My cats colouring?

Question

My vet's receptionist asked me what colour my cat was. I said 'calico'. She said 'what?' I said 'calico' then she asked me to open the carried until she had a look at her. Then she said 'no, she's tortoiseshell' and looked at me if I was mad. I dont have a photo of my kitty to hand but she is exactly like the one in the photo attached http://crittergeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/calico.jpg
Am I wrong? Is calico not a recognised colouration in the UK?

Answer 1

No - you were RIGHT!!

Your cat is a calico. Calicos are usually a mixture of white, orange and browny/black. Tortoiseshells are a more 'brindley' colour - usually mostly brown with orange patches, and rarely any white patches.

To help you, this website explains it clearly:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortoiseshell_cat

If you're very clever, this website explains it properly:
http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/tricolors.shtml

But you were right - that receptionist was wrong!!

xx Emmie

PS - I LOVE calicos - they are one of the most beautiful colour patterns, IMO.

Answer 2

From what I know Calico is more a US term for the coloring. Here your cat would have been called a Calico b/c of the white. Apparently the receptionist at your vet is not familiar with the term.

Answer 3

Calico is tortoiseshell with white. So yes the cat is calico.
It's not widely used in the UK, so that's why she doesn't know.

edit:
Breeders of cats in the UK refer to either Tortie and white or calico - I've seen both. It is mainly an American term, although I've occasionally seen it used over here. I've never seen it used by a non breeder in the UK though.

Answer 4

I don't live in the UK, but I'm pretty sure it's a recognized color.

I think a case could be made for either, at least for this cat pictured. Calicos generally have more clearly defined spots of color - the black and orange wouldn't normally intermingle. BUT, torties don't usually have such large swathes of color - the black and orange really are "splashed" all over. There's another question a few down asking about tortie coloring, too. Take a look at the photos she linked to for really good examples of tortie marking.

If really pressed, I would more likely call this cat a calico because the colors are more delineated than in a tortie.

Answer 5

I would have always called that marking a tortoiseshell until working in Bermuda. Aparently Calico is more of an American term so they are both right!! In America tortoiseshell's do not have any white on them.

Answer 6

I would have said calico because of all the white. I tend to think of tortoiseshell as having little white to no white and more patchy type color.


then there are some people who use "calico" and "tortoiseshell" interchangeably.

Answer 7

I think it's purely a matter of opinion w/ your particular kitty.

I want to the link from Bozema's answer I added the link again
( and happed to see a cat like mine)

under the tortoiseshell and white, the orange white and blue point queen,

I clicked on the picture and it says "image: peachfuzz--spotted Calico"

Answer 8

the vet is right..
and so are you..
because its how people see things..
in my opinion its calico..
but last year i would of called it totoiseshell... because im from london and i had no idea what the hell a calico was..
they look the same lol so i think they are the same just 2 different names..

Answer 9

You are wrong. But it's just a technicality based on where you live.

The coloring "calico" only exists in the United States. Eerywhere else it is called Tortoishell with white.

The coloring term "Tortioshell" is used everywhere in the world for any cat with the White/black/red coloring.

However, here in the US... Patched (clearly definded color borders) cats with white/black/red fur are known as Calicos. But only her in the US. Everywhere else they are known as tortoishell with white.

Brindled (mixed fur colors with no patches) cats with white/black/red fur are known as Tortoishell here in the US.

There ae also Dilute Torties and Dilute Calicos that are Grey/Peach/Cream.

Answer 10

Torties, patched tabbies, and calicos.


If your cat is randomly patched with different colors, you probably have a tortie, patched tabby, or calico.

For cats without white markings:

A "tortoiseshell" or "tortie" is randomly patched all over with red, black, and cream. The patches may be very mingled, or they may be more distinct.

A "blue-cream" (also called "blue tortie" or or "dilute tortie") is randomly patched all over with blue and cream. This is a soft, pastel color.

A "brown patched tabby" looks almost like autumn leaves, with patches of brown tabby and patches of red tabby. This color is also known as "torbie" because it is a tabby tortie.

A "blue patched tabby" is a soft color with patches of blue tabby and patches of cream tabby.

There is special terminology for tortoiseshells with white markings, depending on how much white they have:
A "tortoiseshell and white" or "blue-cream and white" has only small white areas. The body has mingled colors.

A "calico" has more white. As a rule, the more white there is on the cat, the larger and more distinct the red and black patches will be. You'll notice that the large black patches are solid black, and the large red patches are actually red tabby.

A "dilute calico" has the same amount of white as a calico, but instead of red and black patches, it has blue and cream patches. The blue patches are solid blue, and the cream patches are cream tabby.

A "patched tabby and white" or "torbie and white" may have any amount of white. A patched tabby with a lot of white, like a calico, has large distinct patches of color, and is sometimes called a "patterned calico," "calico tabby," or "caliby."


Yours is definately in my opininion a Calico. BUT, as there is no definate line a lot of colours are just said with personal opinions and views. Other Judges/vets/etc would see this cat as a Tortioseshell. Calico is recognised in the UK.