This calico-patched tabby may be referred to as caliby or torbico.ĭerived from a colorful printed Calico fabric, when the term 'calico' is applied to cats, it refers only to a color pattern of the fur, not to a cat breed or any reference to any other traits, such as their eyes. Occasionally, the tri-color calico coloration is combined with a tabby patterning, called tortoiseshell tabby with white. Calicoes with diluted coloration (blue tortoiseshell and white) have been called calimanco or clouded tiger. However, outside North America, the calico pattern is more commonly called tortoiseshell and white. Calicoes are almost exclusively female except under rare genetic conditions.Ī calico cat is not to be confused with a tortoiseshell, who has a black undercoat and a mostly mottled coat of black/red or blue/cream with relatively few to no white markings. The calico cat is most commonly thought of as being 25% to 75% white with large orange and black patches however, they may have other colors in their patterns.
A calico cat Calico cat with diluted coloration Calico cat with tabby markingsĪ calico cat ( US English) is a domestic cat of any breed with a tri-color coat.
