This is only possible due to a chromosomal aberration A chromosomal aberration is when a male cat has two X chromosomes or is XXY. When the calico pattern exists in a male its because the cat has the unusual circumstance of three sex chromosomes.
Lastly a calibby is a mix of a calico and tabby cat.
Why cant male cats be calico. Female cats have two X chromosomes while male cats have an X and a Y chromosome. For a cat to be a calico or tortoiseshell the animal must have two X chromosomes which means the kitty is going to be female the vast majority of the time. When the calico pattern exists in a male its because the cat has three sex chromosomes.
Two X one Y male. When the calico pattern exists in a male its because the cat has the unusual circumstance of three sex chromosomes. Two X one Y male.
If both X chromosomes carry the calico blueprint youre looking at one rare cat. These unusual XXY animals typically the result of faulty cell division are called Klinefelter males after the doctor who first described the condition. Nope its actually possible for there to be male calico cats though it is extremely rare.
About 1 in every 3000 male cats who have the chromosomes which can express orange or black are calico cats. This is only possible due to a chromosomal aberration A chromosomal aberration is when a male cat has two X chromosomes or is XXY. What Makes Male Calicos So Uncommon.
Genetics are the reason calico tomcats are so rare. Coat color in cats is typically a sex-linked trait in other words color is coded into certain. The only way a male cat can be a calico cat is if it has an extra X chromosome.
If this is the case then it is because of a genetic anomaly and will lead to a particular syndrome. Male cats with XXY chromosomes will likely have something called Klinefelter syndrome and with only the very rarest of exceptions will be sterile. If the two X chromosomes do not carry the same allele ie the cats genotype is X B X b Y then the male will express calico coloration just as a female would.
But hell also have the disadvantages that go along with Klinefelter Syndrome. The fertility of the male calico or tortie depends on the underlying cause. Cats with Klinefelter syndrome are usually sterile.
It may be possible for a fertile cat to exist if he is a mosaic or chimera if normal XY chromosomes occur in the testes. Since males have only one X chromosome we rarely find male calico cats. Male calicos are extremely rare and usually have genetic abnormalities like an XXY chromosome pattern.
They are mostly sterile and may suffer from other health problems as well. Since females involve 2 X chromosomes calico-hood is an almost-exclusive domain of the feline ladies. Calicos are not a.
Male calico cats are susceptible to health problems. They are kittens with parental genetic abnormalities that represent many possible cat breeds. While calico female cats are very common male calico cats are rare and of particular interest for the mixture of their unique coloration and gender.
Lastly a calibby is a mix of a calico and tabby cat. The calibby has the same color variations as calicos with the addition of the signature tabby stripes. While calico coloring seems to be more common these days its impossible to purposely breed a calico-colored cat.
In fact the calico coloring happens only by accident due to genetics. If playback doesnt begin shortly try restarting your device. Videos you watch may be added to the TVs watch history and influence TV recommendations.
To avoid this cancel. Male cats have an XY chromosome pair so they cant be Calicos. However there is an exception.
In rare cases cats can have an extra X chromosome making them XXY. These cats present as male but can be Calico because they have two X chromosomes. This XXY configuration can cause Klinefelters Syndrome which is a health issue well get into later.
These cats are also sterile and cant be used to. Calicos are between 25-75 white with a mix of orange and black. These colors may be lighter or darker on some cats than others but all three white black and orange must be present for the cat to be considered a Calico.
Calico markings are a happy accident of genetics. Breeders cannot specifically aim for a litter of Calicos. Some of the breeds with standards that allow for calico.
The only way for a male to have both orange and black colors is through a genetic mishap that gives him three chromosomes XoXb Y instead of two XoY or Xb Y. This is called Klinefelter Syndrome in humans and generally results in feminization and sterility. So now you know why male calico cats are so rare.
But Im sure youll agree all cats. Male Calico Cats Are Rare. It is estimated that 1 in 3000 calico cats are males.
Also only one in 10000 of the male calico cats is fertile. Here is some science behind the male cat. A cat needs two X chromosomes to present with the tri-color calico pattern.
If a cat has an XX pair of chromosomes it will be female. Male cats have an XY chromosome pair so they can rarely be Calicos. Female cats have two X chromosomes while male cats have an X and a Y chromosome.
For a cat to be a calico or tortoiseshell the animal should have two X chromosomes which indicates the cat is going to be female the vast bulk of the time. In order for a male cat to be a calico he must have a genetic alteration such as XXY chromosomes for example. The cat is sterile in the majority of cases.
In addition although scarce white is derived from the X gene. The legend of the calico cat. No kind of like fingerprints or DNA the pattern is specific to each calico cat.
Remember that females have XX chromosomes. So in female mammals each individual cell cannot express both X chromosomes they are not arguing about what color she should be. One X will be deactivated or silent meaning only one X will be activated or speaking.
Some cells are being told.