Scientists have debunked the popular myth about calico cats
Most of us, when we see a tricolor cat, immediately categorically declare that it is a female. But is this really so? Are there really no tricolor cats in nature? Scientists know the answer to this question and have already debunked the popular misconception. There are also cats with beautiful variegated colors, but there is one important nuance.
Since ancient times, people have highly valued tricolor cats. They were believed to bring good luck to their owners and were generally endowed with magical powers. This is most likely due to the fact that the so-called “tortoiseshell” coloring is rare. The myth that it occurs only in cats also dates back centuries and is based on human observations.
But with the advent of genetics, some details became clear. It turns out that cats with fur of three colors are also found. But they have an important difference from cats, which is invisible to the eye. If for female animals such a color is rare, but natural, then for male animals it is a genetic mutation, that is, a deviation from the norm.
“Tortoiseshell” cats are much more rare than cats. Statistics show that for every 3,000 tri-colored females, only one identical male is born. This is a mistake of nature, a chromosomal mutation, and such animals cannot have offspring. There is information that there are cats that are capable of conceiving, but they are even more rare.
It is precisely because the birth of a calico cat is such a rarity that we are sure that they simply do not exist. In fact, not everyone will be lucky enough to encounter such a natural anomaly in their life. If your pet has a tricolor coat, then this means that you are incredibly lucky.
“Tortoiseshell” cats of both sexes have another interesting feature. Despite all the achievements of genetic engineering, scientists have not yet succeeded in cloning them. This is due to the inactivation of one of the X chromosomes. Therefore, all tricolor animals are “natural products” created by nature.