I have never owned a calico cat, or rather, a calico cat has never owned me. After talking about black-and-white cats, black cats, white cats, and tabbies, it’s time to look at calico cats. Calico comes from a certain fabric in India that resembles the colour pattern of these stunning cats.
True colours
All calico cats are a unique blend of white, black, orange, or sometimes grey patches. Their coats create a mesmerizing mosaic of hues. Calicos exhibit a striking mix of colours, often resembling a painter’s palette. Their patches can vary in size and shape, creating a visually captivating fur coat.
Calico colouring is linked to the X chromosome. Female cats typically have two X chromosomes (XX), and males have one X and one Y (XY). The specific combination of X chromosomes determines their coat colour. Calicos are almost always female due to this genetic quirk.
I have found out while writing these blogs that attaching colour to certain characteristics has more to do with owners than with cats. I would, for example, be tempted to say that black-and-white cats are clever because I have one now who is super clever, probably highly intelligent, and my first cat was also a tuxedo. She is probably still retrieving balls on the everlasting hunting fields.
This past week, my tuxedo Max is fanatically chasing a calico out of our garden. Max does that to most cats, with the exception of our neighbour cat Appie. They are best buddies and often go and ask each other to come play.
Connect lives
Calico cats must also be as diverse as their coats! Some are feisty and independent, while others are affectionate and social. That doesn’t stop some cultures from considering calico cats as symbols of good luck. They’re believed to bring fortune and positive energy to their households. As does any cat, I dare say.
In his brilliant books about life in Japan The cat and the city and Four Seasons in Japan, Nick Bradley features a calico cat to connect lives, bring hope and even more to the lives of the characters in the book.
To me, any cat can and will do that. In my upcoming book Wilma’s Tulip Field Days, the protagonist needs to collect six different coloured cat furs. In this dark comedy adventure, we follow the early days of kitten Wilma. The novella is about 20,000 words, and I would love it if you’d like to be a first reader and tell me what you think of the flow of the story. You can let me know by commenting below or emailing me at: kirsten@kirstenbett.com
Enjoy your day!
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