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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/17/2009 11:40:03 AM
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I have always been led to believe that for reasons of basic genetics, only female cats can be tricolor -- calico, tortoiseshell, etc. But here I have what appears to be a male tortoise shell cat. Photo included. He looks very much like his mother, who is a classic tortoiseshell, but she is less prominently striped and has the undertone of brown more evenly distributed. His is most prominent on the belly.
Do I have a genetically interesting cat on my hands? I want to be sure before I go and have him neutered.
Ken
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Today @ 7:51:06 AM
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| Usually calicos and torties are female - those color patterns do seem to be sex-linked. Males who exhibit those patterns are frequently sterile - but do go ahead and get him neutered. I have seen some male tabbies similar to yours, but I don't know if those are considered calico or tortie, or something else. Ocimom could tell you, she's a breeder and knows quite a bit about different breeds and color patterns.
Cats_Dolls  
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 6/1/2009 3:48:43 PM
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| I have seen many many tabby's with coloring such as yours too. It is the true 3 color calico's white, black and orange that are usually female. The males are usually sterile. Pure orange cats with no white or other color on them at all are usually male. Usually a female orange has white feet or chest and stomach. Your cat is very handsome - I love tabbies! 
- SuperCat
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 11/2/2009 6:13:55 PM
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You have a lovely Brown Mackerel Tabby boy - he's not 3 colors. The "red" you think is a color, is just the rufus brown shade in normal brown tabbies. Its not a Red tabby color.
Brown tabbies can have different shadings ranging from warm brown (reddish looking) to dark black-brown.
A torbie or brown patched tabby would be a brown tabby with red tabby markings mixed in the coat.
Male torties and calicos are rare and usually sterile. They have XXY instead of the XY chromosones and that is why they have the two colors (red and black) in their coats. However they cannot pass on both colors - only one of them.
I know 2 breeding male calico Rexes (both are genetically black as they cannot throw the red to offspring). Have seen both of them in person.
Cpt. Jack has arrived safe and sound - big brother Charlie keeps a watchful eye 
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Senior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/3/2009 11:34:12 AM
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He's not a tri-color, but is a very gorgeous boy! I think you'd call him a silver ticked mackeral tabby. Love cats with a hint of silver! Neutering him is your personal choice, but he shouldn't be sterile, as he is not calico.
Live, and let live. "true profit is measured by quality of life." "We have cats to enhance our lives, we owe it to them to allow them to enjoy theirs."
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