So, check out these types of Calico cats and learn something new about these cats with fascinating coats!
#1 Classic Calico Cat
A classic or traditional Calico cat is a tri-color cat that includes white, orange, and black patches. Usually, cats with calico coats will have white faces, legs, and chests with black and orange patches on their forehead, backs, and ears.
It’s quite important to differentiate Calico from torbie and tortie cats. At first, they may appear to be very similar.
The main difference is that tortoiseshell cats have a bi-color pattern that includes black and orange colors and variations of these two colors. Furthermore, torbie cats refer to the pattern of tortoiseshell markings with tabby stripes.
As far as their personality is concerned, it usually depends on the specific breed of cat; however, they’re often described as extremely gentle, lovely, and affectionate felines.
#2 Patched Tabby Calico Cat
A Patched Tabby is another type of Calico cat with the tabby pattern.
Cats with this type of calico pattern will often have brown stripes, that is, the tabby pattern, on their forehead (with a distinctive M-shaped marking), on their backs, legs, tails, and each side of the body, along with orange patches.
Usually, patched tabby Calico cats have white paws and chests and are often called caliby cats.
#3 Dilute Calico Cat
Dilute Calico cats are very interesting for their unusual appearance. Just like a classic Calico cat, their pattern consists of three fur colors but diluted.
That means that instead of black patches, a diluted Calico cat will have smoke gray or blue patches, and instead of orange ones, it will have cream-colored patches.
These diluted colors happen due to a recessive gene. So, both cat parents must possess this recessive gene to produce such a coloration.
However, the parents don’t necessarily have to be Diluted Calico cats themselves; they only need to possess the recessive gene.
This type of Calico cat is very interesting and popular for its unusual appearance, and in some countries, they’re called Clouded Tigers because their colors seem clouded and faded.
#4 Long-haired Calico Cat
Calico cats may have long or short hair. So, all of these previously mentioned types of Calico cats can also be long-haired.
However, this type of Calico cat is more common in long-haired cat breeds that can have these specific patterns, such as Maine Coons.
Maine Coons are famous for their size and lovely personalities, which is why they’re often called gentle giants. Many cat owners claim that calico Maine Coons are even more affectionate than others.
#5 Short-haired Calico Cat
Short-haired Calico cats are the most common type, and even though there are purebred cats with this specific pattern, it’s most common in Domestic Shorthair cats. This type of cat refers to the average mixed cat of unknown ancestry.
So, if you’re looking for a short-haired Calico cat, you can check in adoption or rescue centers, as that’s the place where you’ll be most likely to find a domestic cat with this pattern.
#6 Male Calico Cat
The main reason why a male calico cat is on this list is because they’re extremely rare.
In general, Calico cats are usually females because both sex and coat color are determined by the X chromosome. Male cats have one X and one Y chromosome.
If it happens that a male cat has this calico pattern, it’s because the male has XXY chromosome, which is a genetic rarity called Klinefelter Syndrome.