whats the difference between a calico cat and a tortoiseshell cat?

Question

Im reading a series about cats and i want to know the difference.

Answer 1

These are not cat breeds. They are colors. Many breeds contain cats of both color patterns.

A calico-colored cat is a white-based cat that has large splotches of black and large splotches of orange that don't intermingle. Black, orange, and white are all (for the most part) separate.

A tortoiseshell-colored cat has black and orange mixed in together, in a brindle-type pattern. The majority have a 'split' nose....black on one side and orange on the other. They can also have white on them....but that makes them torti and white, not calico.

Some cats couldn't 'decide' which they wanted to be, lol....and end up with some calico-colored body parts, and some torti-colored body parts.

The situation is further complicated when you have torti and tabby markings (stripes) at the same time. We call that a 'torbi.'

A calico cat with the 'dilution' gene comes out gray and pale orange on a white base, and is called a dilute calico. A torti with the dilution gene comes out as a lightened version with the same markings also, and is called a dilute torti. (Imagine either coloration being 'bleached' out to a paler version.)

In order to have both black and orange (true orange, not ruddy brown) in the same cat, it must have 2 X-chromosomes. That's why calico, torti, and torbi cats are almost always female (XX) rather than male (XY). In order for a male cat to have that coloration, he has to have an extra X-chromosome, and thus be XXY. Such male cats are almost always sterile, and not worth any more money than any other regular cat....they are just a genetic anomaly, not a rare 'breed.'

Was that more than you needed to know? LOL


(Side note that's somewhat related: Female orange tabby cats used to be almost as uncommon as male calicos and torties, but female orange tabby cats are seen much more frequently these days.)

Answer 2

Dilute Calico

Answer 3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortoiseshell_cat

From Wikipedia -

"Tortoiseshell and calico describe a coloring found in cats caused by a combination of specific genetic traits. It is a mix of phaeomelanin based colors (red) and eumelanin based color (black, chocolate and cinnamon). Cats of this coloration are believed to bring good luck in the folklore of many cultures."

Mostly it has to do with coloration and not necessarily breed. I have a short haired calico who is fat and sweet and mean as hell all at the same time :~) I've seen long haired calico's too.

Answer 4

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 5

Tortie Cat

Answer 6

A tortie is black and red mixed closely together for a wild, brindle look, while a calico has large solid patches of red, black, and white (or gray, tan, and white if it's a diluted calico).

Answer 7

My parents had an orange, white and black calico cat (big color splotches). She was VERY smart and independent--but didn't like kids for some reason.

She ran away and my parents hoped that she would come back before they moved. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. We all suspect that the cat found another home.

Answer 8

I believe a calico is a tricolor, usually large blotches of color. A tortie looks mostly two colors even though it's three and appears more speckled.

Answer 9

lengthy hair is nice but requires maintenance and u have to grow that out for a long time

Answer 10

A calico is often multi colored and a tortoiseshell is often just two different shades of color -i have seen orange and light orange- but are in wave patters on the body. Not too sure if this will help you or not. Try searching up each name in your search box.