What is the name of the tricolor coat in cats? - briefly
The tricolor coat in cats is commonly known as "calico." This distinctive coat pattern features a mix of three colors: white, along with two other colors, typically black and orange or cream.
What is the name of the tricolor coat in cats? - in detail
The tricolor coat in cats is commonly referred to as "calico" or "tortoiseshell" depending on the specific pattern and distribution of colors. These terms describe cats with a distinctive coat pattern that features three colors: white, along with two other colors that are typically black and red (or orange). The distribution and pattern of these colors can vary significantly, leading to the differentiation between calico and tortoiseshell.
Calico cats are characterized by large patches of white fur, along with distinct patches of black and red. The white areas are usually quite prominent and can cover a significant portion of the cat's body. This pattern is often described as having a "piebald" appearance, where the white fur is interspersed with the other two colors. Calico cats are almost exclusively female due to the genetic mechanisms that govern coat color in cats. The rare male calico cats typically have an extra X chromosome, a condition known as Klinefelter syndrome.
Tortoiseshell cats, on the other hand, have a more blended pattern of black and red fur, often appearing as a mix of these two colors without large patches of white. The red and black patches can be intermingled, creating a tortoiseshell or "tortie" pattern. This pattern can vary in intensity and distribution, but it generally lacks the large white patches seen in calico cats. Like calico cats, tortoiseshell cats are predominantly female.
The genetic basis for these coat patterns involves the X chromosome, which carries the genes for black and red fur. Females have two X chromosomes, allowing for the expression of both black and red colors. Males, with their single X chromosome, typically express only one of these colors. The presence of white fur is influenced by a separate genetic mechanism that affects the distribution of pigment in the fur.
In summary, the tricolor coat in cats is known as calico when it features large patches of white along with black and red, and as tortoiseshell when the black and red colors are more intermingled without prominent white patches. Both patterns are predominantly seen in female cats due to the genetic factors involved in coat color determination.