We thought calicos were just like any other cat.
And while it’s obvious that they have a beauty all their own, they’re also fascinating.
Did you know these 6 facts about calicos?
1. They are a distinctive group, but not considered a “breed” of cat
Calico refers to the coat of a cat, not its breed. In fact, just about any breed – from an American Shorthair to a Persian – can also be a calico cat.
What defines a calico is its distinctive tri-color coat pattern, usually black, red, and white (bi-color cats are tortoiseshells, so it’s the white part of the coat that makes a calico).
2. Most calicos are female
A cat’s coat is determined by its genes and the genetic code that leads to a calico coat is located on the X chromosome. Of course, males have an X chromosome too, but you need the DNA from TWO X chromosomes to make a calico.
And females have two Xs while males have an X and a Y chromosome.
Only in very rare instances could genetic mutation could lead to a male calico.
3. They are the official “state cat” of Maryland
On October 1, 2001, the calico became the official state cat of Maryland.
Why, you ask? Well, because five 4th-graders at Western Port Elementary School in Allegany County, Maryland wanted it to be and since they were studying how a bill becomes a law in their civics class, they decided to write a letter to Delegate Kevin Kelly (D-Allegany) who signed into law this session. Apparently, it met with very little resistance.
The five girls heard that a group of students had secured an official state dinosaur years earlier and they also thought the calico’s colors matched the state flag pretty well.
(Oh, and the official dinosaur of Maryland? The Astrodon. Obviously.)
4. You can’t breed calico cats
Remember the fact that calico color genes are only located on X chromosomes? Well, that means getting a calico in a litter is entirely unpredictable.
And you can’t breed them because in rare cases when male calicos are born, they’re sterile.
So it’s the luck of the draw!
5. Every calico coat is unique
We have genetics to thank for this one too.
Calico coats are created when two different genes on the X chromosome are inactivated and – long story short – no two cats share enough DNA to have the exact same pattern on their coat.
A calico coat is like a fingerprint in that no two are alike.
6. They’re considered good luck and thought to bring good fortune in some parts of the world
In Japan, calicos are considered lucky because they are so rare and unique. Since you can’t breed for them, they’re considered a blessing.
Japanese sailors also used to use calicos to handle the mouse populations on ships. And no matter what culture you’re talking about, you’ll find lots of superstition when it comes to anything involving sailing the high seas.
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We already had a thing for calicos, but this will change the way we look at them forever.
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