The calico kitten, despite the common misconception that it is an actual breed of cat, actually refers to the pattern of coloring on the kitten’s fur. The fur is usually mostly white, but also contains patches of orange and black. The coloration is the result of the development of a gene while the kitten is still an embryo that is known as the, “white spotting factor,” which slows the movement of cells across the developing kitten’s body. The development of a calico kitten in any given litter is entirely random.
Almost all calico kittens are female. This is the result of the necessary coloration genes being located on the X chromosome. The Y chromosome does not contain the necessary genetic information to influence the coloring. That is not to say that the male calico kitten is a genetic impossibility, but the few that are born tend to be sterile due to the XXY pattern necessary for their coloring to exist. In humans, the XXY chromosomal condition is known as, “Klinefelter Syndrome.”
When the coloration genes in the kitten are black and orange, the result is a calico kitten. On the other hand, when the genes in question are blue and cream, the end result is what is known as a muted calico. The coloration of a muted calico is rather different than that of typical calico kittens. Rather than the standard white coat with orange and black patches, you will instead have a coat that is white with patches of blue-grey and cream.
In many cultures, calico cats are considered to be a source of good luck. The Japanese Maneki Neko figure is usually a calico, but other colorings are used on occasions. The state of Maryland has even declared the calico to be their state cat.
Some people tend to think that calico kittens and tortoiseshell kittens are the same thing, but this is not the case. Tortoiseshell cats contain mixes of coloring that cover pretty much the entire coat, rather than being predominantly white, as is the case with the calico kitten. Some, “torties,” contain a large amount of white coloring, further confusing the distinction, but the defining quality of calico cats is the tendency for them to develop large, distinct patches of color instead of a mottled appearance.
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