It is these X chromosomes that carry the data that defines the coat colour of any given cat, and if a female cat carries one X chromosome for a ginger colour the other for a black colour, and lyonization occurs, which is a process by which one of the two colour expressions become inactivated in each of the two X chromosomes, the coat pattern that the cat displays will take on the signature patched or mixed calico or tortie pattern, which is known as mosaic expression. Male cats carry an X and a Y chromosome, whilst females carry two X chromosomes. The colour distribution and patterning that is calico or tortie comes down to the cat’s genetics. This comes down to the genetics that lead to the calico and tortie colours, which we will cover below. Whilst male torties and calico cats do exist, they are much rarer, and are usually sterile, and often, have problems with their vision. If you spot a calico or a tortie out and about and want to impress your friends, tell them that the cat is female- you will have a better than 99% chance of being correct! However, when the names are used correctly, tortoiseshell is the term used to refer to both a two-colour cat for whom one of the colours is not white (normally ginger and black or grey) or a three-coloured cat whose dominant coat colour is black or dark grey, usually with ginger and white.Ĭalico is the colour name given to a three-colour cat whose dominant colour is white or light grey, accompanied by two other colours, commonly ginger and black or dark grey. The term calico is one that is much more widely used in the USA than it is here, where often, the name tortie or tortoiseshell is used for all cats with a three-colour coat. The distribution of the pattern and amount of each colour in the coat is random, and can vary widely from cat to cat! The difference between calico and tortoiseshellįirst of all, it is worth noting that the terms tortoiseshell and calico are often used interchangeably, particularly in the UK. All calico and tortoiseshell cats come in a combination of at least two colours, of which one is not white, or three colours if white is included-the most common three-colour combination is white, ginger, and black or grey, whilst two-colour cats are commonly ginger and black or grey. What makes a cat a calico or a tortoiseshell (tortie for short!) comes down to the colour and pattern distribution across their coats. Read on to learn more! Tortoiseshell and calico colouring Most popular puppies for sale All puppies for sale Akita for sale American Bulldog for sale American Bully for sale Beagle for sale Belgian Shepherd Dog for sale Bichon Frise for sale Border Collie for sale Border Terrier for sale Boxer for sale Cane Corso for sale Cavachon for sale Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for sale Cavapoo for sale Chihuahua for sale Chow Chow for sale Cockapoo for sale Cocker Spaniel for sale Dachshund for sale Dobermann for sale Dogue De Bordeaux for sale English Bull Terrier for sale English Bulldog for sale English Springer Spaniel for sale French Bulldog for sale German Shepherd for sale Golden Retriever for sale Goldendoodle for sale Hungarian Vizsla for sale Jack Russell for sale Jackapoo for sale Labradoodle for sale Labrador Retriever for sale Lurcher for sale Maltese for sale Maltipoo for sale Miniature Dachshund for sale Miniature Schnauzer for sale Old Tyme Bulldog for sale Patterdale Terrier for sale Pomeranian for sale Pug for sale Rottweiler for sale Shar Pei for sale Shih Tzu for sale Siberian Husky for sale Sprocker for sale Staffordshire Bull Terrier for sale Toy Poodle for sale Whippet for sale Yorkshire Terrier for saleīoth tortoiseshell and calico coloured cats are rather interesting for a lot of reasons, not least that this particular colour trait tends to be seen in female cats only, and of course that these colours and patterns are very pretty and appealing! In this article, we will share seven interesting and informative facts about tortoiseshell and calico cats, to help you to develop a better understanding of the traits of this colourway, and how it occurs.
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