Last updated Apr 13, 2023
Whether you’re thinking about getting a cat yourself or not, you’ve probably come across the wonderful calico at some point. Who hasn’t?
What Makes Calico Cats So Special?
Calico cats have an air of mystery about them along with a rich history, not to mention their unique appearance…
But what really makes calico cats so special?
They aren’t even a breed of cat! Calicos get their name from the coloration of their coat!
In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about calico cats, along with 10 fun facts about them. Let’s dive in!
Calico Cat Appearance
Because calico cats are not a breed unto themselves, calicoes will have unique and varied personalities influenced by a wide range of factors.
Calicoes are often described as the world’s most colorful cats. After all, they are one of the only cats to exhibit such a wide range of color variations in its coat.
The calico is not a breed of cat but a domestic cat with a variety of genetic color variations.
The most common calico is a tri-color pattern of orange, black, and white. It is possible, however, to have a calico pattern with shades of cream, red, blue-black, and even chocolate brown.
Calicoes with less intense coloration are known as dilute calico cats. They are primarily white in color with patches of light color ranging from blue-gray to cream to strawberry blonde.
You can find calico cats across many distinct breeds with the exception of solid-color and pointed breeds like the Bombay, Russian Blue, British Shorthair, Siamese, and Himalayan. Because calico cats occur across so many different cat breeds, it’s sometimes hard to tell whether the cat is a calico or actually a tortoiseshell.
The best way to tell is to examine the calico patches.
A tortoiseshell cat usually has the primary colors (red and black) woven throughout the coat while a calico will have distinctive solid-colored patches (like black patches or white patches).
Some of the breeds you can find in calico appearance include Maine Coon, Manx, Persian, American Shorthair, Japanese Bobtail, Siberian, and more.
Personality and Behavior
Calico cats aren’t a breed unto themselves, so we can’t assign breed-specific personality or behavioral traits to them. Like many cats, calicoes will develop their unique personalities according to many factors, such as socialization and life experiences.
Because calico cats are so different from one another, it’s particularly exciting to get one.
You could get a laid-back, mellow cat that enjoys being around you and wants to be your loyal companion.
You could also get the opposite: an aloof, high-maintenance cat with an attitude.
That being said, many calico owners report that their cats share a similar personality with tortoiseshell cats – they called it “tortitude.”
Torties are known for being spunky, sassy, and independent by nature. Calico cats may share these characteristics but, like we mentioned, you never quite know what you’re going to get. Plus, calico cats can’t be bred, so they’re even less likely to share common characteristics.
Mysterious Genetics
The genetics of calico cats are quite fascinating and have long been the topic of scientific research. We could really get into the weeds about these genetics, but your eyes might glaze over. So, we’ll keep this as short and simple as possible.
The black and orange patches of fur that characterize these cats are a result of the genetic phenomenon called “X-chromosome inactivation”.
In cats, the gene that dictates fur color is located on the X chromosome. Nearly all calico cats are female, so they have two X chromosomes. The rare male calico cats have one X and one Y chromosome.
In addition to determining a cat’s coat color, X chromosomes have numerous genes that code for proteins that are necessary for survival.
With females having two X chromosomes, this double dose of ‘survival’ genes could be toxic. To compensate for this double dose, one of the X chromosomes is randomly inactivated when the calico kitten is just a tiny ball of cells in the mother’s womb.
Thus, if the X chromosome carrying the gene for white fur in one particular spot of the body is inactivated, the orange gene might become active in that spot instead (and vice versa). Because the deactivated chromosomes are chosen randomly, the combination of fur colors in calico cats is also random and unique for every calico cat.
You could have a orange tabby with calico patches of white fur or black fur just as easily as a black cat with calico patches of white and orange fur.
Health and Lifespan
While the rare male calico may encounter some health issues and have shorter life expectancies, female calico cats are just as healthy as cats with other coat patterns, with an average lifespan of 12 to 16 years.
The average lifespan of calico cats is 12 to 16 years. Is this more or less than the average lifespan for most cat breeds?
Yes and no. It depends if the calico cat is male or female.
Male calicoes tend to live shorter lives than female calicoes because of a genetic condition called Klinefelter’s Syndrome. This syndrome is the presence of two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome – in other words, a male calico cat has an extra X chromosome.
Klinefelter’s Syndrome can lead to numerous health problems, such as the increased risk of broken bones, joint pain, and diabetes. These health problems can result in shorter lifespans for male calicoes.
Regardless whether your cat is a male or female calico, you can help them have a good quality of life by providing them with good shelter, feeding them a nutritious diet, and providing quality veterinary care with the help of a solid pet health insurance plan.
How Rare Are Male Calico Cats?
Male calicoes are rare. A study by the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine estimated that only 1 in 3,000 calico cats are male.
The good news is that 99.9% of calico cats are female because of this unique genetic makeup. But put worries aside, because just like with any cat, a calico cat can live longer than average if provided the best health care along with a healthy and balanced diet.
Calico vs. Tortoiseshell Cats and Tabby Cats
All calico cats have tricolor coats, but these coats also come in other patterns, like tortoiseshell.
Calico cats aren’t the only cats with unique coat colors. Tortoiseshell cats (aka, torties) and tabby cats have them, too. It can be tricky to differentiate a calico from these other cats, so we’ll help you out.
Calico cats have three coat colors (white, orange, and black), while torties typically are bi-colored (marbled orange and black). Torties have very little white coat, which usually appears as small spots on the face, chest, or paws.
Tabbies have an unmistakable ‘M’ on their forehead. Calicoes don’t have this on their forehead, so that is an easy-to-spot difference between calicoes and tabbies. Also, tabbies have distinct tabby stripes, along with prominent ginger and black patches.
10 Fun Facts About Calico Cats
- Females dominate – The unique genetics of calico cats that determine coat color mean that 99.9% of calico cats are female cats. Remember, coat color is linked to female sex chromosomes (XX).
- Nearly all male calicoes are sterile– Male calicoes often have Klinefelter’s syndrome (XXY chromosomal makeup), a genetic condition that causes sterility, among many other health problems.
- They represent a state – Because of their color, calico cats were declared the official state cat of Maryland in 2001. A calico cat’s fur colors are a mixture of white, black, and orange, the same as feather colors of the Baltimore Oriole, which is Maryland’s state bird. Only two other states have state cats!
- Beckoning cat -The famous Beckoning cat character is based on a calico cat.
- Different names – Calico cats have different names in different cultures. For example, they are called “lapjeskat” in the Netherlands, which means “patched cat”, and “mi-ke” in Japan, which stands for “triple fur”.
- Lucky charm – Given their rarity, calico cats are known as lucky charms and signs of good luck around the world. People also believe that calico cats bring good fortune to the homes of families who adopt them. Another fun fact is that they are sometimes referred to as money cats in the United States. In the 1870’s, calico cats were declared an official symbol of fortune in Japan (Maneki-Neko).
- Calicoes are brave – A calico cat saved Japan’s railway station from being closed down. In 2007, the Kinokawa train station was about to be closed due to budget issues. As a last resort, the town sent a local calico cat to be station master, where she would greet passengers as they passed by. The calico cat became a celebrity, causing a 17% increase in station traffic. The calico cat’s good luck is indeed true.
- Calicoes are everywhere – Considering how rare calico cats are, they have really spread around the world. Calico cats were traced migrating along routes in Europe and Northern Africa. Even though they originated in Egypt, they were also found in cities along the Mediterranean, France, Italy, and Spain.
- You cannot breed them– You can’t breed a calico cat because they happen only by chance. This chance occurrence is why they are so rare and considered to be a lucky charm.
- They cure warts – While it’s just a rumor, it’s often believed that calico cats can cure warts. Rubbing warts against the tail of a calico cat in May is supposed to cure it. We are not sure if this is true, but we are sure that the cats probably don’t enjoy it!
Happen to have a calico cat? Know anyone who does? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Wish you could learn more about the genes that make your cat special? Cat DNA testing could be the answer. Click here to read our review of the Basepaws cat DNA test kit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all calico cats female?
Yes, for the most part. Because their coloring is linked to the X chromosome and cats with two X chromosomes (XX) are female, 99.9% of all calico cats are female. It is possible for a calico cat to be male, but it is exceedingly rare.
Can calico cats be male?
Though it is very rare, male calico cats do exist. Male calico cats are most likely to have a chromosomal abnormality that gives them two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome (XXY).
How long do calico cats live?
Calico is a coloration rather than a breed, so it’s difficult to say whether calico cats are different from other cats in terms of lifespan. Indoor calico cats generally live 12 to 16 years while outdoor cats have shorter lifespans around 7 to 9 years.
How rare are male calico cats?
According to a study conducted at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine, only 1 in every 3,000 calico cats is male. Because they are so rare, they are often considered good luck charms.
Are calico cats mean?
Owners of cats with sex-linked color patterns (like tortoiseshell or tortie cats) often report a higher frequency of aggression than owners of cats with other colors. Calico cats aren’t always “mean,” per se, but they do tend to be more independent than other cats.
Interesting facts! I own a beautiful calico but she is a very stressed out girl. She has suffered from bladder crystals, needing surgery, and gets urinary tract infections from stress. She tempermental, doesn’t get along with other cats, and has recently taken to marking her territory. I love her so much but she’s become a lot of work! Any advice!
We have a gorgeous calico & white female & she had a terrible case of bladder stones which had to be surgically removed. Our vet put her on prescription Science Diet C/D food (ultra low ash) & firmly instructed us that she must stay on this food for life or the stones will keep coming back. So far, so good. She thinks she is human & thrives when we are near her. She also nurses herself when she is really comfortable near us (like snuggled against us). If we leave her & travel for a few days, she stresses bad & throws up.
I have to assume that you’ve asked your vet, yes? I had a cat with similar urinary problems. There were certain things that helped a lot. First of all, vets told me to never fed him anything with fish in it. The more fish, the more Ash. And Ash clogs up the urinary track in and causes problems. Also, never ever let the kitty outside in the cold. Cold weather tends to make their little urethras retain urine and thus infections etc. As for the stones, some claim that certain Kitty treats can cause these. That might be a myth, but worth a try. If kitty is stressed when alone, you might want to get a kitten. A kitten doesn’t care if your cat likes other cats. A Kitten loves its way into any cat’s heart. ? good luck!
I’m sorry to hear your calico is prone to crystals. We just went through that with our male tabby so I can understand the stress. On the other hand, our calico is presenting our multi cat house hold with issues just in the last couple months. I found her during a TNR. She was the runt and is still tiny. I brought her in after mama was done feeding and she was funny and playful. Although they found gingivitis at time of spay, about 8 wks.. She joined our 3 kitty family and 6 months later we adopted 3 male and 1 female nursing kitties that lost mama from a car accident. Now we have 7. She’s been with all of us for 2.5 yrs. and recently 2 of the males (twins) and her just don’t get along and she’d rather be by herself. She never was one to play with the others, didn’t like bring held and only would come to me. She took up residence on top of our kitchen cupboards. 2 wks. ago we found she has not been using the cat box and refuses to. I’m cleaning out cupboards now that smell of ammonia. She seems depressed and sad. W e have no choice but to go against our life long commitment w/our cats and find her a one kitty owner. She’s not happy and I’m so sad and will wait it out to find that perfect home. She definitely has a different personality in all I described and others as well. I will write some suggestions for crystals in my next reply so this doesn’t become too long
This sounds like my cat Ziggy. She’s 6 years old.
Everything you said resembles her personality.
She has had a urinary track infection in the past, and does spray around her litter box.. I do believe it’s because of my other cat and their territory issues. She’s extreamly sensitive and cautious all the time. She only really gets along with my fiancé and I, no other people. We brought our 2nd cat in thinking she would have a friend and never be alone. But it has taken 3 years for them to just sit next to each other. They’re very finicky Creatures.
Try..my pet well being .com. Mypetwellbeing.com
New product to help the kidneys..ect.ll my veterinary..recommend codecept .. Preventative
I had my girl the only time she got.bladder was under stress we moved in with my neighbor and 1 if her cats stresed her our..although.we lived with other animals she was great..but tbis biy cat duked her and me with his paws he was like a boxer…
Tbe other thing bach flowers could calm her with tbe vet approved .rescue remedy will take stress off and its used when there in high strss situations..there are other flower essences to deal with special behavior patterns…Karen
Our Callie is very temperamental and had urinary issues as well. We did two things. We got her a pheromone collar and put her on cosequin. The temperament changed when she was not in pain.
My tabby had bladder crystals and the doc said Hill prescription diet only. He hated it and the ingredients were subpar. I instead purchased methigel (methionine was the ingredient in Hills – an amino acid) and there are other natural products that correct the ph level …. he did well on that. My present cat (calico) is hyperthyroid and I am giving her tripsy and resthyro .. she couldn’t handle the pills the vet gave me. These products help the kidney, bladder and relax her naturally. The one product has valerian in it … de stresser, muscle relaxant. She really settled down with these mixtures, no more howling at night, excessive tail wagging and licking. She is her normal self once again. The company is NHV … check out their site, they are good to talk to as well if need be.
Get rid of your other cat.
My calico kitten seems to have bladder issues as well. And maybe sinus problems. As a kitten she needs food with fat and protein but I have noticed that she likes urinary tract food by Purina. Her name is silver girl and she is worth the money and the energy that I put into her.
My calico is incredibly shy and skittish in spite of being raised in a quiet, safe home.
There are a multitude of possible stressors, but clearly, if she is struggling with keeping hydrated I recommend a cat fountain (or two in different places) in a quiet, low traffic area that she frequents but is NOT near her litter.
She clearly is experiencing a lot of anxiety. I had a formerly abused cat that took very well to a ‘kennel’. I gave her a little wooden nook to be her safe place in a quiet corner of my bedroom. When she went in, I NEVER disturbed her. It gave her a place to destress that was just for her, and then she really came out of her shell.
Nature’s Miracle Cat Calming Spray can be used in areas she likes to be. The spray contains calming hormones to make her feel safe like when she was with mom as a kitten.
Best of luck! Hope you and your girl can find some peace so you can focus on the love.
Well first don’t get stressed yourself, take a breath ! She is probably feeling insecure with other cats nearby, if she’s an inside house cat then action needs to be taken to ward off the visiting outside cats so she feels safe and queen of her home! Try noise makers that go off by sensors or water same way, there are commercial powders etc myself I’d rather stay with more natural and less invasive things ( you understand ) . My cat loves soft music and having one or two lol of my slippers to lay on along with other items! Important don’t stress! She will! Cuddle her and do your best to identify what you can do to help your little girl! Watch her diet, sometimes homeopathic is something to look at! Best to ya
It is the diet you are feeding her, try feeding a high quality wet food without grain or prepare homemade meals. Dry cibble could be the culprit. Talk with your vet, do some research, and see what happens. Good Luck!!!
Ask your vet about a prescription cat food and anti-anxiety drugs for cats. Feline pheromone diffusers also work for reducing stress in many cats.
Diet change can help lower the formation of crystals. Also, there is a product called Feliway that has a calming effect for cats that can be used in different forms. ie. plug-ins, sprays, I think they have collars too. There are also medications like anti-depressants that can be used. You can also figure out what is causing her the stress and fix it. Good luck
I use 4 Health cat food for Urinary Tract from Tractor Supply. My cats had UTIs all the time. Since using this food they have not had one.
I empathize with all the troubles everyone is having, and admire all the patience and care y’all have shown to your kitties. But i am a little worried that anyone seeing all these posts would be scared to ever own a Calico! So i thought i’d be reassuring. I have owned a number cats over the years, 2 of which have been gorgeous calicoes, and both of which have been wonderfully behaved, entertaining and playful, sociable, lovable, and trouble-free. My current one, Catawba, is a long-haired sweety. I got her as a rescue kitten. She quickly made friends with my middle-aged white male cat, and taught him how to play and purr and seem young again! She is a moon-eyed little joy to have around (now almost 2 years old).
Calicos are indeed a mysterious breed. It’s been said when a cat lifts their left paw it is a sign of good fortune – hence the Beckoning cat of japan
My cat had a litter of six 12 days ago. One torti, two calico and four tuxedo. Their personality are so amazing
Where are u located..i love calico..my passed..in 2017..my email Kalenamalia42 @ yahoo.com
I adopted a five-month-old female who weighs 3.5 lbs she is rather small. I have had her home now for 3 days the 1st day she spent in her carrier then ventured out. She is adjusting extremely well-eating playing running around being a kitten. She will sit on my lap, my head, shoulders or watch tv with me in bed or in the living room. Except when I go to pick her up she gets very skittish. But once I hold her she is fine. Also, she just started following me around from room to room, will grow out of being skittish? when I go to pick her up? Otherwise, she just makes me, laugh all day and, night. I haven’t ever owned a kitten before.
Any advice would be helpful.
Thank you
Randy and Becky
Omg. This sounds just like my Emmie. She is 3 months old, very skittish when I want to pick her up, but files he everywhere and wants to hang around me. However, when she cries for attention, she will allow me to pick her up and caress her.
So sweet
Randy and Becky, I have been told by a pet store owner that they don’t like to be picked up, I don’t know if he meant just that type or any type (calico). That’s the first time I ever heard of it but it rather makes sense to me, as they do act rather scared when you do, they’ll meow when you do more so when they are kittens. Please let me know if you received this response, thank you.
Let her define the nature of the relationship. I’ve had several Callies and they can be somewhat temperamental. They tend, in my experience, to be one or two person cats. They’re a little odd and I think that’s what makes them fun. Mine weighs all of 3 lbs. and the 70 pound Golden Retriever is scared of her, not because she’s mean but because the dog is a chickenshit . I’m not fond of cats but I love Calicos. They’re just different. Their personalities are like people’s. They all have idiosyncrasies that you either love or hate. As I said, I don’t care that much for cats but I LOVE my Calicos!
Check out Hannah, the Kitten Lady, on Youtube. Also Jackson Galaxy. TC
My calico is ok with me picking her up ONLY if she is purring, like when she is waiting for me to feed her….
Randy and Becky I am curious how is your kitty? It sounds like she wanted to be your friend already. Sometimes kittens have anxiety about being captured or picked up because of where they come from she could have possibly been roughly caught by children when she was with her litter or something like that. In any case I would think she certainly would be better by now with proper care.
Need to put them on a raw balanced diet.
I have a calico. she does not get along with the dog who just got fixed yesterday. We have three cats. Our calico, Anna, our orange tabby, Meowey, and our tortoiseshell, Angel. She kind of gets along with them. I love them a lot, but Anna is afraid of balloons. Any advice for “balloon phobia?”
Hmmm well The only thing to fear is fear itself right?? So Get her used to being around balloons and see what happens
My calico is a beautiful girl with the brightest personality! She is always playing with my dog but is very gentle and always sleeps under the covers with me. It is hilarious because all of the calico cats that I have owned ( I have owned 3) are pretty independent but then they just start yelling at you when they want attention! If she wants in my covers but doesn’t know how, she will start meowing into my ear until I wake up and then I lift the cover and she bolts in and curls up next to me. She is really clever and can make anything a toy, and I mean anything.
That is funny you say that about the covers. I rescued my calico on 09.11 and she is my first cat ever. She talks ALMOST all the time. We go back and forth and discuss our day’s events. She loves the sun coming in the windows ( and will ignore you to get the sunbeam) and is just starting to snuggle under the covers. Her long whiskers wake me up, and like you, lift the covers and she is down for the count. She loves when we play with the laser pointer and I reward her with verbal and a treat when we are done. She knows when it is bedtime too. She follows me to every room in the house no matter what. She loves an open window sill and watches the birds and people. Easy going… I am going to introduce her to a cat of the same age… will see what happens.
My calico lady diana was like ur calico she sleep under a baby blanket or in bed under covers with me..my other cats siamese/himilayan prefer on top of bed..and my calico had a loud snoring..due i think to noise issues were in her record i thk its from.persian lineage as they hve nose issue s..but she was so quitet when i took her on planes quiet or into Starbucks. Sweet nobody knew i had a cat in my bag with babyblanket..she loved to sleep on my bed under her baby comforter..i lost her in 2017..i miss her …she was amazing
My calico is a beautiful girl with the brightest personality! She is always playing with my dog but is very gentle and always sleeps under the covers with me. It is hilarious because all of the calico cats that I have owned ( I have owned 3) are pretty independent but then they just start yelling at you when they want attention! If she wants in my covers but doesn’t know how, she will start meowing into my ear until I wake up and then I lift the cover and she bolts in and curls up next to me. She is really clever and can make anything a toy, and I mean anything. She has also never had any health issues.
I got her at 1 month old and she was barely 1 pound. Was that ok for her to leave her mom so early?
How old is she
I have a calico, her name is Lily, she is my girl, very affectionate with me and she thinks she is a human. Love to be around other women too specially when we have get togethers. She doesn’t to be picked up but she follows me all the time. She is a senior now but still she is very curious and love chasing creatures.
I have a beautiful patched tabby calico who turned 14 years old in March. She definitely has her own personality. She talks a lot and well screams until she gets what she wants. She tells you when she is ready for her meals and if your aren’t fast enough she will let you know. She has a strict bed time and if you aren’t ready she will follow you around screaming until you finally lay down. She only wants love and pets when SHE wants them. She has been a huge part of our family and as annoying as she can be I hope we have many more years with her.
I have same cat but also Polydactyl (hemmingway)…i wish i understood her meows and clicks and chirps..lol…i have had her since she was 3 mos..but at 5 mos i went outta town for work and lft her with my roomies who have 3 dogs (indoor) and 2 cats(indoor-1 outside rescue)..they all get along swell…when i returned 3mos later, she had no issue knowing who i was at all…but now that we no longer live with the animal roomies, she seems to have seperation issues when i leave the house for long hours..like literally rips up the place! lol she even thinks she can go outside like the dogs.. ..i used to put her on my lap and sit out on the porch with her on my lap b4 we moved..and now i have a 2nd fl terrace i let her out on..but she jumped one day and got hemmed up (almost brawled) with a neighbors ferrel cat..so no more outside .lol..and so now she acting like a caged ferrel cat lol..but the meowing tho aarrghh lol
My calico used to come up in the bed and uncover my face if the covers were over my head, and then she would snuggle up close to my chin. Sweetest thing ever. Now there are other cats in the house and she has a thyroid issue and has to take medication. So she doesn’t come up on the bed hardly at all anymore. She’s more restless and doesn’t like to compete with the other cats. It took her the longest of the other 3 cats to adjust to them and to a new place. We still have a good bond, but she doesn’t quite seem like the same cat. ? She and our young tortie seem to enjoy playing at times. ?
Altogether throughout my life I’ve had 9 or 10 Calicos. They can be a little odd but then, so can I, that’s probably why I like them so much.
I had a female calico cat for 12 years. She had Kidney Failure. I had to put her to sleep. I miss her everyday-she was my buddy. She had a beautiful coat with a great personality.
My beautiful female calico cat was with me for 15 years. She too had kidney failure which I tried to keep under control but recently developed anemia and a heart murmur. I made the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep yesterday afternoon. I am so incredibly sad and miss her so much. She brought so much joy to my life.
My calico had kidney faliure in 2017 was 14..she was my healthiest cat..it shocked me ..i miss her she was sweet ..beautiful coloring..ciukd travel anywhere liked dogs or other cats..i was so lucky..to hve her..shes a 1 on a kind…
I had a 12 year old calico named Seeetie and one of her kidneys shivered up and she was on so much pain I had to put her to sleep. I now have another calico cat and she now has Cystitis.
My calico, S’more, is gorgeous and she’s about two years old. She’s been picking up a naughty habit recently, peeing/pooping on the beds. However, it seems the other cat of the household might be fighting back and peeing on the beds as well. I’ve had S’more since she was a few weeks old, and they’ve never seemed to have issues with marking territory. Does anyone know why the sudden naughtiness? I did go away for college for a few months and she could be acting out because of that. She tends to use my bed as a bathroom when I’m gone because she’s upset. I’ll be moving next month (without the other cat) and I need to figure out if she’s just overall a cat that wants to be alone, or if it’s something that can be stopped to allow another kitty into my home.
PLEASE take her to a vet!!!! I have had 2 that suddenly started forgetting the ‘potty rules’… I unfortunately lost both to underlying kidney failure…. which they may have survived had I recognized they were sick earlier. Animals who have been potty trained and then start having accidents are trying to get you attention and let you know they are sick.
That behavior Commonly means she has bladder/kidney problem, maybe infection. But I had 2 cats that had hypertension & stupid vet put me through all the typical “behavior” problems. Eventually they had failed kidneys. An excellent vet is priceless.
One thing I know about Callis is that, once they pick their person, they want things to remain the same regarding the relationship. If you change things, they WILL, retaliate. They truly are a “different breed of cat” as they say.
We had a beautiful Calico female named Patch. We were blessed to have her for 20 years, yes 20 years.
She was wonderful with our kids, who are now 18 and 14. She was so patient with them when they were little.
She was the queen of our pets, welcoming a adopted baby kitten 12 years ago as her own, as well as a 6 week old puppy seven years ago. They miss her as much as we do. As a family, we all said good bye to her.
She is loved, and lived well past her life span, we were blessed to have her in our lives, and we miss her dearly.
My calico Patches is a long haired beauty. The only time she was naughty like that was when i had my daughters cat for a long weekend. never before or sense. She is a love, like so many of the other fore mentioned calicos she does like to sleep on my bed with me, but waits tell I say lets go to bed then she will go to my bedroom door and wait patiently until I am in bed then comes in and joins me. Patches is 12 years old now. she has been with me for 11 years, and has NEVER liked to be picked up. But when I sit down she is always at my side or in my lap. Loves it when I have company, and is always looking for attention. Many years ago I use to breed Siamese cats(not known for their loving personalities) and I must say, Patches is the best companion cat I have eer had.
It’s been my experience that most callies don’t like being picked up. I had one that would tolerate it for about 30 seconds, then those claws got really sharp. It seems like they’re all that way. They’re in charge and that’s it.
My beautiful female calico cat was with me for 15 years. She too had kidney failure which I tried to keep under control but recently developed anemia and a heart murmur. I made the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep yesterday afternoon. I am so incredibly sad and miss her so much. She brought so much joy to my life.
I have a beautiful Calico that also has the Hemmingway Trait! she has 24 claws! She is on the big size I believe because of this! She is now almost 14 yrs old! Punkinhead weight is 13 lbs! She is healthy She isn’t fond of my Deaf Boxer but they do love each other from a far lol! And I never knew all the things about Calicoes She is Shy gets Stressed out sometimes like Vet visits! Never knew they were on the Rare side! Glad I read up on them! #LoveMyCalico!
We have a beautiful calico, Maui, who we got at age 10 weeks from a rescue group. Our beloved Maine Coon mix died suddenly while we were out of town 2 weeks before we got Maui. I didn’t know anything about Calicos but she had medium long fur and I thought she would have a Maine coon-like personality. I was very wrong. ? From the start she was very playful and demanding. She didn’t like her litter pans or the litter so we gave her lots of choices and figured all that out. She taught me how she could play fetch with a paper ball which she can do for long periods of time.
We have traveled quite a bit and after this last trip it really became apparent that she doesn’t do well when we’re away. So my husband traveled and I stayed with her this weekend.
She has pooped on the dining room rugs periodically for some time. Lately she’s been peeing in the corners of the living and dining rooms on the new hardwoods. I’ve gone on line and for info on how to treat the floors to rid it from the smells and to keep her from repeating in those areas and it’s not working. Took her to the vet and they weren’t able to get a urine sample so she sent me home with Prozac for her. ?
I love the little rascal and now she’s confined to the laundry room. I can’t live with her peeing on my floors. I’ve contacted the rescue group where we got her. I’ve tried everything I know to do.
What advise do you have for me?
it’s so incredibly hard to lose a pet. i’ve been grieving for weeks over the loss of
my little dog. i am adopting a calico kitten to help heal the hole in my heart.
There are so many animals needing homes!
I have a calico cat named Cali and she is my best buddy. She follows me around the house and talks to me all the time. When it’s time for bed, she hopps right in bed with me and curls up, She has to be touching me too. She will sleep the whole night with me. I have her brother and mother too, which is also a calico. Her brother is a black and white cat. She doesn’t care for the other cats too much, but favors my 4th cat, a ginger cat named Bubba, who is her buddy. I love her deeply. She is 5 years old now and I hope to have her for many years. She is spayed and has vet checkups and has a clean bill of health. Yay!
I have a female cat Calico named Lucy. She is 5 years old and just recently she started peeing everywhere in the corners of the house. She creates a loud meow when she doesn’t get her way and she’s very stressed out a lot. How do I stop her from peeing in the corners of the house, she’s never done this before.. she is so loving and she follows me from room to room to room to room.
Crystals..oh my..how i can relate but with our white and orange male. One thing I’ve found is if a cat doesn’t want canned food, especially Hills CD which he is on, I will grind up his dry Hills CD real fine and put on top of the wet. This helped him to eat the canned much better. As far as her stressing, I feel bad for you and her both for going through this because stress is one thing bladder issues don’t like! And if she is marking it’s adding to the stressful situation. Is she spayed and can you remember when and possibly why she began marking? Like ours, it was due to a fight with the other cats. I have a link to the best article on cats in multiple cat households. https://icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-happy/multi-cat-households-and-how-survive-them. There is also good articles on cats with bladder issues. It was the most resourceful page I found and I looked for a long time. Wishing you the best
HI I have a female Calico named Miss Lucy. I got her from a friend when she was a year and a half. Now she is 5 years old. Before she came too me, she used to spend all her time upstairs at my friends house. Anyhow since got her. She is not really loveable kind of cat. Yes she follows me around a lot. And she sleeps by myside. But she won’t let me pick her up but I guess because she is 14 pounds. She is fixed. But the whole problem that I have with her is out of the blue she will bite me and also go for my ankles. Not all the time just out of the blue. I do play with her. Is there anything I can do or give her. I don’t have any cats. My friend did have another one with her but she kept it.
I’ll get hell for this, especially from some of the “experts” but the way I broke most of mine of the biting and clawing things was, tell her to stop (these cats are smart and understand a lot more of what we’re saying than we think) and then, if she didn’t, I had a very small (probably 1/16th) dowel rod and I would crack her on the ass with it. It wasn’t big enough to hurt her, but it got the point across. She/they didn’t like the sting so eventually they got the message and most of them stopped.
i have a female calico her name is scooby she is a very sweet and cuddly calico . she loves to mess with my fish tanks and climb on tables and scratch my walls and furniture. she does not get along with other animals she loves to greet you when you come in and she will let you know shes hungry. she is orange black and white female calico her mommy was a orange tabby and her daddy was black and white that probably how she got her colors. shes a good cat to have and a very picky eater.
Well then, you have a true Calico. They are hard headed, a one or two person cat, and the more you try to stop them from behaving obnoxiously, the more obnoxious they tend to become. They are very vocal, very picky about their food, and they love, love, love to climb. They are truly a different breed of cat but, then again, that’s what makes them interesting IMHO.
My calico baby girl is a wild one. She can be extremely shy and picky when it comes to socialising with people.
Some people makes her run and some makes her cuddly.
Everyday she would do something that would surprise me. I swear they only get more interesting as the years go by.
She is the most vocal kitten I have had, comparing to her two big brothers. We would just talk back and forth like “Did you have a good day Gizmo?” “Meowww..” “That sounds amazing Gizmo, what else happened?” “Meowwwwoooo…” “What?! Bowie did what? Your brothers are so naughty. Gizmo, you’re such a good girl.” “Meoowwww!”
My Gizmo can also have such a bad anxiety problem and would pee here and there. No underlying health issues, we have gone to the vets a few times, got all the tests and everything. I would be exhausted and mad that I need to keep cleaning and washing after her. But at the end of the day, she is my baby girl and I wouldn’t change her for the world.
Adopt yourself a calico, she will fill your heart with so much happiness and pure joy.
My calico is a mixture of white, orange, black and tiger. Is she a true calico or considered something else?
Our calico, Billie Jo was found outside a Billiard Hall in MN. She is a great lap cat and loves to cuddle. We have traveled to AZ with her several times and she does just fine. Our other cat, Drew doesn’t like her and vice versa but such is life (just like politics). But we survive and are blessed to be a 2 cat family.
I got my calico about a year ago or a little more ago from the neighbors across the the street. I asked the teen girl that had her why see keeps her outside? I told her she is to little and to pretty to be kept outside. She told me she wants the kitty the live off the land. I told her she was an ass and stupid for thinking that way. Animals need love and gidances, not to defend for themselves. So a couple nights later she came to my door and asked if I seen Ava, I told her to come in and look under the couch. And there she was, happy and content. I also have 3 dogs and 2 other cats they all get along great with each other. We ( the family ) call her Little Miss Ava. She is a little nicsnucs. It means Trouble maker in German. But she is so cute and funny. She is about a year, year and a half. She’s white, black, gray and a very little bit tan. I wouldn’t give her up for nothing. She’s here with me for the donation.That was the best thing I did, and it seem like a lot of strays come here because I have sucker writing on my forehead. Lol. Soon or later I’ll be out in the doghouse, if my husband gets his way.
My 13-yr-old Calico Gracie Lou is beautiful and quirky and very protective of me. She, too, has recently developed hyperthyroidism and kidney stones and I almost lost her. I am working very hard to get her healthy again. She doesn’t want the Hills C/D wet food, which is so frustrating, but she is eating some of the dry. I’m told that wet food is better for older cats, especially those with kidney problems, to help with hydration.
My Chloe is a beautiful cat she has her own personality, she doesn’t like to be held except by my son, we recently brought and daughter and her kitten home for the weekend and Chloe didn’t like that at all, she hissed and scared the poor thing. She gets along with my dog and dwarf bunny. She is very aggressive now more then ever. Any comments on this
Love all the “cat tales” about torties.
Have an 8 yr old female who rules the rest of the cats (8) without aggression. None have ever questioned the queen 😉
She is affectionate with me, but ignores the dog completely.
Also have a dilute tortie who was a rescue.
Found her orphaned and close to starvation… guess was she was about 4 weeks old at that time. Big beautiful and sweet now.
Last but really not least… took in a Ragdoll that folks said they couldn’t keep.
Didn’t know they had her bred and she gave birth to 2 kittens (now 9 Mo’s old).
A female chocolate lynx point, and a MALE seal tortie point. Thought he was just a strangely marked Ragdoll since they are color pointed cats, but his color points finished filling in.
He is so soft and sweet. Problem is, he thinks he is a neck scarf.
World’s most dedicated cuddle bum.
Thanks to everyone for sharing your kitties’ stories. A prayer of comfort for those who have loved and lost.
We can never fill the holes in our hearts they leave, but they teach us how to keep on loving.
Was once told that I couldn’t save every cat in the world. True. But it means the world to the ones that are rescued.
Tialisa… Don’t give up on the new additions. Many times the resident cat doesn’t like “Invaders.”
Give the new additions their own space if possible. Or just give them all a way to get away from each other. Just like humans, cats want their own space at times.
Many times they don’t take long to establish their chain of command; however, sometimes it may take longer.
There may be a knockdown dragout fight on occasion. Even though it can sound like it’s pretty ugly, one or other of the cats will give up quickly. Cats have retty good sense of self preservation when they “argue.”
Just be Sue to keep an eye on the dog if or when the cats are arguing.
Sometimes a dog will take u for it’s buddy and that might not turn out well for a new kitty.
My calico cats name is Bella she is 18 years old soon to be 19 she has a fat lip but she looks a lot so I can concerned she makes lots of noise at night I guess she needs attention when I give it to her she’s quiet I got her on raw food and dry food she still plays and purrs
Calico cats are sooo cute I can’t believe how much fun I’ve had with mine!
I lol calicos because they are so cute and she is 6 months old so she is so cute.
I have a female calico, she’s almost two years old. Her name is Eva. She’s so energetic and spunky. She’s slender built. Recently she’s started chewing on plastic bags if she can find any. Thoughts?
My calico is a patch tabby named Rocky Raccoon, cause she looks like a raccoon. She is very sweet especially to me. She is shy around new people and takes 2 or 3 visits to get warmed up. She is Great at the vet and everybody that sees her can’t get over how pretty she is. She’s a 2008 model, so she will be 11 years old soon. She showed up at our house in the garage eating my dogs food. A very cute little kitten with a little body and big head. She’s still relatively small, 6 lbs
My sweet dog passed away two years ago so Rocky runs things here now. I can’t imagine life without her, I call her “my monkey”. My brother is a vet so we take great care of her. Love to spoil her rotten.
I have a female calico pumpkin white orange n black she is very good hunter when goes outside talks ALOT only bad is I have her sister all black female ck I’m told calico s are so independent she hiss es at her sister ALOT all black sweetness is n bed with me all the time loves to get under blankets snuggle pumpkin does it at times pumpkin likes to in a on me all the time both cats die go outside a little pumpkin wants to stay out a lot longer to hunt she has brought birds rabbits squirrels flying birds I know I shouldn’t have a favorite but sweetness never has gotten mad at me true love i plan on getting same as i have when they die calico n all black again
I have a calico named luna. She does so many cute, quirky things. When she is in trouble like if i tell her to get off the kitchen table she does quick little meows like shes arguing lol. She is super independent all through the day but at night she likes to cuddle when my boyfriend and I go to sleep. She is best friends with our pitbull/boxer mix, they get along so well and love to play together. They are only about 1 year apart. She’s just turned 2 and he’s just turned 3. Luna love to play with toys and really anything. If i make tinfoil or paper or anything into a ball and throw it she will go fetch it just like a dog and bring it back haha. She also likes to hide behind things and around corners and she will jump out with her arms stretched out and try to scare you. I’ve never seen a cat do some of the things she does. Shes crazy smart and the best cat!!
My calico Kiko is half Maine Coon and the most unusual cat I’ve ever met, the most personable and charming cat imaginable. Follows me from room to room like a dog, likes to tunnel under the covers and sleep with me, rolls her head to one side when she sees me to indicate she wants to be petted. She’s the leader and the diplomat of my multiple pet household, loved by all and as beautiful as the day is long!
4 those who love calicos and forties check out calicos and kin released July 2018. Ok @amazons bookstore.
Stated above
My calico was a stray. A nice woman fed her once in awhile, but when she noticed she looked like she was pregnant, she turned her in at a shelter. She was indeed pregnant and gave birth to 5 black kittens, whom were all adopted but not the calico mother cat.. My husband and I happened to visit this shelter and as soon as we saw her, it was love at first sight. She was scheduled to be spayed, so we had to wait before taking her home. She is not only beautiful but she has a wonderful personality and so loving. I put my face down to hers and she kisses me or licks my forehead. Naturally she sleeps in bed with us every night, even though we bought her a really nice cat bed, which she uses during the day. The only time she goes outside is to and from her Vet. I love my Jennie so much and I think she is happy living with us.
Hi Gail, I love your story. In Aug of 21 I adopted a 2 yo Calico from a shelter two cities away from me. I had seen her on a pet adoption site but had wound up there quite by accident, I was searching about information on fostering since that is what I had been doing and planned on continuing with that. Being 70 yo and just having had a heart attack, I worried about owning an animal and it outliving me. But it was one of those accidents that was meant to be. And I adopted the sweetest Calico who is my angle wrapped in fur. She is my world. She had been given up by her original owners and then adopted and returned twice after that because “she was too shy and skittish.” Luckily for me, she just wasn’t in the right place. She is thriving in my home and seems to love everyone that visits, including my brother’s dog!
My calico was a stray. A nice woman fed her once in awhile. but when she suspected that she was pregnant, she turned her into a shelter. The cat was indeed pregnant and gave birth to 5 black kittens, all of whom were adopted but not the calico mother cat. My husband an I happened to visit that shelter and as soon as we seen this calico cat, it was love at first sight, She was scheduled to be spayed so we had to wait before we could take her home. She is not only beautiful but she has a wonderful personality, and so loving. When I put my face down to hers, she kisses me or licks my forehead. Naturally she sleeps in bed with us every night even though we bought her a cozy cat bed, which she uses during the day. The only time he goes outside is to an from her Vet. I love my JENNIE so much and I think she likes living with us.
My cat just recently gave birth to twin male calicos. Her previous litter she had a long hair female calico. Going to try and find them all good homes.
We adopted our Calico who was about 3 yrs when rescued from a hoarding situation.. I’ve never experienced such a loving, cuddle buddy of a cat with a big personality..She is a lap cat and very talkative with a side of sass.. Our cat will comfort anyone who is visibly upset or cries, she will run up to that person out of nowhere to give a rub, kiss on the face or cuddle.. Good natured but she is not a fan of other cats so is the only one in our house..
I had a Calico cat, her name is Sophie; she was my best friend and I miss her very much everyday. She made my life so happy and much easier without even realizing. I had her at 5 weeks old when I was a freshmen in high school until I was 19 years old. (I’ll be turning 21 this July) it was so weird how instantly she became MY cat in my household. I still remember my mother calling me to tell me she had a surprise for me when she got home, I instantly knew what was coming and had her name ringing in my head. She was so precious!!! Very playful as a kitty and super affectionate too. She’d always put her paw on my face i took it as her way if imprinting me as hers. She was quite sassy though lol she came off as very independent and did not want to be bothered but with me , nope, a complete goofy lovable funny wild girl. She was me in the form of a cat being biracial her complexities matched mine and we were inseparable! She sure has brought much fortune good luck protection and divine connectivity and destiny into my life. Sophie was never letting her guard down around others except me not even my family members or past partners, exceeeeept my boyfriend of now which she met and I was so surprised to see how loving she was towards him. I love her so much and so deeply and ocassionally have dreams of her visiting me, petting her, adoring her. She’s an angel watching over me and all around me with her omnipresence. We were meant to be together. Just as she was found playing in a garden and brought to me randomly she one day didn’t come back. I will always know she was God sent. Some may say and view it as she was very lucky to find a family to bring her in but I think it’s the other way around I have been very blessed to have her come to me and I pray that everyone feels that deep love and connection with their fury friends. I love you Sophie forever and always, thank you.
Barbara, such a sweet story. Thank you for sharing. Made me cry.
My sweet girl is a calico. Miss. Priss was rescued from being shredded dogs. Priss is about 4 months old and I’ve had her for roughly 2. Playful, affectionate, loves my four year old orange tabby to pieces and he loves her too. Took about three days and they were best friends. Priss is adventurous and brave (sometimes I think she acts like a sugar glider). Last night she landed on my head rather than the pillow. Priss sleeps with me, sometimes under the covers. I can’t imagine life without her. She stole my heart and the heart of Zax (my four yo cat). Now she is the queen of the house. Funny thing: when I go pee she jumps up on the toilet seat and tries to cover up my pee (pawing the seat and air). Anyone else have a cat that does this?
HELP!!!! I was just given a calico. I named her Lily. She will be 3 months old on August 4. I am at my WITS end! She meows all the time (I’m prone to debilitating headaches and have to lock myself in my office when the screeching starts.) She is VERY bold. And very skittish. So much so…she’s making ME skittish! She has now started trying to chew my furniture. I had a $20 bill on my dining room table and an hour after I put it there (she wasn’t anywhere nearby watching me) I found the corner of the bill on the table…and bits and chewed pieces EVERYWHERE. I am disabled and starting to really get angry with a “friend” who showed up on my doorstep with her. I wanted to adopt an older cat because I wanted to avoid the kitten nonsense I’m now going through. I love her…and she’s absolutely adorable…but when I find her doing things she shouldn’t be doing (like chewing money and climbing up my curtains and chewing my furniture) I get a little miffed. Does anyone know when they STOP this behavior? I’ve had kittens my WHOLE life….and just had to put my 18 year old angel down in December. I have NEVER EVER had a kitten like this. NOT ONE BIT! I’m assuming it’s a “calico” thing case the vet looked at me and said…”well…she IS a calico now…isn’t she…” Am I going to end up having an MS flareup from all the stress and chewing and over destruction….or is she going to calm down soon? I just don’t know what to do… 🙁
It sounds like she is a true Calico. “I wanted to adopt an older cat because I wanted to avoid the kitten nonsense I’m now going through. I love her…and she’s absolutely adorable…but when I find her doing things she shouldn’t be doing (like chewing money and climbing up my curtains and chewing my furniture) I get a little miffed. Does anyone know when they STOP this behavior?”
If she’s a “true Calico”, the answer to your question is NEVER, sorry. not what you were hoping to hear I know. Calicos are truly a different breed of cat. You either love them or hate the,,, I don’t believe there is an “in between” . If there is, I’ve never found it and I’ve had 9 or 10. The only other cat that I can tolerate is a Siamese. Just like with people, I prefer cats that are somewhat weird. It keeps life interesting. I can be bored anytime, no cat required.. Don’t get me wrong, as she gets older she’ll settle down a little bit but she’ll never be the laid back, cat that it sounds like you’re looking for. Their disregard for authority is what makes them interesting. If you’re having coping with her quirks, find her a good home and get yourself a generic type of cat. Calicos are difficult to train. Normally, what you get, is what you get.
My calico cat loves making funny facial expressions. 3 years old now and she’s still the best cat I’ve ever had. Thanks for all this great information.
i have a calico cat she is 4 mts. old, and i love her, but she’s real bad. climbing walls, and breaking things i did train her to suck a bottle. water in it of course, she bites and scratches. i had a beautiful cat for 15 yrs. who passed away oct.28th 2019. i cry every day for her. i never had a cat as bad as this one. any ideas? she is ginger, black on top of her little head looks like a part in the middle black of to the sides more white, but ginger markings on her back and side. like i said i love her, and a blck marking on one leg. her tail is black and ginger.
Hi everyone!! I just acquired my third Cali about 5 weeks ago.
Got her from the humane society – She is such an amazing kitty,
as were my other two. But this one is so much more affectionate
and playful. There were three cali’s and the society but only Spike
(her name is Spiker Bean Baby) struck me as the one that needed me.
Little did I know at the time I needed her more. She sits with me like
a dog would, watches as I play computer games and when I watch my
shows. She sleeps on my pillow right above my head. Spike makes a
toy our of everything – and I let her….. the only thing that hurts my
feelers is that I have to leave her every day for work and she does stress
over this. When I get home she is all over me and honestly I love it. I
spend the time to calm her, play with her and at that time I give her a
special meal – I’ve started that in the mornings as well and it seems to
make leaving her a little better, she still mad at me and won’t come to
say good-bye but the coming home is still awesome.
This is cool, although i honestly think my cat might be a calico hes mostly black, white and grey but mixed in are light brown oringeish patches ,but what do i know honestly im just glad hes around 12 yrs old and still going simi strong . Hes the sweetest cat I know and i hold him close to my heart .
‘In cats, the gene that dictates fur color is located on the X chromosome. Therefore, if a female shuts down the X chromosome carrying the gene for white fur in one particular spot of the body, the gene will produce orange fur in that spot instead (and visa versa).’
That is not correct, the white on a calico cat is due to the white spotting gene, not X inactivation.
hello, looking for some help here, my calico Simba, is 10 years old and about 8 months ago suffered from a seizure. I got her to the ER and they couldnt figure out the cause, unless i wanted to pay for an MRI, which i couldnt afford. Her blood results and xrays came back normal so we moved on and it has never happened again but I keep a close eye on her. Her behavior is that of a true Calico-wonderful loving personality (to me and her father when im not around) but thats it Haha. She will meow and after a recent move she is showing signs of some
sort of pain I can not figure out:(. Any help is appreciated- 10 weeks ago she was howling at night and laying in the same spot for fays getting up once a day to use the bathroom, she was lathargic but eating/drinking and using the bathroom. After 3 days went to ER and same thing couldnt figure out the problem but gave her Gabapatin for pain and she got better but now shes acting like something wrong again. Shes so brave and doesnt want to show pain, but I know somethings really off. These are her main symptoms-she urinates a lot more than usual at one time (i notice a lot of liquid in the litterbox), she doesnt eat as much but is eating wet food (chicken indoor natures balance and hairball control science diet) I tried the urinary tract one by SD but it seemed to make her symptoms worse. The main thing thats off is the way she lays down she will sit on all four paws not lay on her belly and just looks isnt sleeping much. It breaks my heart her potassium levels were low and sugar was slightly elevated when we got her blood work last. Thats why i dont know if its kidney issues- yesterday though i smelled urine on her and now im wondering could this be bladder crystals!?? Monday i will get her blood taken unless she gets worse then straight to the ER. Shes my baby rescued her as a kitty and shes my only kitty because her temper, I treat her better than my partner, I dont want her in pain.
Hello, responding to the plastic bag chewing cat parent; my Calico I just posted about, Simba has loved chewing on anything plastic especially bags too. This is a disorder called, Pica I was told. It can be very serious to her health if you leave any plastic out. Simba has gone through extreme measures to find any sort of plastic because I do not keep any (anymore) in her reach. She has even gone as far as chewing tags on my comforter when she couldnt get her hands on any. Its bad because it started with chewing then I started finding 3×3” pieces of bags in her stool!!! I didnt know where it came from until i found a garbage bag of clothes under my bag all chewed up:(. That was the last shes chewed. My bf makes fun of her like its addiction for her , it is quite funny now since nothing has happened from it and have a plastic free house. But if I didnt know about it she couldve had a serious blockage from it, or worse. So, I just wanted to share my experience with you, and anyone else and hopefully it can keep your kitty’s in good health.
Thanks for reading, also Simba has been experiencing some strange health issues we cant figure out yet, they say she may suffer from a tumor in her brain from a strange neurological seizure episode 8 months ago. but cant afford an MRI and even if thats the case they cant do much. Her symptoms now are pain and infrequent but heavy urination, eating less, constipation, but more oddly is her behavior- shes sitting with her head down at times, and on all fours instead of laying on her belly. Her blood showed low potassium(right below normal) 2 months ago, and high sugar(could be from stress at ER) anyways. She hasnt had any plastic in months so I really dont think theres any relation but she did vomit 10 days ago liquid and this solid 2” long hairball, she never vomits. Yesterday she semed to be having some stomach contactions and swallowed whatever came up…any help is appreciated the vet couldnt figure it out last time and now im looking for a new one. She my baby shes just like all these comments, quirky, skittish, but so loving. I am looking into these bladder/kidney crystals, lmk any thoughts anyone may have, Thanks!
Angie,
Sorry to hear about your baby’s health issues. I’ll pray that It resolves itself because, much the same as human Doctors, there’s a lot of quack vet’s out there too.
I just adopt a calico cat from petsmart. Today is her 14days with me. She has a unique personalities and characteristics.. She is my princess, and I love her very much like my own child. So far, I dont see any problem with her. I can give her a bath and trim her nails without any problem. She is lovable, indeed.
So much false information!
Firstly, the cat pictured is tortieshell, not calico. Calico is predominantly white, and the ginger and black are in distinct, solid patches. Tortieshells have ginger and black that are much more mixed so the two hair colors look more like they were applied with quick strokes of a painter’s brush.
Secondly, one in 3000 male calico cats is NOT sterile! I.e., 2,999 out of 3000 male tortieshell and calico cats are sterile. And ALL male tortieshell or calico cats have Kleinfelder syndrome. That is the name for males with a double X chromosome.
With that much false infornatiin in tje first couple of paragraphs. I didn’t bother to read any more. Do these guys not have editors or fact-checkers?
Did you pay for an editor? Oh wait, that’s right, it’s free. Perhaps the best course of action would be to share your knowledge with the group rather than downgrade someone else who is repeating what they’ve heard or read or know to be a fact. In other words, trying to help. Not everyone is as knowledgeable as you but at least they’re trying to help. Have a great new year and thanks for the info.
I have a beautiful 15 year old MALE calico. He is a deep orange, almost red, with white on his face and chest and belly and paws. He has a little black spot (fur) on his hip and he’s just the sweetest cat you can ask for. He has always been an indoor cat, I’ve raised him since I was 3. I’m 18 now. Anyways, we brought him to my grandparents when I was 5 (He was 2, his mother ran away as a baby so we had to feed him). He has been here ever since and he’s the most loyal, loving, affectionate, vocal boy. He’s never had any issues. We have never had to take him to a vet. He’s still active and happy and I hope he lasts a long time!!! ❤️
Hey there! What do you feed him. My calico Rocky likes fish!
I’ve lost my 12 years old female tortoiseshell… she s an outdoor cat that s already had been living w us in the housing area for 8 years, so there s no chance she ll be lost/missing n she was in a healthy condition… She was super smart, by smart she can open the cage n let herself out. ? i was devastated… n still am..
I am so sorry for your loss. That is extremely difficult to face.
My heart goes out to you.
HI, I recently rescued a little calico at work, she was in the parking lot at work. She’s about 5 or 6 months old. I already have two cats. If anyone would be interested, please email me at Joannejacobs54 @gmail.com, if I can’t find her a forever home I will keep her, but it seems like a few of you would appreciate her. Her name is Cookie.
p.s. I have dewormed and taken care of her needs, but as she hasn’t gone into heat she is probably still too young to be fixed.
My cat Cami is purrrfect. we found her under a porch and she hasn’t an all white soft belly. she lays in her back and loves her belly rubbed. she is good natured with kids and so happy. the vet couldn’t get her to stop purring even with a scent they use to get cats to stop. they couldn’t hear her heart because she was too happy.
I have a male calico. He is a hand full. But I expect no less. My first Calico left me way to early. I spent everything I could but they could not save her. She was eight. It took A little while before I wanted another pet. However a friend brought me another calico.. He is a little terror full of energy and life and of course personality unique to himself. Having lost a female early, is there anything I can do to stay on top and ahead of issues I might have with a male Calico? I see the back and forth about diet but I am also wanting to know what specific to look for in a male calico to give him the best chance at a long life. I don’t want to accept that there is no chance to avoid the health issues.
I have a beautiful Chimera Calico One side of her face is orange and the other side is mostly black. I adopted her from a homeless lady about 2.5 months ago. Then she became very clingy on St. Patrick’s Day. About 2:00 AM on that night, the 18th, she gave birth to the first of 5 healthy babies. They are spectacular and now have been given the names, Mo and Po, Ka and Za, and Ice. Mo is also a Chimera like her mother but she is black and white. Her Chimera line is fine and white ending with white under the nostril on one side and black under the other. Po is black as night. Her eyes are now black but may turn out to be blue. Even the pads of her feet and her claws are black. Ka and Za are fraternal twins, orange and white, or a lighter orange. They are both very symmetrically patterned with ringed tails. That leaves Ice who is all white with bright blue eyes and orange tips to her ears and an orange striped tail. Ice has one more unique feature which is two fine whiter lines down the middle of her back about the width of a finger apart. I will be 75 soon and am so worried about the future of my brood. They will be six weeks old on May 1st. Anyone need a kitten.
I have a Calico, she is the most loving, effectionate cat I have ever had. She can be a little sulky at times but overall no problems with her. She will bring her toys over to me, I get the hint. She loves to cuddle up next to me plus she likes her belly being rubbed while she cuddles up. When she comes in I have to follow her in to the bedroom and spend a good 10 minutes having a fuss. If I don’t she will sit by the door staring at me until we have that bonding time together. It’s a very important thing to her. I have had cats and dogs all my life but never have I had a pet like this, super intelligent and very loving without a bad bone in her. Love her dearly.
That’s so cool!!! Chloe fetches too! We have these Spring toys and she will cry and bring them to me when she wants to play. HAHA – so cool.
My dilute calico/ torti, she could be argued to be both even though she does have a little white, shes mostly a lilac color, peach, and s little bit of white with brilliant green eyes. Shes the most affectionate cat ive ever owned. I found her and her kitten outside and took them both in. They are both amazing cats. Sweet, talkative, playful, living, always wants to be held. Her daughter is a black and white tuxedo but looks identical to her mother except for the color. Her eyes are exactly her mothers eyes and the white pattern on her face is identical to her mothers. But i digress, they are both unbelievably sweet and loving and the calico was taught tricks and will give you her paw, will sit, fetch, stay, and lie down. Shes super smart and i couldn’t have asked for a sweeter cat. They both just got spayed yesterday so they are just lying around. If anyone has any tips on how to stop them from licking at their incision, please share. The e collars do not work fof either cat. They freak out and get them off everytime no matter how i put them on or how tight i tie them. Please help with that. Thank you!!!!
Hi Bri, thanks for commenting! You may have success with an alternative to the traditional e-collar. The SunGrow Comfy Cone gets glowing reviews from people whose cats previously refused to wear cones.
HI! I have a beautiful patched tabby calico. She is my princess. I rescued her (as I have all my cats) from the shelter. We lost Jack who we rescued from a snow drift 4 years ago to coyotes. It was horrible. And our other cat was devastated…..cried (literally howled) for a week. SO>>> came Chloe. She is THE sweetest and affectionate little girl ever. She talks up a storm (I think Ollie taught her that) and loves to sit on my lap – which is perfect for me. Chloe is 7 months and happy as can be. She is just like me – loves being warm and sunbathe in the sunshine. My russian blue rescue (Ollie age 2) loves Chloe and they sleep and play and fight and lick each other constantly. He loved Jack so it wasn’t the best the first 2 weeks – but, it’s been 3 months and they are “brother and sister” now. I’m fortunate that Chloe has a sweet disposition. I let her know who’s boss (me…lol) and Ollie puts her in her place. Her tail is longer than she is and absolutely gorgeous. When she gets older – she might kick Ollie’s butt. LOL Although he is a big cat….but shorter tail. We shall see. Thanks for letting me share and thanks for the great info!
We have just been blessed with a caluco she is very skittish at this time probably due to her young age (6weeks old) but very playful with her mom and brother
I adopted a dilute calico kitten from a local shelter about 8 years ago. I was very young and knew close to nothing about cat breeds, but she was the sweetest girl I’ve ever met. She is very docile and calm, but gets spooky VERY easily.
Cici is my big chunky baby!! She has long fur that I brush daily before giving her food. To make sure I don’t forget, she sits by her spot and YELLS until I come! Lol
She RARELY scratches or bites people and usually only on accident because she likes making biscuits on you when in bed. <3
She has always lived at my parents house, but I am planning on moving soon with other animals present (1 cat and 1 small dog). I am worried especially because she had a traumatic experience with a dog within the past year.
i am in australia i have a calico cat i got her from a vet at cootamundra she is so gently followes me every were so loving and smart she loves to be warm she has a electric blanket loves it and food loves her food i call her missy and she knows her name if i call her she comes running i have a food warmer and now she thinks it belongs to her she is a lovley cat so pretty a very quite purr and does not meow much a quite cat caleco cat missy mum loves you
We have not one but 5 calico cats here in our home. Our original cat geico is a calico and then she gave birth to 2 calico kitten this last liter. Our solid white cat name snow which was from geicos first liter also just gave birth to 2 calico kittens.
So I have an all black and white cat with an orange mouth. Plus an peachy and white Tabby with grey and peach on the hind legs and tail are either of the considered calicos?
Hey Shelby, great question! While calico cats usually have large patches of orange, black, and white, any cat with all three colors falls into the category of “tricolor” and it sounds like both of your kitties fall into that larger category. Both of your cats have special genetic characteristics unique to calico and tortoiseshells, meaning that they have the genes for both orange fur and non-orange fur. Because they have distinct patches of black, white, and orange, your black-and-white kitty is a calico without the distinctive large patches of color. As for your tabby, it sounds like you have a dilute calico on your hands! Some people call calico tabbies calibies or patterned calicos.
I have a male Calico. Hes my lucky charm!!!! His name is Rocky! He’s a kitten but very calm nature and loves sitting perched high as most cats.
We had a cute female calico and she died because she stopped breathing she was 10 when she died she looks like the first pic on this
Well under the personality and behavior
I just adopted a calico. Her name is Ruby Rose (yes, after the actress who played Batwoman on the CW channel). I have never had a calico., but reading about them I am getting quick education. Ruby Rose is 6 months old and hates to be picked up and held. If she wants to be petted, she will jump on my lap, purr real loud and rub her face into my hand. She eats Purina kitten food and is doing fine on it. I have had cats before and they are wet food……..poop smelled a lot worse. The dry food doesn’t have that effect. She is a night owl (or a bat…. ?) She will run around the house, come back to the family room and bat around her toys. She is used to my granddaughters and I have cautioned them to be gentle and do not pick her up. My husband and I are both retired so we have time to devote to her. She was spayed, had all her shots and is chipped. The humane society where we adopted her told us that all their adopted cats must be “indoor” only. Not a problem. She has a calming collar on and her regular collar is black with a red rose. She has a scratching toy and a scratching pole. She will sleep with us, but gets bored and wanders around the house or she sits guard at the top of the stairs if she is so inclined at night. So much to learn about this type of cat.
I have a beautiful calico, someone abandoned her and never reported it. So the lady that I got her from told me the family abandoned her, and moved. It’s taken sometime for our male cat to get used to having her around. They have their brawls every now and then, usually she wins. She has a strange marking on her face, a mustache of black coloring above her nose. But she is black, orange and white. She has become very attached to me. She does have a cattitude, believe me. She’s okay with my husband but sticks to me like glue. As far as my daughter goes she’s ok with her too. Not so much with guys though. At night she crawls up on my side and sleeps there till I move. She is my baby girl and she knows it.
We have one of those rare male calicos! We just adopted Jorge from my mom, who had to surrender her cats due to moving into an assisted living, and she really can’t take care of them anymore. Anyway, he is so precious and has always been such a stinker! As a younger cat, he had pica, and had to have several visits to an emergency vet to remove swallowed items. He swallowed a length of gift wrap ribbon once, and it made him very ill until it was surgically removed! Now, he’s older, and has chronic respiratory issues. I know that male calico cats commonly have health issues, but is it common to develop a COPD-type respiratory disease? He’s 13 now, and we know he probably has only a few months left, at best. We’ve always loved him, and we want to make whatever time he has left as comfortable and happy and loving as possible. His life partner is Lucy, a tiny peach-point Siamese mix. They always snuggle together and used to groom each other. Lucy will likely outlive Jorge by quite a bit because of his health issues. I worry about her when he’s gone. Even when Jorge is in another room, she meows for him! Anyway, I just wanted you to know the story about one very special male calico.
I have two Calico rescue kittens in Dubai one is 5months and one 6weeks younger found in a similar area but a couple of months apart. They are very different nature Brunch (named after I collected her from foster between 12-2pm on a Friday ) is very dominant and wasn’t too happy with the new addition a month after I found her. But baby Kitten Rosie has won her over she has the most gentle nature and was in foster with 5 adult cats she now can’t believe her luck that she has another kitten with energy to play with. Rosie adores Brunch and follows her everywhere so I guess Brunch just gave in, they have been together with me for 4 weeks. Lots of fun lots of cuddles and they look fabulous strutting around together . Both eat dry kitten food also chicken and Tuna it one is a grazer the other eats everything. One sleep is high in their cat tree one sleeps at the bottom . brunch sleeps near me with a leg on my hand arm or leg to make sure I don’t move she’s very possessive of me. Rosie literally tries to sleep under me! Chalk and Cheese so very lucky to have them both and it wasn’t planned they just happened to appear in my life at the right time.
I have a long haired calico that was dumped on our property decades ago. We took her to the vet because we thought she had a bot fly in her head. The vet called me and told me she just had a bad cost on her head. The vet then told me that the staff had told her that this cat is 21 years old. I told her she had a chip and she said yes, according to the chip that is where the hot her age. I told her we have had her for 17 years so she is probably that old. She is still going strong. She is going blind and deaf but we make sure she is safe and HAPPY. She loved our 2 rescued chocolate labs. She used to follow my husband when he would walk the puppies. She would also pop them on their tails if they barked too much. She is awesome!
I am from South Africa and I have 2 calicos and l tabby and they all get along famously . . I feed them Royal Canin Home Life Indoor cat and they have no urinary tract problems.
I have had a calico cat for five years. Her name is kitty kitty meow meow – Kitty for short. Her nickname is monster (just because she’s mischievous) Lol. I’ve had many cats in my life but never a calico. I know they are not a specific breed, but she has the most unique, playful, infectious personality that I’ve ever known in a cat. she is very smart and she rules the household. Her big sister is a female German Shepherd named Sophie. Kitty hated Sophie when she first came, they are now best friends and have huge games of chase, tag and hide and seek in the house. they sound like a herd of elephants when they are going at it. Kitty loves to egg her sister on, and will peek around the corner until she catches her eye and then tear down the hall so Sophie will chase her. They are both such a joy. If I take a nap, kitty lays on my back and Sophie lays next to us, and if I wake up and pet kitty, I have to pet Sophie because she gets jealous. I am so impressed with calico cats, Kitty is my little BFF. Again, I know they say they are not a separate breed, but there is something very unique and special about calico cats, I don’t care what the experts say!
I read through most (not all) of the comments and we do seem to have the rare mysterious male calico. He is a pretty large solid cat and he is very independent and does not like affection or touch much unless he wants something. He has atypical coloring as is described in this article with mostly white and black with only a smudging of brown here and there. He is beautiful!
He has given us some behavior issues in the past, but seems better now that he is around 5 years old. A few bowel issues as a younger cat, but nothing major recently. There were times when he was younger than I wanted to get rid of him, but I wouldn’t trade him for the world now!
I’m glad this article was able to help you gain a new appreciation for your special kitty! All the best to both of you.
My calico baby is a rescue cat. We got Patches 2 years ago, when she was a kitten. She has learned so much, like saying “mama”, “I love you” and “no”. She plays catch with my husband and sleeps with us, at night. She is spoiled and knows how to get her way (most of the time!). But we did get her to stop climbing into the Christmas tree! Yay!
Thank you for the informative article. It answered some questions I had.
My mom has a calico cat that I found alone in a parking lot she was so tiny maybe two weeks old barely had her eyes open and learning to walk. She was bottle fed she is mean she randomly attacks people she don’t let us pet her we do get lucky from time to time and she outta nowhere become very loveable only for a shot time (five minutes at the most) then will suddenly go from purring and being sweet to attack hissing and mean. I have a small dog same age as her and they are best friends my mom got a new kitten and she hates him She is now almost a year old and is pregnant we hope she becomes less aggressive having kittens. She is a very smart cat and so beautiful it’s sucks that she has such an attitude.
Hi Amanda! I would recommend reading our article on aggression in cats. It has some tips that you may be able to use to resolve this unpredictable behavior. Wishing you and your mom’s calico all the best!
My all grey long haired cat just delivered 5 kittens. 2 are calicos and the other 3 are diluted calicos. Still too soon to be sure if they’re all girls or if we have a male in the litter.
We have a 13 year old Dilute Calico which is the best cat we have ever had. She is 13 years old and never claws us or anything & has the sweetest personality. She gets along with everyone. She is our only pet. The only problem we have she does get stressed from time to time & she has allergies. We feed her only Iams urinary dry cat food only.
hi i have a 5 yr old calico who is very mean with people in general she hisses and bits almost everyone that comes around . she also will bit me and leave me with scars from either biting or clawing me just for trying to hold her or brush her what can i do to help with this . ive tried treats but she dont seem to want to do anything for them she just wants them ive never hit her or punished her in any way for her bad behavior but it has to stop because im getting to the point of wanting to get rid of her for this . she is fixed but not declawed as i was told it shortens there life when declawed so i really dont want to do that . the vet says just to ignore her which i have done but dont seem to have any affect what so ever with her . i also tried to find a treat she really likes but again she dont care about treats for anything. so im at a loss on how to get her to be nicer to me and any help would be greatly apparated .
Hey Tammy, you might appreciate our article on aggression in cats. Hope this helps!
My calico is a rescue who was born outside. She’s so skiddish and fearful. She jumps at any little sound and runs whenever I try to touch her. She’s a little more than a yr now and still runs. She has jumped up on the couch beside me a couple times but doesn’t stay. Her eyes seem a bit slanted. I often wonder if she has a delay. But I love her and I’ll let her come to me when she’s ready.
Just a heads up we have just lost our 19 yr old Calico girl named scramble hence her colours, just like the other girls we had, we never gave them tap water, what with chlorine, sodium Fluoride in it, I know they like to drink fresh running water when available, but we always gave them bottled water.
I have an 8 year old calico cat. She is very mellow, doesn’t like to play. Not much interests her. She follows me where ever I go. She doesn’t like to be held and will only once in awhile will sleep in my lap. She would rather sit by me and be petted. She doesn’t meow and if she does you can’t hear her. Even though she is the way she is we have a special bond. She is a mommy’s girl. I am a very mellow person so we get along just fine. I have been told she could have British short-haired in her witch is deeply rooted in Scottish fold so along of her behaviors would make sense. She is the love of my life!
I have an 8 year old calico cat. She is very mellow, doesn’t like to play. Not much interests her. She follows me where ever I go. She doesn’t like to be held and will only once in awhile will sleep in my lap. She would rather sit by me and be petted. She doesn’t meow and if she does you can’t hear her. Even though she is the way she is we have a special bond. She is a mommy’s girl. I am a very mellow person so we get along just fine. I have been told she could have British short-haired in her witch is deeply rooted in Scottish fold so alot of her behaviors would make sense. She is the love of my life!
hi, I just found an adult male calico cat. the cat came to my house in a state of injury. his leg was seriously injured, sore with pus. I smeared the wound with olive oil. I don’t have the budget to go to the vet. I hope this magical cat gets well soon.
Sorry, my English is bad. I’m from Indonesia
Hello,
We adopted a 10 year old Calico cat named Lucy. She is very laid back and makes herself at home where ever she goes. She immediately loved my kids and was with them 24/7 when we first brought her home. She loved my dogs (after she put them in their place). She loves to travel and visit other homes and fits right in. I have never had such a mild mannered cat in my life. She is now 13 years old and loves to be held and loves to sprawl on our back patio in the sun. We are lucky to have such a great cat.
? I have a healthy beautiful female calico. I’m freaking hear . What is the best thing for her to eat . She doesn’t like not can but the small Sheba variety. She Not interested. .still freaking.
_sorry for going crazy . . I went ahead and continued reading,. Lots of helpful information. Thank you all. And Claudia our Calicobaby is
Very Thankful as well.❤
Really appreciate you being here. Thanks.
When naming a cat and you want it done right away..
Pick your cat up and whisper the cats name in it’s ear and then give it a kiss on the forehead after doing that 3 times set it down and take 5-7 steps back crouch down and call it by it’s new name… Every part of what I just said gets the cat to know it’s name really well.
Thanks for the helpful tips, James!
I have a Callie she’s the one with light colors, she has bright green eyes. Her name is Ricky Lynn and boy can she have a ride she normally sleeps on my stomach don’t know why there, but if I make her mad she will go out of her way to avoid me and I never know what I did. She hardly meows but when she does it’s loud so I’m guessing she needs a cuddle. Ricky can jump from the back of the couch to the cabinet near the kitchen without missing. The one I had before her was Lily she crossed the rainbow bridge, she had so much rude that when she walked she wiggles her butt. I love them both so much.
Thanks for sharing, Norma. Your cats sound wonderful!
Just found out today that a calico I adopted back in 2017 was actually born on November 27th 2002. That makes her 21 years 4 months old!!! She has never been sick or left my house since I’ve had her.
Wow! She sounds like a lucky lady to have found you 🙂
I have a Calico cat Named Ms. Kitty and her brother Tommy. They are both 17 years old and still actually in good health. Ms. Kitty is a loner but she does follow me around. She was an outside cat until this year winter 2023-2024 now she is an inside cat. I am hoping her and her brother Tommy live to be 20.
Thanks for sharing, Michael! Your cats sound wonderful 🙂