Three-colored cats

Three-colored cats, as a rule, have white fur with black and orange spots. In English, these cats are called calico cat, "Calico cats", obviously, because their unusual coloring resembles a bright calico fabric. The Dutch name of the tricolor cat is associated with the fabric, lapjeskat (patchwork cat). And the Japanese name "meke-no" is translated as a three-wool cat.

Also this color is often called tricolor or tortoiseshell with white. Despite the fact that tortoiseshell and tricolor cats are similar, these are different colors. In tortoiseshell cats, the coat is black-orange, and white spots on it may or may not be present. And in tricolor cats, white is the main color.

Sometimes people mistakenly believe that tricolor cats stand out as a separate breed. In fact, the word "tricolor" refers only to color. Usually tricolor are mongrel cats, andalso representatives of some short-haired breeds: American short-haired, Mexxes, Persian cats, Turkish Vans, Japanese Bobtails, Persian cats, exotic.

Why are three-colored cats?

It is generally accepted that only cats can be tricolor, but not cats. Is it really? Or is it just another misconception related to tricolor cats? Really, in the vast majority of cases, tricolor color is exactly the cat. This is connected with the inheritance of the tricolor coloration of wool.

The black or orange color of the coat determines the X chromosome. Cats normally have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, so in their coloring can not be present simultaneously orange and dark color. The cats of the X-chromosome have two, so they can have a three-color and tortoiseshell color.

The only exception to the rule is the cats with aneuploidy, a genetic anomaly, in which the set of sex chromosomes includes not two chromosomes (XY), but three (XXY). Due to the presence of two X-chromosomes, such a cat can have a tricolor color, but the same anomaly leads to the fact that most of the tricolor cats are sterile. Such cats are very small, on average, 3 thousand three-color cats have one tricolor cat.

Three-color cats: signs

As we have already said, there are signs, beliefs and superstitions in the culture of many countries with tricolor cats. Usually such signs are quite positive: it is believed that tricolor cats are able to bring good luck. In the USA, for example, they were even given the nickname "money cats" (money cats). And Muslims believe that tricolor koshi protect housing from a fire.

In Japanese restaurants, shops and other public places can often be found figure of a three-colored cat with a paw raised vertically. It "maneki-kik"," Calling cat ". It is believed that such a talisman brings the owner luck, happiness and money. A cat with a raised right paw attracts luck and money, with the left - customers. There is another option, according to which the left paw bait money, and the right one - luck.

Rare three-colored cats (namely cats, not cats) were especially revered by Japanese sailors. It was believed that a ship with a three-color cat on board is not afraid of shipwrecks. Even nowadays there are rumors that you can earn a round sum by offering Japanese seamen a tricolor cat.

Whether to believe that tricolor cats really bring good luck, or not - it's your thing. Your lucky talisman will be able to become a pet of absolutely any color, the main thing is to love your cat and take care of it, then it will surely answer you with reciprocity.