What's the difference between a calico and a tabby cat?

Question

I've been wondering about this. Is it number of colours, pattern, colour...? Someone tell me!!!

Answer 1

as exampled below, there are different kinds of tortoiseshells, aka calicos. also, there are different kinds of tabbies as shown below!
and yes, it is all of those things, but more. Have fun!

Answer 2

A calico cat has big patches of colour. A tortishell has more like flecks of different colours. The tabby cat is generally striped, although there are also spotted and ticked tabbys. The tabby cat also has markings above the eye that look like the letter M.

Calico's and tortis are females 99% of the time. Tabby cats are both genders.

In regards to personality, black tortis are renowned for being more aloof and solitary. Calicos are generally very pretty cats, and they more often than not know it. Because the tortis and calicos are female, some people would say they aren't as friendly, but I think it depends on the cat. In general male cats tend to be more of Mummy's Boy, and reliant on love and cuddles, whereas the girls are a bit more self sufficient.

Answer 3

Tortoiseshell cats are speckled black and orange--the colors are usually pretty well mixed in the coat. If they have white feet, they are snowshoe tortoiseshells. If they are grey and pale orange, they are muted tortoiseshells. Calicos have white on them and their black and orange and white areas are usually patchy in pattern. If they are grey, pale orange, and white, they are muted calicos. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between the two--if an otherwise tortie-looking cat has a white patch on it, for example. And sometimes you see calico or tortoiseshell tabbies--where the different colors have stripes in them.

Answer 4

a calico is tri colored (and always female - something to do with genetics) a tabby is striped (can be grey or orange, male or female)

Answer 5

calico has patches, tabby has stripes