The Calico cats they are small, with short hair and pearl to dark brown coats – earning them the nickname “Fox” because of their pointed muzzles! Whether readers have never heard of them before or not, hopefully, these ten facts will amaze them!
What is a Calico Cat?
Calico cats are a type of domestic cat that are typically around 25% to 75% white, with large patches of orange and black (or sometimes cream and grey, which is known as ‘muted calico’). The color patterns on calico cats are three colors and they are almost always females.
“Calico” is only a term used to describe the color pattern on a cat’s fur, not the cat’s breed. Among the breeds that have formal standards allowing calico coloration are the Manx cat, American Shorthair, Maine Coon, British Shorthair Persian cat, Arabian Mau Japanese Bobtail, Exotic Shorthair Siberian, Turkish Van and Norwegian Forest cat.
Colico colors
The genetics of the calico cats is responsible for giving the three colors in their coat to their female descendants, this has to do because each one of their feline type genes has X chromosomes that are the cause of the tricolor, only in females. In the case of males, the coloration is a genetic rarity because only one out of 3000 calico cats can be male and with the calico cat color that is so distinctive in this species.
In this aspect, the gene that determines the orange color of the coat and its variants (cream, cinnamon, brown, etc.) is related to the presence of the X gene that generates a diversity of colors in the feline.
What is the calico cat’s personality like?
Their personality is quite defined, they have a strong maternal instinct so they can be distrustful at first with those they don’t know, they usually hide in a place to look around when it comes to meet new people. However, once they get to know the person, they let themselves be petted for long periods of time, but avoiding annoying spots such as the belly or the back legs, they usually purr a lot, they also like to admire everything from the heights.
Personalities, characteristics and more about colico cats
1. Why are they called Colico Cats?
The Colico cat is a breed of domestic cat originating from the city of Colico, Chile. The cats are named after their place of origin.
2. What are their physical characteristics?
The Colico cat is a medium-sized cat with a short, dense coat. They have large, pointed ears and long tails. Their eyes are typically green, but can also be blue or amber.
3. What is their temperament like?
They are known to be very affectionate. They love to cuddle and be close to their human companions. They are also very playful and active and enjoy chasing toys and climbing on furniture.
4. Do they get along well with other animals?
Yes, Colico cats get along well with other animals. They are not known to be aggressive or territorial.
5. How long do they live?
Colicó cats usually live between 12 and 15 years.
6. Not a breed
The term calico only refers to the shades that are present on their body, and although the colors mentioned above are the most common, they can also come in brown, red, gray or cream.
7. Most are females
99% Of this condition occurs in females because their chromosomes determine their color variation. Only one in 3000 calico cats are male and they are usually sterile or have a short life expectancy.
8. They are said to be lucky
Because they are rare and unrepeatable felines, some cultures consider them good luck, they are known as “money cats” because they are said to bring good fortune with their presence.