Although almost all cats have an air of beauty and dignity to them, for sheer charming prettiness, none surpasses the calico cat. This three-toned (black, orange, and white) feline inspires awe in some, terror in others, but indifference in none. This article offers some interesting info about the elusive calico cat.

What Makes A Calico?

Calico cats, by definition, have patches of orange, white, and black fur. In the calico, these patches are distinct. Tortoise shell cats have the same coloring as calicoes, but their colors blend together.  

Yes, We Have No Boy Calicoes

First for a quick lesson in basic biology: Female cats are formed when each parent donates an X chromosome. Male cats are formed when the mother donates an X chromosome and the father donates a Y chromosome.

Part of the genetic anomaly that gives calicoes their unique coloring is linked to the X chromosomes. In calicoes, one X chromosome carries the gene for black fur and the other X chromosome carries the gene for orange fur.

Since males only have one X chromosome, they rarely become calico cats. The few available males of the calicoes breed generally carry genetic abnormalities like XXY chromosome patterns. They are almost always sterile and may experience other health problems as well. 

Calico Cats Are The Bane Of Breeders

Calico cats are not a species unto themselves, and there’s no such thing as a “purebred” calico cat. They’re usually part domestic shorthair (e.g., alley cat), part Manx, part Persian, and part kitchen sink. For this reason, it’s very difficult to breed a calico cat. Breeders can increase the odds of getting a calico (say by breeding a black cat with an orange cat) but the results depend largely on gender and luck. There are no guarantees.

The Price Is Right

Given that the genetic combination must be just right to get a calico, you’d think they might be expensive cats, but most often, they’re not. Many people who end up with calicoes are not professional breeders but hapless pet owners who weren’t expecting or wanting a litter. If you check your local newspaper in the spring, you probably won’t have much trouble finding a calico for either a very low price, or “free to a good home.”

The only time calico cats can get pricey is if they’re also bred for another trait. A calico Munchkin, generally costs more than $500, primarily due to the fact that it is a Munchkin.  

Devil’s Plaything?

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft was afraid of calico cats. He believed them to be signs of the devil.

And The State Cat Is…

In 2001, calico cats were voted the state cat of Maryland, because their colors match the state bird (the Baltimore oriole) and the state insect (Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly).

The alley cat, wild and capricious as it may be, does serve the community well by minimizing rodent problems in the neighborhood. They may not actually rid us entirely of the rats as well as mice, but they can certainly keep a check on their population and, also discourage fresh rodents from entering the community. Thus, Act as an important link of the eco-balance.

An Interesting Spectacle

It also makes for interesting spectacle with many people deriving pleasure from observing them and, also helps lower blood pressure, according to medical studies. They also provide an opportunity for people to feed them and take care of them and, are good soul mates for the elderly and, help in relieving boredom, depression, loneliness as well as isolation. They can relieve tension as well as provide a modicum of happiness in the lives of those who tend for them.

Alley cats can help in extending the life expectancy as well as lower blood pressure and relieve stress as; taking care of them is beneficial to the health of their providers. Taking care of them provides an opportunity that can obviate the need for irresponsible purchase of a pet that is left uncared for. Keeping the alley cat stable vaccinated as well as sterilized will help in deterring other strays from moving into the area and, will help reduce risk to residents, as well.

However, alley cats are quite difficult to handle and should not be taken lightly and, it would be safer to handle them sparingly, to ensure one’s own well-being and safety. Taking them to the veterinary should be useful and, use should be made of special traps, squeeze-side cages, as well as cages to contain the alley cats, after they have been operated upon. In this regard, those who come into contact with an alley cat should have had pre-exposure rabies vaccinations and, if bitten, the wound should be washed thoroughly as well as be treated without delay, to prevent infections.

The alley cat may also be needed to be tested for viral diseases such as FeLV and FIV, though the rate of such infections in them is generally low. People often would like to give an alley cat sanctuary, but few of these cats would really relish living in confinement as they are wild animals that are accustomed to the outdoor life. Also, alley cats are social animals that may have developed strong bonds with companion cats. Relocating the alley cat may mean separating them and, thus cause them needless stress. But, for safety sakes, there is nothing wrong with relocating an alley cat.