); calicoes with diluted coloration have been called calimanco or clouded tiger. Occasionally, the tri-color calico coloration is combined with a tabby patterning; this calico-patched tabby is called a caliby.”
Did You Know?
- Calico refers to a colour or pattern of a cat’s fur; it is not a breed.
- 99.9% of calico cats are female. The possibility of a male calico exists but is rare.
- Calico cats are considered to be lucky. Calicos were said to protect sailors from storms and any angry spirits on board.
- The calico cat is the state cat of Maryland, USA because it has the same colouring as the Baltimore Oriole, Maryland’s official state bird.
- Calico cats cannot be bred for the colour; they are produced randomly.
- Calico cats share the personality trait of tortoiseshell cats – tortitude (spunky and sassy)
MANEKI NEKO
This calico bobtail is also known as lucky cat, fortune cat and money cat. You have likely seen this figureine sometime in a shop.
From Litter-Robot.com:
The colours of the figurine all have meaning:
Calico attracts good luck, wealth and prosperity
White attracts happiness and purity of thought and action
Gold attracts wealth and prosperity
Black protects against negative energy and wards off evil
Red protects against evil and illness
Pink attracts love and romance
Green increases concentration
Blue attracts peace, harmony and happiness for family members
Tortoiseshell vs Calico Cat
Genetically they are similar. Calico cats have distinctive patches of solid color whereas tortie colours are interwoven. Below, on the left, is a tortoiseshell kitten. On the right is a calico kitten.
