They are certainly unique, from their coat, to their attitude, if you own a calico cat, or a a Tortoishell (Tortie), you'll find you have a one-of-a-kind cat on your hands. So, here we go!
Tortoiseshell:
This coat color is mottled with patches of orange or cream & chocolate, black, or blue. If a cat has these colors, but Tabby markings, they are called Torbies.
Calico:
If your cat is mainly white, but has patches of red & brown, then they can be referred to as Calico (if you're in the U.S.A., or Canada) or as Tortoiseshell-&-White (if you are in the U.K.)
Summary
They aren't a breed of cat, but rather a coat color. Tortie markings appear in several different breeds & can be seen in both Pure- & Mixed-Breeds. In the Japanese Bobtail Cat, tortie marking are actually preferable as a breed standard.
Genetics:
A majority of Calicos/Torties are female. In fact, only 1 in 3,000 Calico/Tortie 's born are actually male, making them very rare. ALL male calico/tortie's are born abnormally, with a mutated extra X chromosome, giving them the pattern: XXY. They are UNABLE to reproduce kittens.
Personality
•They are strong-willed
•They are hot-tempered
•They are loud & talkative
•They are feisty
•They are unpredictable
•They are feircly independant
•They are unique
•They aredominant
•They are comical
•They are very possessive of their huans.
•They tend to overeat.
Health
Look into your cat's specific breed to see if there are any specific & common health issues. Always use good judgement & common sense when taking care of your pet.

Calico:


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