Being prone to displaying more aggressive behavior towards humans is not unique to calico cats, however, as the study also found that black and white males also show more human-directed aggression than male cats of other coat colors (Stelow et al., 2016).
In multiple studies, calico and tortoiseshell cats have been shown to display more human-directed aggression than other coat colors, with female cats in general also being more likely to be aggressive towards humans than males. Among cat professionals and cat parents, calico cats have a reputation for having a distinct attitude, with some people calling them sassy, crazy, or unpredictable (Becker, 2012 Stelow et al., 2016). One of the disadvantages of being a calico cat is their reputation for having a bad attitude. They will seek them out for adoption, regardless of their reputation for having an attitude, which will be discussed further.
There are many cat lovers out there that show a strong preference towards calico cats. It is often their striking coat pattern that draws cat lovers to them, especially in a shelter environment. Calico cats can have striking markings that make them extremely beautiful. One of the advantages of being a calico cat is having a gorgeous, unique coat pattern. What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Being A Calico Cat? In some parts of the world, calico cats are referred to as tricolor (Delgado et al., 2012) or piebald (Wilhelmy et al., 2016). Other parts of the world have other terms for calico cats. Also, the term calico is actually an American term that was adopted from a type of printed fabric. The term calico simply refers to the coat pattern. No, calico coat patterns are not specific to any one cat breed. These cats may have tabby stripes in addition to their black and orange color patches. It is similar to a calibby and therefore is a mix of a tabby and tortoiseshell cat. Torbie is another term used in reference to cats with black and orange patches.Tortoiseshell cats can also come in a dilute variety. Calicos often have a white-based coat, whereas tortoiseshells have a black-based coat with more of a blend of the colors together rather than the distinct color patches seen in calicos. Tortoiseshell (tortie, for short) is a similar coat pattern that is often confused with calicos.These cats will have the traditional tabby stripes, often within their orange and black color patches. Calibby is also a variety of the calico cat pattern and is a mix of a calico and tabby cat.There are some other terms that may be used to refer to calicos, or calico-type cats. But, all calicos will have distinct patches of orange, black, and white patches of fur (Stelow et al., 2016).
Some calicos are known as dilute calicos, which may have grey and cream-colored patches instead of black and orange. Calicos have a distinct coat pattern typically made up of white, black, and orange. What Is The Definition Of A Calico Cat?Ĭalico is a type of coat pattern seen in domestic cats. The few instances where there are male calico cats are due to the presence of three sex chromosomes (Stelow et al., 2016).īefore we learn more about the genetics behind what makes a calico, let’s learn a little bit more about what calico cats are. The calico coloration is produced with two X chromosomes, which is why most calico cats are female. It is true that calico cats are almost always female, but in rare instances calico cats will be male. In this article, we will answer some of the most common questions about calico cats to help you understand more about these colorful kitties. One coat pattern that definitely has a reputation for their behavior is the calico. One reason for this may be the reputation that some cats have based on their color patterns (Delgado et al., 2012). Many cat lovers have their own preferences for cat breeds or coat colors. If you are a cat lover, you are probably well aware that there are many different types of coat colors and patterns out there for you to choose from.