This doesn't make sense to me.
2006-08-20 15:16:01 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
that person is right
2006-08-20 15:21:01 · answer #1 · answered by Moo moo I'm a chicken 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
The majority of calico cats are female. The gene that is passed along from the parents that makes a cat have the 3 different colors (calico) is a gene that is linked to being female. Occassionally and extremely rare a male calico is born; however, due to the calico gene being linked to female, if this happens then the male calico cat will be sterile (meaning it will not be able to ever produce sperm).
2006-08-20 15:24:01 · answer #2 · answered by boxerpitk9 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It makes genetic sense. The coloration pattern for the calico or tortoiseshell cat is found on the X chromosome. Females have XX pattern (same in humans), males have XY. The coloration is recessive and it requires two of the X chromosomes to carry it. Therefore the cat must be XX or female. A male, XY, can carry it recessively on an X chromosome he transmits to join with the mother cat's X gene. His male kittens will also be carriers then of the recessive X
This is why the calicos and tortoiseshells are almost 99% female. It is possible for any male to have an extra chromosome and an XXY pattern. This is very rare and the males are sterile.
2006-08-20 15:41:56 · answer #3 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1 in 3,000 calicos are males. I actually just looked this up and found your question in the search. They can only be males if they have two X chromosomes instead of XY (XX is female being why they need to be XXY to be a calico male.) this same genetic anamoly can also occur in humans (Obviously not having to do with color of skin but other things in humans.) They are also only calico if they are mostly white, mostly black or just tri-colored all over are "torties" or tortish shell cats. Calicos are also not a breed of their own, there are 16 known breeds able to produce calico colors.
2006-08-23 10:38:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The genes for calico are located on the x chromosomes (girl genes) and are recessive, you must have two of the calico gene to have calico fur. The only cats that can be calico are XX genotype and are therefore female, or are a mutation XXY and are male, but sterile. Only about one in 3000 male cats is calico and it cannot make babies.
2006-08-20 15:27:14 · answer #5 · answered by ppqppq10 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Calico cats are always female. Just a genetic thing--the Y chromosome and the calico gene just don't work together.
Another interesting fact, the majority of orange cats are males, however from time to time you can find a girl.
2006-08-20 15:23:26 · answer #6 · answered by Cornsilk P 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is possible to have a male calico, but it is very rare. It has something to do with genetics. I have heard that male calicos are sterile (meaning that can't reproduce) but I'm not sure of that. The same goes for tortoiseshell cats...most of them are female, but I have actually met one male.
Most orange tabby cats are male also...not all of them just most.
2006-08-24 13:49:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have continuously heard that there are so a lot more desirable woman calico cats than adult males and so a lot more desirable male yellow cats than women. I did have one woman yellow cat once, yet each and each of the others were male. i have yet to run for the length of a calico male, yet i might want to imagine they're there, basically uncommon. Why it quite is? i fairly do not comprehend.
2016-11-26 20:36:42 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a genetic thing. On rare occassions when tri-colored or Calico male cats occur they are usually sterile.
2006-08-22 22:16:18 · answer #9 · answered by Carole 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I found my Calico, I looked and thought I saw male parts, and I took him to the vet to get shots. When I got there, I told them that I had a male Calico - they LAUGHED at me and told me it was impossible! So I named my "female" cat Simone!
I moved about five months later and he started spraying. Thinking he was female, I found it weirs that he was spraying. I took him to another vet out here to get spayed.
I get a call on my machine - the doctor from the vet office.
He suggested that I change my cat's name to Simon since he is MALE. I get the vets office to pick him up and they had cut him open to perform the spay and THEN figured out he is MALE!!!
So, YES - there are male Calicos!!!!
2006-08-20 15:34:32 · answer #10 · answered by GA Peach 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have seen a couple of calico males over the years. They are usually sterile and can have other health issues. Very uncommon.
Have seen MANY orange tiger females though, and they are not sterile!!
2006-08-20 15:22:33 · answer #11 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋