calico cat
calico cat, In North America, a blotched or spotted domestic cat, usually predominantly white with red and black patches (a pattern also called tortoiseshell-and-white). Because genetic determination of some coat colours in cats is linked to the sex chromosome, calicoes are almost always female.
This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.
Citation Information
Article Title:
calico cat
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
03 October 2025
Access Date:
November 14, 2026