Are tortoiseshell cats and calico the same thing?

Tortoiseshell and calico cats are very similar, but there is a slight difference:

* Tortoiseshell cats have a coat of black and orange/red fur.

* Calico cats have a coat of black, orange/red, and white fur.

So, all calico cats are tortoiseshell, but not all tortoiseshell cats are calico.

Think of it this way:

* Tortoiseshell is like the basic color scheme.

* Calico adds the extra color of white.

Both types of cats are usually female due to the way the X chromosome determines fur color.