cat genetics

[red]

OK, this isn't cattle related but thought you genetic gurus would be interested.

Question: Are Calico Cats Always Female?
Many people are surprised to hear that the vast majority of calico cats are female. Why is this? Is it possible for a calico cat to ever be male? Learn about the genetics of coat color in this feline FAQ.

Answer: First off, what is a calico cat? A calico cat is not a breed of cat, it is a color pattern. To be called "calico", three colors must be present: black, white and orange. Variations of these colors include gray, cream and ginger. A "true" calico cat has large blocks of these three colors, a "tortoise shell" or "tortie" cat has a mix of these three colors (blended/swirled together more than distinct blocks of color). Be sure to stop by the Calico Cat Gallery on the About.com Cats site1 to see photos of a variety of calico cats.
Now that a calico cat has been defined as a cat with three colors, the question is: why are they nearly always female? The answer is in genetics. Coat color in cats is a sex-linked trait, a physical characteristic (coat color) related to gender. Female animals have two X chromosomes (XX), males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY). The genetic coding for displaying black or orange color is found on the X chromosome. The coding for white is a completely separate gene.

Since females have two X chromosomes, they are able to "display" two colors (orange and black, or variations thereof) and white; creating the 3-color calico mix. Since males have only one X chromosome, they can only be orange OR black. It is more complicated than simply having the color genes -- it is a complex process of dominant and non-dominate genes interacting on the X chromosomes, but that is the basis for coat color in calico cats. For those of you interested in the detailed coat color genetics, please see the "Related Reading" articles at the bottom of this FAQ.

Can a calico cat ever be male? Yes, in rare instances. In this situation, the cat has two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome (XXY). Cats with this chromosomal configuration are usually sterile (not able to breed). This is similar to a condition in humans called Klinefelter's syndrome, or XXY Syndrome2.

 

[olsun]

Not sure that this is fact, or even sex related, but from what I have seen, all or nearly all yellow or orange cats are toms. Is this true?

 

[dori36]

Not sure that this is fact, or even sex related, but from what I have seen, all or nearly all yellow or orange cats are toms. Is this true?

Nope.  We've got a cute little orange female kitty in the clinic right now.

 

[justintime]

This isn't scientific but I have been told that no male cat will ever have three colors in their coat.... and I have never seen one either... so it must be official... lol

I didn't even know that cats had genetics. Around this place, I would hate to think about the pedigrees of some of the cats that live here! Pretty intense inbreeding I am sure... and a few male cats should be locked up .

 

[FutureBreeder2013]

iv heard that calio males are usually sterile but i could be wrong

 

[P-F]

Mine are all inbreed or should I say Linebred

 

[inthebarnagain]

I have never seen a male calico, I am sure it can happen, like a twin heifer could actually reproduce but it is extremely rare. 

 

[LazyGLowlines]

I have never seen a male calico, I am sure it can happen, like a twin heifer could actually reproduce but it is extremely rare. 

Do you mean a male/female set of twins where the heifer has a greater chance of being freemartin?  If it's a set of heifer twins there shouldn't be an issue breeding either heifer.

 

[Davis Shorthorns]

I still say that I have the best farm cat genetics in the world.  The main mamma is averaging 1.5 kittens per litter.  I love it.  All the offspring are the same way.  her largest litter was 3

 

[oakbar]

If you really like cats--don't read this!!

I think cats are really the most useful when they are used in non-traditional ways.  For example:  they work great to clean your toilet.  You simply put them in, slam down the lid and sit on it for 20 minutes or so.  They really make that porcelain shine.

If you can't tell by now, I really don't like cats much--except for one or two huge toms I've known that had more attitude than a pit bull.  I really hate tripping over them and their "deposits" that they like to leave in my shop.  Consequently, every cat on our farm is the descendant of a feral cat and gets "hose trained" (squirt them with water) if they start getting too chummy.  I don't mind them hanging around the hay storage, etc. when I'm not around but I really prefer to see them scratching and clawing to get out the other end of the barn whenever I show up.  Then I know I have them trained right.  Otherwise, any cat that shows up around our place gets and immediate case of lead poisoning and ceases to become a problem.    We have a lot of birds(pheasants, turkeys, etc.) around our place and feral cats are known to be the number 1 killer of young birds.  Save your hate letters--I'm too damn old to be converted!!  JMHO

 

[aj]

I have a yellow tom cat that sticks one back leg perfectly straight up in the air when he licks his ying yang. Perfectly strait up like a gymnast or something. It is like he is going for style points. He is not a house cat but he does come in the house to eat and comfort me. His name is Tom.

 

[red]

KK is more of a champagne color. He will not acknowledge that he was born in a JD backhoe. One of the brothers would take the whole litter for a ride when he used it until the mom moved them.