Calico Cat - History, Facts, and Personality Traits

Calico Cat History

The calico cat is not a particular breed of cat. Instead, it is a coat pattern that by accident occurs in many breeds. Any cat breed that expresses a range of color patterns is known as a calico cat.

The origin of the calico cat is unknown, but it is believed that they originated from Egypt. From there, they have been brought down along with the Mediterranean to port cities in France, Spain, and Italy.

The tri-color effect of the fur or color variation has no specific historical background. However, patches’ interpretation determined domestic cats’ migration along a trade route in Northern African and Europe.

Since October 1, 2001, the calico has been Maryland’s official state cat. They were chosen as state cats because of their resemblance with the state insect and bird. Their tri-color pattern resembles the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly (the state insect) and Baltimore oriole (the state bird).

They typically have 25% to 75% white skin with prominent black and orange patches. Sometimes they have grey and cream color patches. Furthermore, the patches could be of any color, i.e., any combination of three colors in its pattern.

Calico Cat Genetics

Genetically, they are tortoiseshells in every way; however, they also express a white spotting gene. Furthermore, there is an anomaly that the bigger the white area, the less and bigger the ginger or tabby patches.

In 1940, the researchers seriously began to study calico cats. Murray Barr and his graduate students, Bertram, noticed drumstick-shaped dark masses in nerve cells’ nuclei. They noticed these masses in female cats, but not in the male cats. These drumstick-shaped dark masses became commonly known as Barr Bodies.

Susumu Ohno, a Japanese cell biologist, examined the Barr bodies in 1959 and determined that they were X chromosomes. Later in 1961, Mary Lyon introduced the concept of X-inactivation. It is a concept in which one of the two X chromosomes inside a female mammal shuts off. Mary observed this characteristic in the coat color pattern in the mice.

Female placental mammals have two X chromosomes, while male placental mammals have an X chromosome and a Y chromosome. The locus of the gene for the orange/non-orange coloring is on the X chromosome.

Since the males have XY sex chromosomes and the Y chromosome has nothing to do with any locus for the orange gene. Hence, the male cannot have both orange and non-orange genes together. That is what it takes to create a calico coloring or tortoiseshell, and therefore, most calico cats are female. Male calico cats are very rare and only occur as a result of genetic anomaly.

One exception is that some faulty cell division may leave an extra X chromosome in gametes that produce the male cat. This condition is known as Klinefelter syndrome or XXY. This particular combination of chromosomes results in calico coloration in male cats.

Calico Cat Personality Traits

Calico shares personality traits with tortoiseshell cats, also known as “Tortitudes.” They are independent, spunky, and sassy. On the contrary, calicos are loyal, loving, and sweet cats. Calico cats are well known for their caring and loving nature.

There is a long list of cat breeds that do not accept calicos. Calicos are not allowed in solid color cats, i.e., British Shorthair, Russian Blue, or the Bombay. They are also not allowed in pointed breeds, i.e., Himalayan or the Siamese.

Calicos are commonly found in Scottish fold breeds, Maine Coon, Manx, Persian, and many other cats. Many of the breed standards allow tabby patches in their calicos. In Japanese Bobtails, calico is the most popular color pattern.

Calico Cat Price

Calico is not a breed but a color pattern of any breed. Therefore, their prices vary according to the cat breed they belong to. On average, the price for a calico cat ranges between $400 to $2000. If you want to buy a calico cat, you need to do some searching just like you do for any specific breed.

Adopting a calico from a shelter home costs less than purchasing. The average cost of adopting a calico ranges between $60 to $125. And if you want to have a pure breed calico, you will have to expect a high price to pay. Moreover, male calicos are rare compared to females, so they are more expensive than female calico.

However, the cost of calico is determined by which breed the cat belongs to. Sex, age, whether it pure breed or mixed breed, also weigh in when it comes to the cost of calico. Indeed, adult cats cost more than kittens, and so is the popular color combination.

All in all, the calico cats are worth every penny because they are not just beautiful but rare as well. The price chart given below will give you an idea of how much you should expect to pay for a calico cat.

Calico Cat Lifespan

Just like the cost, there is no specific life expectancy of a calico cat. The average life expectancy of calico cats can be determined by the cat breed they belong to. They do not have a standard lifespan as they are not a specific cat breed.

However, the average lifespan of any type of calico cat is about 12-16 years, which is the average for almost all cat breeds. Being calico does not affect the longevity of a cat's life; they will live up to the average lifespan of the breed they belong to.

Cat Breeds That Can Be Calico

As we've established, calico is a pattern and not an entirely new breed. So that means any cat can be calico! With many popular breeds having the chance to produce this tricolored beauty, here are some of your more likely candidates:

• Maine coon
• Persian
• Turkish angora
• Norwegian forest cat
• Manx
• American bobtail
• Selkirk rex
• American wirehair
• American curl
• American shorthair
• American longhair
• Devon Rex
• Japanese bobtail
• Cornish Rex
• Sphynx

Interesting Facts About Calico Cats

People usually love kittens because of their beauty, and loving, and caring nature. However, no one can deny the unique beauty of calico cats. In addition to the tri-colored beautiful coat, these cats come with some interesting facts.

Learn some amazing facts about these colorful and generous kitties.

• Calico cats bring luck.

  Calico cats are considered a good luck charm all over the world. People all around the globe believe that they bring good luck. Believes and folklore about calicos includes:

  In the United States, they are known as money cats because people believe that they bring good fortune to the owner.

  According to Irish folklore, calico can cure warts. Irish believe that if you rub the cat’s tail on the infected area only during May, warts will be healed.

  It is also said that Japanese fishers brought calico in the ship to protect themselves from ghosts and heavy storms.

• Calico cats are famous figurines.

  Maneki Neko is a famous Japanese figurine, also known as the lucky cat. It is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. This figurine depicts a seated cat, traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail with one upright paw. It is thought that the calico figurine attracts prosperity, wealth, and good luck.

• The calico cat is not a breed.

  There is a misconception that the calico cat is a unique breed, but that is just a myth. The calico cat is not a breed but rather a variant colored coat. Any cat breed can have calicos.

• Calico cats do not share personality traits.

  As calico cats do not belong to any specific cat breed, they do not share any personality traits. They inherit the personality traits of the breed they belong to. The average lifespan also varies greatly.

• They cannot be bred.

  Calico cats cannot be bred because of their unique genetic makeup. Nature produces these generous, beautiful, and colorful kitties randomly.

• More than 90% of Calico cats are female.

  Due to some genetic factors, most of the calico cats are female. Male calico cats are very rare. Male calicoes are just one in a hundred.

• There are variations of calico cats.

  There are three different variations of calico coloring:

  1. The standard calico coloring is a combination of white, black, and orange. The cat has a white coat with small or big patches of orange and black.
  2. A dilute calico is a combination of white, charcoal grey, light orange, and cream color. The coat is white with cream, light orange, and charcoal grey patches.
  3. The third variation, calibby, is a mixture of calico and tabby cats. Calibby has the same color variation as the standard calico with the addition of signature tabby stripes.

Calico Cat as an Emotional Support Animal

As calico cats do not belong to any specific breed, you can choose your favorite cat breed calicos. The famous cat breeds that allow calico cats are Turkish Angora, Scottish Fold, Persian, and Norwegian Forest Cat. Maine Coon, Japanese Bobtail, Exotic Shorthair, Devon Rex, Cornish Rex, British Shorthair, and American Shorthair also allow calico cats.

The calico cats are very rare, especially male ones. And, they are considered the good luck charm, so they can be a great ESA. They are feistier and more talkative than an average kitten. They are also very demanding, temperamental, independent, and allegedly strong-willed.

Their loving, sweet, and loyal nature make them a perfect option for an ESA. If you hunger for unconditional love, a calico will happily and willingly fulfill that need.

So, if you need an Emotional support cat, just ask your mental health professional to provide you a valid ESA letter. Before getting the letter, you need to decide which cat breed you want as your ESA. Choose any calico cat breed from the breeds mentioned above and make it your ESA.