I have always heard this. What do you think?
2006-07-30 07:59:11 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
"For a cat to be calico, it must simultaneously express both of the alleles, O and o, which are two versions of the same gene, located at the same location on the X chromosome. Males normally cannot do this: they can have only one allele, as they have only one X chromosome. Over 90% of tortoiseshell cats are females. Occasionally a male calico is born. These may have Klinefelter's syndrome, carrying an extra X chromosome, and will almost always be sterile or they may be a chimera resulting from the fusion of two differently coloured embryos."
2006-07-30 08:03:56 · answer #1 · answered by Doop 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes, there ARE male calicos, but they are usually sterile. Certian colors are carried on certain genes. and sometimes things dont work out the way they are susposed to. This is called a genetic mutation. The male calicos have 2 x chromos and 1 y..the calico colors can only be present when 2 x chromosomes are included in the genetic makeup. This usually means a female..but the y causes differences. This is why they are sterile..Male calicos look like this XXY<=====i am pretty sure
2006-07-30 15:48:03 · answer #2 · answered by kitty witty luvs u 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, but most are. There are like, 2 out of 20 cats that are Calico AND Male.
2006-07-30 15:42:53 · answer #3 · answered by Mo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are. When a black and white cat mates with a tabby (yellow) then there is a chance that the female will produce a calico. Some are beautiful with their markings and some not so pretty. I love them and had a most gorgeous one about 30 years ago. The female was black and white and the male yellow.
2006-07-30 15:21:55 · answer #4 · answered by # one 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No calico cat come in male and female
2006-07-30 17:38:51 · answer #5 · answered by Nevar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to my science professor in college while we were studying genetics, his statement was that calico cats are always female because there would have to be two XX chromosomes to make this trait. Male cats since they are males, have only XY chromosomes. They may carry the trait in their genes, however their furry coats will not show this.
2006-07-30 15:16:13 · answer #6 · answered by feminine feline 1953 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The majority are female. But on occasion a male calico does occur, but they are rare. Most of them are sterile, but even that is not 100% true.
2006-07-30 15:04:41 · answer #7 · answered by Alice Chaos 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have heard that it is very rare to find a calico male. but they are out there. i actually had a male calico. his mother was calico. he was the only male in the whole litter of eight kittens. so yes there are male cals but very rare.
2006-07-30 15:06:49 · answer #8 · answered by ? 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tha's what I've always heard too. I know people with calicos and I've had calicos, and they are always girls.
Note to the one responder:
Calicos are not a "breed" of cat, rather calico refers to the colorings and markings.
2006-07-30 15:02:35 · answer #9 · answered by nimo22 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No.
""Section: The Secret of Calico Cats
Calico cats, with their orange, black and white coloration, are almost always female. So are black and orange tortoiseshells...""
http://www.petplace.com/cats/why-are-calico-cats-female/page1.aspx#
2006-07-30 15:05:09 · answer #10 · answered by Sancira 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋