Here's the breakdown:
* Calico refers specifically to a cat with a coat pattern of three colors: black, white, and orange.
* Tricolor is a broader term that encompasses any cat with three colors, regardless of what those colors are. So a cat with black, white, and grey fur would be considered tricolor, but not calico.
Therefore, all calico cats are tricolor, but not all tricolor cats are calico.
There's one more important distinction:
* Tortoiseshell cats are a specific type of calico. They have the same black, white, and orange pattern, but with less white.
So, to summarize:
* Calico: Black, white, and orange
* Tricolor: Any three colors
* Tortoiseshell: Black, white, and orange with less white
Let me know if you have any other questions!