Tabby markings are also found in coat variations, allowing Tortie-Tabbies and Calico-Tabbies to exist. These genes are directly tied to the cat’s X chromosome, so most felines with Tortie or Calico coloring are female cats, not male cats. Black and Orange must have the correct color genes. Why are the Cat Breeds so Similar?Īs we mentioned at the start of the guide, for a cat to be either 1. Torties aren’t white anywhere on their coats, but the Calico color pattern isn’t complete without some white. This is represented as large patches of white anywhere on the cat. When you come across a cat that you think is a Calico rather than a Tortie, look for the obvious Calico coloration. It creates confusion, but there’s an easy way to tell them apart. Both cats share coat patterns full of black and orange, both can have tabby patterns or not, and both can have diluted coats where the black becomes gray. These two variations are so often mixed up because the main difference between their coloring is that Calico cats have white patches, while Torties usually don’t. These traits may be tempered by the personality traits of whichever breed they are, so it’s possible to have a calmer and more loving Tortie for a cat person to love. Torties are distant, feisty, and have strong personalities. Male Torties appear every 3000 cats or so. If there is a male cat with this pattern variation, they are usually sterile because of the genetic mutation. They’re almost always female cats, but it is possible (though extremely rare) to have a male cat with a Tortie pattern. They usually have a brindle-style coat, and the Tortoiseshell coloring can appear in purebred, crossbreed, and other cat types. The most common colors of a Tortoiseshell cat are black and orange, with a shifting range of these colors blending throughout their coat. This means that the cat is mostly black, with mottled or particolored shell colors that look like they’ve come straight off a tortoise. Tortoiseshell cats are any cat breed with tortoise-shell markings. A British Shorthair with Calico markings is still a British Shorthair, they just have a Calico-style coat and the genetics to be a tri-color cat. In the cat world, a British Shorthair is a British Shorthair. “Calico” and “Tortoiseshell” refer to the cat’s coat, not their breed. A British Shorthair can be a Calico or a Tortoiseshell cat, as long as they have the correct coloring for either variation and genetic markers.

A Tortoiseshell and a Calico are breed variations based on a cat’s coat colors and patterns. The issue with starting to identify Tortoiseshell cats and Calico cats is that they are often seen as individual breeds.

To learn more about Torties and Calicos and understand ways to identify each breed variation, keep on reading! Tortoiseshell vs. That’s the simple explanation behind the link, anyway. Having a truly tri-colored male cat is highly unusual, but a genetic mutation could make it possible. For a cat to be tri-colored or black and orange, they need to have two X chromosomes, which means they’ll also be female. This is because the unique coloring of both breed variations is related to the X chromosome. You’ll never know what color your Tortie or Calico tabby cat will truly turn out until they’re grown, but they are always extremely pretty and unique.Īn interesting fact is that Tortoiseshell cats and Calico cats are almost always females. Tortoiseshell and Calico cats are both breed variations that display beautiful coat coloring, mixing several colors and tones to create something eye-catching.

Tortoiseshell vs calico cats