They're very rare (it's a female gene), but sometimes it slips through. Anyone own one or know someone that does?
2007-03-20 07:13:29 · 10 answers · asked by Cynical 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
So, noone knows anyone with a male Tortoise Shell or has one themselves? I have a female and was just wondering if anyone had a male. Not calico, Tortie.
2007-03-21 08:07:58 · update #1
Laura Gould had a male calico cat named George and she got interested in the subject and wrote a book, "Cats are not Peas". It can get pretty complicated genetically (not always just a simple XXY sex chromosome combination).
I volunteered doing cat adoptions at the San Francisco shelter - two and one-half years every Saturday and Sunday where there would be at least 50 new cats up for adoption every weekend. So I saw a LOT of cats and never saw a male calico come up to the adoption area. Thank god for calculators - that's 5000 cats!
2007-03-20 08:33:40 · answer #1 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason that only females are calico or tortie is because to have both Black AND Orange, they must have two X chromosomes. Since most males have XY, they do not have two X chromisomes, and therefore cannot have both black AND orange. Anyway, occasionally there is a genetic 'slip up" where a cat has XXY chromisome. IT will appear to be a male, but will usually be sterile. That's why there is OCCASIONALLY a "calico male" or "tortie male"
Hope that clears a few things up.
2007-03-20 10:43:24 · answer #2 · answered by Shelly P. Tofu, E.M.T. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know anyone personally, but have read about them.
As you know, the tortie and calico gene is on only the X-chromosome---MOST of the time. (A calico is a tortie that has white markings as well as black and red, for the uninitiated.) All tortie and calico males---what few of them there are---are sterile.
I read a cute story once about a family that adopted a calico kitty that they assumed, of course, was a female, and whom they named "Callie Sue". They were very surprised, upon taking their new cat to the vet, that Callie Sue was a male. So they naturally changed his name to "A Boy Named Sue" :)
2007-03-20 07:30:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a male calico. He was given to me 2 weeks ago because his family moved to a no pets apartment.
2007-03-20 10:16:38 · answer #4 · answered by sierra33ok 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, I don't have one or no anyone who does. But, I have worked in an animal shelter for 14 years and we have had two or three come through our doors - they do exist!
2007-03-20 08:19:18 · answer #5 · answered by melissa k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I once heard that there are no Male cats that have more than 2 colors.
2007-03-20 07:17:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have been around cats 40yrs and i have never seen or touched a male torte ..i have had females tortes or watered down torte's but the male ones might be out there 'but if so they are very rare.and hidden.....LOL
2007-03-20 07:56:01 · answer #7 · answered by Cami lives 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry I don't. But I wish cause they sound really unique! GOOD LUCK AND DON"T GIVE UP!!
2007-03-20 07:17:39 · answer #8 · answered by cowgirl_meg95 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
genetically only female tortoiseshells exist
2007-03-24 05:59:00 · answer #9 · answered by ~*tigger*~ ** 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I thought they were all female.
2007-03-20 07:59:55 · answer #10 · answered by Bowllynn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋