What breed is a calico cat?

A calico cat's coat pattern is determined by its genes, not its breed.

Calico cats are almost always female because the gene for calico coloration is located on the X chromosome. Since females have two X chromosomes, they can inherit the calico gene on one or both chromosomes.

Any breed of cat can be calico, but some breeds are more commonly seen with the calico pattern. Some examples include:

* American Shorthair

* Domestic Shorthair

* Persian

* Siamese

So, while you can't technically say a cat is a "calico breed," you can say it's a calico [breed name].