![]() For females, there will be orange, calico and black and their frequency can be calculated (originally described by Hardy-Weinberg for populations):Ĭalico = (.3) x (.7) + (.7) x (. If we had a population where 30% of the alleles are orange, then 30% of male cats will be orange, and 70% black. However, this will be more dramatic for orange cats, because the orange allele is not so common. In females there are 3 colour choices, so both orange and black are going to be less common than in males. If a black and an orange male embryo fuse then you will get a male calico cat that will be fertile, and pass on orange or black, depending on which cells made the testes.įrequencies (or “I heard that all orange cats were male?”) Male calico cats can also be a chimera – a fusion of two different individuals early in the pregnancy (as an embryo).Such individuals are often infertile because their chromosomes don’t pair properly during generation of sperm. Male calico cats can have an extra X chromosome (aneuploidy – XXY), similar to Klinefelter syndrome in humans. ![]() In cats, chromosomes determine their fur color. Like humans, female cats have XX chromosomes, while male cats have XY chromosomes. The reason for this is based on chromosomes. Male calico cats are very rare, with only around 1 in 3,000 calico cats being male, but they do exist. Calico cats are most often female but the mutation of the genes seem to happen more frequently than most mutations.ĭoes this mean that male calico cats are special? Some cat enthusiast believe so and some still think that all calico cats are female.Yes, calico cats need to have two X chromosomes, so they are generally female (XX) not male (XY). You may have heard that calico cats are always female, but this is a myth. Although unusual, they aren’t considered rare. Until standards of biological sex catch up with adaption and evolution, it will still be said that some calico cats are male. Some are still male, even though they are usually sterile and contain an extra chromosome. Technically, this means they are not actually male but outside of the binary entirely.ĭoes that mean all calico cats are female? Calico cats considered to be male must have a chromosomal makeup of XXY. Scientifically speaking, this means that all calico cats are female or have an extra chromosome. In cases where male cats turn out to be calico they would still need two X chromosomes to be able to have both black and orange genes. Male cats generally get their coloring from their mother since they have one X chromosome. Since the fur color only comes from the X chromosome, female cats are the only cats capable of having both of these colors passed down genetically. Calico cats are produced when both the genes for black and orange fur are passed down. Male cats typically have a chromosomal makeup of XY and female cats have XX. Cats get their color from the X chromosome only. ![]() Cat genetics aren’t simple but how a calico kitten is created isn’t that hard to understand. The fact that the cat is female is why it can be calico. Even with genetic mutations and malformed genitals, the cats are still considered male by binary standards, which means that not all calico cats are female. Due to the mutation and the extra chromosome, it’s been said that most male calico cats also have malformed genitals. Even though most calico cats are female, those born male typically have average and healthy lives – aside from not being able to reproduce.Įven though there are not many males, not all calico cats are female. This could also be the reason why most male calico cats are sterile. In fact, because of the way genetics work in cats – male calico cats usually have an extra pair of chromosomes. So why do people believe that all calico cats are female? According to veterinarians, it’s likely because male calico cats technically aren’t possible without a genetic mutation, so to speak. According to the founder of the Calico Cat Registry International, 1 out of every 3,000 calico kittens are male. There are male calico cats but they are unusual. Why it’s this way is purely about numbers and how cat genes get passed down. Simply put, there are some male calico cats, but most often calico cats are female. To find out if all calico cats are female it’s best to consult with someone who knows about cat genetics.
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