Male Calicos, not as rare as you'd think.

[Shell (PrairieWolf)]

There is a huge myth that "Male Calicos" do not exist. Or that they are ultimately rare. But the truth of the matter is they not only exist but with the over population of cats in the U.S. they are commen enough in shelters around the nation. Not saying they are not 'rare' by satistics of females born verses males born but there are still plenty enough around to not be 'rare' in general. You've probably seen a male calico but just didn't know it.

My family even had a Colico male. He was small and we first thought he was a female because of this myth. But a vet examine quickly corrected us.

Also, it is not true that they are all 'sterile'. There have been cases where male Calicos have bred and reproduced. Even having another rare male calico in the litter. Of course, by genetics I suspect this to be rare in itself.

Where's my proof? Just take a look around the websites of your locale animal shelters. Also, here are a few links to male calicos in one of many shelters.

www.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?breed=calico&tmpl=&preview=&animal=Cat&sex=M&preview=&zip=37130

www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12382673

www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13014885

These are just a few male calicos I have found across the internet.

Again, I'm not saying the Calico genetics aren't female related. I am saying with the high populations across America male Calicos are not rare. I've known a few families who have owned one, including my own. And again there are cases of male calicos producing healthy litters.

[Wildheart]

Genetics wise, you need two X genes to be a calico/tortie cat. It is very possible for a male (cat or otherwise) to possess two X and one Y genes. In cats, this makes it possible for a male to display thecalico pattern.

(For anyone who doesn't know, a normal genetic female has two X genes {XX} and a male has one X, one Y. {XY})

From what I've read this statistic is anywhere from 1 in 1000 to 1 in 5000 cats. Only a very small percentage of these are fertile, but I imagine it's a similar case to mules.

Mules (horse x donkey hybrid) were once believed to be completely sterile. Then one day up popped a fertile one - whoops, there goes that theory! So the fertile mule is bred, and then the genes for fertile mules are passed on, and nowadays it's rare but not unheard of for a fertile mule to be found.

In any case, I don't think we should allow male calico/torties in game because... let's face it, if one person has one, then another and another want one, and before you know it there's fifty male calicos out of four hundred cats... y'know? Perhaps for a special case, like if we do a prophecy or something...?

[Shell (PrairieWolf)]

I am not at all saying we should allow players to have male calicos. This is not City Warriors related. That's why I put it in Non-warriors Chat. :-P

However, when I tell people that my family had owned a male calico people get all huffy and say it's impossible.

And again I am not saying that male calicos are common. Compared to female calicos yes they are rare. But they're not as rare as people think. (Or nonexistant as people insist upon.) If only because we, here in America, have such a high over population of cats it is common enough to find male calicos in shelters.

All in all male calicos are not rare. Pink eyed albinos are rare either gender. Male calicos not so much.