They’re also referred to as ‘tortie-and-white’ cats because they usually have the same colors as a tortoiseshell cat, plus the white.Ĭalico cats can also have a wide range of shades and dilution of their coat colors, which is why there are different types of calico cats. These cats are often referred to as ‘piebald’ or ‘tricolor’ cats. A cat with a calico coat pattern will have a multicolor coat, but there’ll be some white in it. Now you understand how to distinguish between torties and calicos. They can have small bits of white mixed with other colors, but very rarely. They don’t have white colored patches in their fur. What’s most important is that tortoiseshell cats almost never have white patches. The colors may differ in shade and dilution they can be softer or darker. Furthermore, both of these patterns are multicolored, so how can we discern between them? Tortoiseshell Coat PatternĬats with tortoiseshell coats are often referred to as ‘torties’, and their coats are usually a mixture of orange and black colors. Which Cat Is Tortoiseshell And Which One Is Calico?įirst of all, it’s important to clarify that both tortoiseshell and calico refer to a cat’s coat pattern and are not the names of cat breeds. Tortoiseshell and calico are popular coat patterns, let’s see how they differ. Or maybe I just spoiled my cats too much…Īnyway, people often say that tortoiseshell cats are wise and independent, but we can’t conclude how a cat will be based solely on its fur color and pattern.

That was a long time ago, and today, when I see my furry babies, it seems like cats’ nature has changed completely, haha. She’d come up to us for an occasional cuddle, but she was never demanding.

She always seemed so “grown-up” and independent. She was beyond curious, and no mouse could ever cross our front lawn. Let me tell you, this cat was extraordinary. My grandma used to have a tortoiseshell cat, long before I even learned anything about the pattern.

Names for tortoiseshell cat calico