Calico Kittens: Everything You Need to Know
UPDATED MARCH 25, 2024 | CAT LOVE
By Sarah Miller
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With butterscotch, chocolate, and vanilla swirls, calico cats are the showstoppers of the feline world. With such a distinctive pattern, we may think calico cats are a specific type of cat, but they aren’t a breed at all. Many types of cat breeds (American Shorthair, Japanese Bobtail, and Persian to name a few) can have the signature calico cat markings. In other words, your calico kitten can come from a wide variety of genes!
Interestingly, a calico cat’s three-toned fur almost always corresponds with being female. Calico’s are 99.99% female due to the X chromosome determining the cat’s colouring. ‘XX’ (female chromosomes) means multiple colours can show up, while ‘XY’ (male) means usually only one colour can be present. Due to this anomaly, only one out of every 3,000 calico cats are born male.
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Though no one has records of where calico cats officially originated, they’re said to have been discovered first in Egypt. Cats with the orange colour gene can be traced back to Mediterranean ports such as those in Spain or Greece, suggesting that travellers brought these cats with them on ships back to other parts of Europe including the UK.
Outside of Europe, the wondrous calico is popular too, no more so than in the USA. In fact, calico cats are the official state cat of Maryland!
Calico Kitten Facts
Sometimes, your calico kitten may be confused with a tortoiseshell cat, (or ‘tortie’ for short.) They both tend to have brown and orange fur, but calico cats will have a lot of white colouring as well. Here are some important facts when doing research on your new calico kitten.
Size Small to large. Calico cats aren’t breed-specific, so they range dramatically in weight and size. They’ve been seen to weigh as little as under 2 kg and up to 3.6 kg for smaller breeds, or 4 to 5.5 kg for much larger breeds like the Maine Coon. Note that these weights are based entirely on female varieties, as male calico cats are very rare.
Breed Characteristics According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, 16 cat breeds that can result in the calico pattern are recognised. This means the breed characteristics for calico cats vary widely, but the colouring remains the same. The main colours are orange, brown and white, white being the central colour. The colours come in a wide variety of shades including tans, gingers, and darker browns as well.
Temperament Like most cats, calico kittens can be equal parts affectionate and fiercely independent. As a kitten, they should vary between being playful and energetic, while also sleeping for long periods of time. All cats have their own unique personalities, and reading up on breed temperament will only tell part of the story of your new furry friend.
Grooming and Health Needs Like many cats, depending on the type of fur, brushing your calico cat out weekly is recommended. Because of their unique fur patterns, be sure to check their skin closely for skin issues such as rashes or fleas, as it’s harder to spot under the patterned fur.
In general, calico cats are healthy when they are female. Check with your veterinarian specifically about what you can expect with your female calico cat.
However, If you happen to have a highly rare male calico cat, they may be diagnosed with something called Klinefelter’s Syndrome. This is due in part to their XXY chromosomes that are present. This syndrome leads to weak bones, developmental issues, and abnormal weight gain.
Training When you first get your calico kitten, it’s important to train them
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