There are two types of sex chromosomes known as X chromosomes and Y chromosomes. Most of us get one sex chromosome from each parent. How do your sex chromosomes affect your cells? We can look at tortoiseshell and calico cats to understand this a little better. But did you know that the fur of some cats can be useful in understanding the branch of genetics called epigenetics? Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression due to factors other than changes to DNA. There are millions of cat videos that can be found on YouTube from all over the world!Ībout 37% of Canadian homes have at least one cat.Ĭats can make us laugh, they can make good family pets, or they may even scare some of us. If you see a mixture of darker colors-this is a tortie. Once you have this concept in mind, it will be easy to tell the difference from now on.People love cats! And they are not just popular in Canada. That’s right- if you spot white patches, you’re dealing with a calico. But in reality, the coloring and the personalities vary quite a lot, and the separation is concrete. After all, they are both a mixtape of different colors, resulting in a similar coat construction. You may think the tortie and the calico are essentially the same. Difference Between Tortoiseshell and Calico That means many different cat breeds can have calico coats like Persians, Munchkins, and Maine Coons, but no cat is exclusively called “calico” by name. A calico can produce several colors on the kitty spectrum-there are no guarantees.Ĭalico is also not a breed-it’s just a pattern. This means you could not breed a calico cat with the hope of an all-calico litter. Rather than being bred for their particular coat pattern, the calico phenomenon is a spontaneous act of nature. But they have patches of bold color that can be orange, black, tan, grey, chocolate, cream, red, or brown. The calico has an exceptionally recognizable color palette. Or they can be very relaxed, gentle, and loving. A calico can share the attitude of a tortie-bold, independent, and mischievous. When it comes to the personality you can expect, this varies more than other patterns. These cats have been the epicenter of scientific studies, trying to figure out what spontaneous genes combine to create this gorgeous feline. The beautiful calico is a tri-colored cat that always, always, always sports white in the mix. Calico Cat Overview Image Credit: Jaromir Chalabala, Shutterstock So, next time you spot a tortie on your path, you may have a spell of good fortune. Still, today, when some spot a stray tortie, they believe great things will follow. And you may be able to strike a small fortune since male torties are considered a hot commodity-like a four-leaf clover.Īre you superstitious? In Celtic folklore, the tortoiseshell pattern is also attributed to luck. That means you couldn’t use a male tortie in hopes of breeding them. Males are incredibly rare-and always sterile. Many torties have a “chimera-like” face, meaning two colors split nearly perfectly down the middle. They are instantly recognizable for their dark swirls and interesting patterns. Torties are two shades of color, essentially any color from black to cream, but no white. These creatures are independent-the epitome of a cat owning you rather than the reverse. These felines are known for their fiery, spicy attitudes, sporting a diva complex wherever they go-commonly referred to as “tortitude”. The tortie harbors a lot of personality under their unique coat. As you could guess, their name comes from their coat pattern, which looks quite similar to a tortoise’s shell. This is an introduction to the lovely, ever-sassy tortoiseshell-better known as “torties”. Tortoiseshell Cat Overview Image Credit: Mrdidg, Pixabay Personality: Gentle, sassy, sweet, affectionate, independent.

Number of Colors: Three colors, always including white.

Calico v tortoiseshell cat