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How rare are male calico cats?

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Only one out of every 3000 calico cats is male — and this one was just scooped up for adoption in California. read more

Female cats, on the other hand, can be tabby, calico or tortoiseshell. Calico and tortoiseshell are similar, but calicos have patches of white, orange and brown or black while torties' coats are only orange and black. read more

But male calicos are rare: Only one out of every 3,000 calico cats is male, according to a study by the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri. The gene that governs how the orange color in cats displays is on the X chromosome. read more

Male calicos are a genetic anomaly. Cats, like humans, have two sex chromosomes. Chromosomes carry genes and determine an animal's traits. The required red color for a calico cat is passed only on a female (X) chromosome. read more

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