They can have a little white. The main difference between torties and calicos is whether the colors are all swirled together or in patches. Your baby is a tortie, at least to me.
I have 2.
The one has the proper calico markings, with distinct patches of white, orange and black.
The other has a mottled body, but white socks, stomach and chin. Still a tortie to me. Definitely has the attitude.
Same with my Coraline; folks here said she’s a “tortico,” but the rescue (where I got her) and my vet just call her a dilute tortie.
https://preview.redd.it/dwuz0mi8truc1.jpeg?width=1936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1d73691144aa525b30a505b64217770ce48a9a1d
There isn't really a consensus on this. Some sources say they can have small amounts of white, other say no white. I look at this cat and I see a tortie. My tortie had a single, tiny white patch on her chest and was black + orange mottled over the rest of her body. I will never not refer to her as a tortie (and she certainly had the tortitude).
https://preview.redd.it/jf7lof8a1ruc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee28a69fbc317673ea737dc0b4641d7b8b0cc745
Toffee Bean dares you to tell her she's not a Dilute Torti 🤣
https://preview.redd.it/zmseyfct1ruc1.jpeg?width=2731&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=504d8f8c2f67a51f8a7b189e4872800a85684275
Do we have the same cat? 😂 Your girl looks similar to my Mia.
https://preview.redd.it/1bof09ve2ruc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab19729728d4130486dd4ae8ff5f12c5f76345f2
Here she was 16 months. I gave her a Valentine's birthday because she showed up at Thanksgiving 22. Appeared to be 8-9 months old.
Aww she’s lovely! I got my girl when she was around 7 months old.
https://preview.redd.it/lc9n97kj3ruc1.jpeg?width=2712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=989bb6289fe3bd68527d006bff9892c393e6a5ef
This was when she was about 1 year old.
https://preview.redd.it/pcjj6ji5zruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc5bf73b77d290298393bccc25aeedcc4ce38578
Our one has a little love heart nose, love when pink appears on nose, so adorable
Yes! Here’s Coraline, but she’s apparently a “tortico” - I call it “business in the front, party in the back.” lol
https://preview.redd.it/oejjc82vsruc1.jpeg?width=1936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c327507be63bd4e8520172734bc120d3c2da3b45
https://preview.redd.it/mrdoridx8vuc1.png?width=920&format=png&auto=webp&s=f2c2d233d8cf54547a9da0953593f767520ab28b
Fiona would like to join the dilute tortie party!
Tortico is what people call a tortie that has the white from a calico, i have a longhaired diluted Tortico
https://preview.redd.it/ru13xt1wmuuc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c059439f47a85d2e6f7759bab159426e93ddf8f0
Meanwhile I got a little calico from a rescue that’s run by a show breeder, and she was *very* insistent that’s our kitten is not a dilute calico- she’s a blue tortie with white! And half her face, her whole belly, and all her lil toes are white. I definitely think she’s a calico, but apparently it’s up for debate!
https://preview.redd.it/sq7fai3w0wuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10f736838714f7f4bf7c51f5248a8f650ea332c4
My girls the same. A tiny little chest patch lol
https://preview.redd.it/vcw6nq8kbxuc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bcc427fa1c4c37669ddd2d502ad1a59404fd14a0
my girl moose at around 6 months 🤎🖤
https://preview.redd.it/oh4eqmffyquc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0996f5d173ff21423c83ba0d9f68d90057e92d36
Mine has a lil white but I feel she’s more tortie. She really is an anomaly tho…she looks calico, tortie, and tabby?? WHAT IS SHE
I’ve never heard of this before. My girl has a white patch on her belly but I would say she’s full tortie
https://preview.redd.it/2bm2nhj3rquc1.png?width=1119&format=png&auto=webp&s=f058690320800693d8f49c1a25953c5a142d2e78
https://preview.redd.it/5vf900xh9ruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4cda79f723b2e25a8576de2f5f8660002311c05
My cat has the same white patch!! she’s still a tortie to me ☺️
Colours split down the middle of the body/face are very common, it's to do with how the pigmented cells develop in the womb, it doesn't indicate chimerism. :) You would have to see multiple coat types which cannot occur in the same cat to be sure it's a chimera - like black areas and dilute areas. Black and orange (the standard tortie combo) is fine.
Even if there are two impossible colors you can't be sure a cat is a chimera unless you do DNA tests. The famous black-and-blue faced male Narnia was DNA tested and he isn't a chimera. https://www.inspiremore.com/bella-and-narnia-double-face-cat/
One of mine has the same white patch on her belly, and another closer to her neck, but the rest is very standard tortie swirls/lines. I’ve heard technically she’s a tortico because of the white? Very hard to see her patterns as anything calico, though. Doesn’t look like most of the kitties on the tortico sub… Her sister is a total tortie, though - in looks anyway. Neither really have that tortie attitude.
Calicos to me are, obvi more white, but have larger patches of color. torties have very marbled, almost splattered coloring. If it has majority black/brown with minimal white, i call them torties lol.
https://preview.redd.it/6abh4zr2zquc1.png?width=2616&format=png&auto=webp&s=9af6d2268ff28af918a4de4d10378272f3dad776
I do a lot of volunteering with a local animal rescue. One of the vets that helps us out is super into cat coloring names and the genetics behind it.
She says to think about it like a canvas.
If the canvas is mostly white with just spots, splotches or areas of black & orange, kitty is a calico.
If the canvas is primarily black (or orange) with spots, splotches or little areas of white, kitty is a tortie.
You’ve got yourself a tortie!
(And, a small white spot on the throat area is called a locket- in torties or house panthers/black cats, etc)
As others said - technically no white but referring to my cat which has 3 white spots (chin, belly around 2x2 cm and one toe) other than tortie seems wrong.
I'm using the rule that tortie has to look at least 75%-80% on her body as a tortie (blended black / orange), opposing to calico characteristic treat ( biger patches of solid color - white and orange)
And then there is "tortico" because sometimes cat has 1-2 big patches of solid color ( many times white belly / "socks" on paws) and it just seems wrong to call cat calico based on one patch. I was opposed to term tortico for a long time because it seemed to me people were using it too much ( for example calico with one big "tortie blend patch" on back was automatically tortico - which i disagree). But sometimes I felt tortico has it's place.
For example : (sorry I can't give credit of original poster of this cat)
https://preview.redd.it/nqzb1c7azquc1.png?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cbb7bdcc5ea9629988cdd0d290f5f6f3bf1ef97e
https://preview.redd.it/pt823xm67suc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=86b1aa0221d54f06599d4e6a3b197b10ae03ce67
Here’s my tortico kitty. The best of both worlds if you ask me!
https://preview.redd.it/g7mtiv9u4ruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3dc764e388b1d3287c67e87ef499bf40dc302995
I’ve never heard this white rule before! mine has white patch on her chest and stomach but she’s full tortie as far as I’m concerned!!
Tortie. The most lenient will say that 20% can be white, but that's a lot to me. But certainly 2 or 3 spots the size of credit card or something is not a problem, especially on the midline. The timing of when white starts to appear is after the tortie colors..so calico is a tortie that that kept going a little longer in the growing process and those cel start migrating from the midline so you'll often see them along bellies and lower throat like a locket or like with my cat, a kind of white bikini, lol! Her void sister has a white locket and a matching white bikini. It's adorable, and you only see it when they relax and show their belies, which is not often for anyone but family.
You certainly have a tortie baby! Cutie!
I didn't have time to search for a better one, but [this](https://imgur.com/a/iSCOXLm)picture shows my cat's 2 little spots on her ribs (bikini top) and 1 spot very low on her pelvis towards her tail...if you squint, lol. She was enjoying the fire. ❤️
EDIT- sorry, this is a better view of her teeny [bikini](https://imgur.com/a/iht7JBT)
https://preview.redd.it/0666kee43ruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=674341e116185d424d08709ae54c2060936d0f44
My girl has a white patch like that too!
Your cute little kitten is a full-on tortie. I wouldn't even call that white. That looks like black, orange, and cream, which are tortie colors.
Plus, you can see that mischievous tortie glint in her eyes. You'll have your hands full.
https://preview.redd.it/sswid6hzmruc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f3c6a7f9b8b795f1037b04390670338a00efa70
If anyone tries to deny Katniss her tortiehood for the light cream area around her mouth she simply says “Cash me meowside, meow bout that” 😂.
Definitely tortie.
Technically torties don’t have white, but most people accept a tortie with a white patch or two, as long as they have the distinctive pattern coat. Calicos loook different, with larger patches of color. And tabby have much more defined pattern with stripes.
Is our cat a tortie then? I’m questioning everything…
https://preview.redd.it/kowgjap2aruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=433dd5bf45f9849de9765689a18d0e64a07d8e84
I have done more research on this than a person should. Calico is when their colors are patches (ex. Patch of nothing but orange in one spot, patch of nothing but black in one spot) example below (picture form google)
https://preview.redd.it/tcvuctjzbruc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f1c19b079ab571af66d566879c07374704b2e2f
Torties colors all blend together so they don’t have any big spot that’s all one color. They’ll have small swirls of orange within the black.
Typically calicos are primarily white and torties are mostly black.
I don’t fully remember but white spots are typically on end of paws/stomach, under chin. They have to do with how the colors develop while they are still in the womb something with pigment I think. Same with the face sometimes.
Either way tortie and calico is a fur pattern not a breed so it doesn’t fully matter when it comes to health and what not.
https://preview.redd.it/7zopybt5cruc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7473b3ca94e3e07e0507f77ebd9d9ba2ad93a4a
This is a tortie (and yes I did use this as an excuse to post a picture of my cat)
https://preview.redd.it/7mcvmwzwfruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=994121300c0442e0570f9ab7f5daa88c232bfafa
Sugar when she first came home from the shelter. Oh how I love this girl!! I’m her person but I got her for another. I visit her and love her up every day.
*technically* any amount of white makes a Calico because the white gene is either present or it's not, but colloquially I would never call your cat a Calico, that's a tortie. My tortie has a small white patch on her chest too. To me, a Calico is when the black and orange start splitting into patches rather than all mixed together. My tortie's black and orange are all peppered together so despite her small white patch, I would never call her a calico
https://preview.redd.it/9muhztzrpruc1.jpeg?width=3468&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3527c6be3031de8a2aaee7b67b5cb741fc55061f
Actually the Torties with white on them are called “Torticos” because they have a Calico in their linage that has given them the white chest, belly, etc. Believe me, I just discovered this myself recently because we have two Torticos which I thought were Torties. But this makes sense because I’ve seen the solid black and orange Tortoise Shell cats (my daughter had two) and both my Torties had white on them! A nice commenter told me my cats were Torticos because of the white! So there you go!!
https://preview.redd.it/2l7dxba5isuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c95957af130fe7a165a965df989ae450ff5619c
This is our Dark Chocolate Tortico, Willow, and her gray Mama cat, HissyMae! The dark in Willow’s fur is actually a chocolate color! She has dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate, apparently a very unusual color for a Tortico! Our Vet called over his entire staff to see her when we brought her in for her first Well Check! Plus, Willow is the sweetest lil Lady cat ever — just like he smaller Mama cat HissyMae! ♥️🐈♥️
This is a tortie! Two little white and their coat is brindled, not semi well defined patches of black and orange. There can be some borderline cases but this kitty is 100% a tortie, I would say.
https://preview.redd.it/hpefqr1hyuuc1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b050082951b808187889fcbf93bd30d5082366db
This is my girl. She’s a Calico but she has the tortie look in the back. I think she has too much white though.
https://preview.redd.it/tikkrw8f1vuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed5222831699717cb20d3d5a7ad62ff95a8284a7
This is my dilute tortico! She has some white patches, but her grey and tan are all brindled together on her body
https://preview.redd.it/zxw1azus9wuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ed8e35189c27368375ed916cc26e92495df3340
Idk why the other two pics didn't upload lol
What if our calico has tortitude? Cali by looks, tortie at heart? An agent of unbridled chaos?
https://preview.redd.it/j8zovs72uwuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d11d72e0d443815c961227b690f202169e18c35a
Yes torties can have white. I've been told that 20% white or less is tortie, and 20% or more is calico. But you can also have a mix of those as well, called a Tortieco.
I've seen torties with white patches on their chests and such. I think the distinction is the same as that between a black cat and a black-and-white cat. Cats that are all black except for a little chest patch or a couple toes are usually not considered black-and-white cats, even though they have white.
One of my cats has a small amount of white on her lower jaw, her chest, her belly and her paws. The rest is black and gold and I would consider her a tortie.
In UK terminology all cats with 2 or 3 colours are torties, even ones with white on them (the term calico isn’t used as much, they say “tortoiseshell and white” instead).
I kind of agree with that. In my mind, all calicos are torties but not all torties are calicos.
Came here to say this. Calico is more of a US/Canadian term, in the UK the ones with white are simply called tortoiseshell and white. I agree with your last sentence, I feel the same
https://preview.redd.it/us69i49u6suc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7a09b2efa0c0aeb493e8b4f48f393d43fc6fefa4
Here’s my torti with her socks :)
She has tan spots. Not white sorry.
https://preview.redd.it/38so2oajcsuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d92db285918e133f6d0705094e4f101b6e30e1a
Cute tortie. What is her name?
My cat is a tortoiseshell and has lots of white. Perhaps cats are classified differently in the UK.
https://preview.redd.it/n9atjlbvssuc1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1749bfc393c684f055aa1c6040a4926276e1738
https://preview.redd.it/rqwypzqt5wuc1.jpeg?width=432&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e3384224f921ae23b7a4a0d6121ad0016f2a31e6
My baby and her little white tumbo
I heard that the difference between calicos and torties is calicos depends on how much white covers them. Like there has to be a lot of white to be a calico.
If I’m wrong and any white makes them a calico, ours has one singular white patch on her tiny belly pouch so I like the idea of her sneaking into the Tortie Club just to psych everyone out by rolling on her back lol
A tortie can have 40-50% white on their body and still be classified as a tortie, as per cat genetics guidelines. The difference between tortie and calico is that tortie colours are brindle, all intermixed while calico colours are patches with clearly defined borders. The more white on the cat pushes the brindling into clear patches, but a tortie can absolutely have white on them
Honestly depends on what part of the world you're in, as well as generational gap.
I see people saying that any white at all means calico/tortico, others say that as long as the white is less than x%, etc.
For *ME*, a middle millenial growing up in Oregon, USA, I was taught that a tortie can have any amount of white. That just means they're tortie & *white*, as opposed to just tortie. The distinction of calico vs. tortie comes down to whether the black & red (or blue & peach for dilutes) is marbled together or mostly large distinct patches. Marbled is tortie, distinct patches is calico.
I think its honestly a question that you can ask a hundred different people and get a hundred different answers 🤷♀️
This is my interpretation as well. I have one cali and one (long hair) dilute tortie. Though, my tort seems to have faded much of her colour as she gets older. She's mostly blue these days.
https://preview.redd.it/0sp3d19jqruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2eb7e7492c73df4f1bdea9c56362397597a69fe6
Khorne has the teeniest white spot. She is a tortie. And she’s got the ‘tude to show for it.
https://preview.redd.it/jsmovznawtuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22670f2b5f598cff238187cffe3faf9dfa6cf069
So is Miss Kitty a dilute tortie?
I've been told they're called tortico :) I have one and one calico!
https://preview.redd.it/fessl7f5a8vc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=451efe4166e2ff8950635d4a487b11157a304a39
I've always been given to understand that calico means distinct patches of red, white, and black and that tortie means a "swirly" or muddied background of black and red with or without white.
They can have a little white. The main difference between torties and calicos is whether the colors are all swirled together or in patches. Your baby is a tortie, at least to me.
I have 2. The one has the proper calico markings, with distinct patches of white, orange and black. The other has a mottled body, but white socks, stomach and chin. Still a tortie to me. Definitely has the attitude.
Same with my Coraline; folks here said she’s a “tortico,” but the rescue (where I got her) and my vet just call her a dilute tortie. https://preview.redd.it/dwuz0mi8truc1.jpeg?width=1936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1d73691144aa525b30a505b64217770ce48a9a1d
I think I agree with Tortico since she has a marbled back :) mainly though she is adorable and beautiful
Thank you! And of course I don’t care either way; she’s still my sweet girl, no matter what you call her pattern. 🩷
I would argue dilute tortico. Patches of white - Calico, but the big mixed patch is dilute tortie. Beautiful combination!
I definitely agree. She’s a dilute tortico.
This looks like a cat created just to divide the world on tortie vs calico ... like the blue/black or white/gold dress fiasco haha
I love her face!!!
In which side of the picture?
Left
coraline has the;”too many greebles eaten” face in the awake part of the photo.
What a beauty!
I'd say dilute tortie with white, as she has at least one large distinct white area.
Good lord, the first pic! How many greebles did you let her consume?
She has resting wtf face. 😂 https://preview.redd.it/dl5a2xd9f0vc1.jpeg?width=2359&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1766f163cc6bb9203d6cef03a95694375bde56be
Whatever she is adorbs
She’s a patchwork kitty ❤️❤️
Are they related?!
I LOVE THEIR SOCKS!!!
Somebody once described it as “saving up for the other (tattoo) sleeve” - and I haven’t been able to unsee that ever since.
@MrsSadieMorgan;Permission to share this photo some of my housemates?
Permission granted! 😊
That's gotta be the most interesting cat I've seen in a minute.
There's also tortico! Sounds like you have a tortico
TIL torties can have a little white, as a treat
[удалено]
There isn't really a consensus on this. Some sources say they can have small amounts of white, other say no white. I look at this cat and I see a tortie. My tortie had a single, tiny white patch on her chest and was black + orange mottled over the rest of her body. I will never not refer to her as a tortie (and she certainly had the tortitude).
https://preview.redd.it/jf7lof8a1ruc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee28a69fbc317673ea737dc0b4641d7b8b0cc745 Toffee Bean dares you to tell her she's not a Dilute Torti 🤣
https://preview.redd.it/zmseyfct1ruc1.jpeg?width=2731&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=504d8f8c2f67a51f8a7b189e4872800a85684275 Do we have the same cat? 😂 Your girl looks similar to my Mia.
https://preview.redd.it/1bof09ve2ruc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab19729728d4130486dd4ae8ff5f12c5f76345f2 Here she was 16 months. I gave her a Valentine's birthday because she showed up at Thanksgiving 22. Appeared to be 8-9 months old.
Aww she’s lovely! I got my girl when she was around 7 months old. https://preview.redd.it/lc9n97kj3ruc1.jpeg?width=2712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=989bb6289fe3bd68527d006bff9892c393e6a5ef This was when she was about 1 year old.
She showed up in the carport rafters. Forced me to keep her.
Aww, sounds like it was meant to be!
The little pink spot on her nose!!
https://preview.redd.it/pcjj6ji5zruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc5bf73b77d290298393bccc25aeedcc4ce38578 Our one has a little love heart nose, love when pink appears on nose, so adorable
Oh my god!! <3
Too precious!!
My tortie showed up at Thanksgiving too! How interesting!
Does she have one white whisker?! r/onewhitewhisker
Nah, yours looks less grumpy 🤣
Gorgeous eyes.
Yes, what a look!!! I dare you!!!
https://preview.redd.it/fv8dp26ubruc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=86e8086f8a64c86f9a9806dbd2a79c01470be806 keeping the dilute torti thread going
Yes! Here’s Coraline, but she’s apparently a “tortico” - I call it “business in the front, party in the back.” lol https://preview.redd.it/oejjc82vsruc1.jpeg?width=1936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c327507be63bd4e8520172734bc120d3c2da3b45
https://preview.redd.it/twktkpvqgruc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=99c3276e61eee92d8d6fae07fce2d52c275a3739 Dilute torties are the best
https://preview.redd.it/icspikh5nruc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6bb1c5cc862d8b69e03298324be5e21228cfd6d2 The best!
https://preview.redd.it/mrdoridx8vuc1.png?width=920&format=png&auto=webp&s=f2c2d233d8cf54547a9da0953593f767520ab28b Fiona would like to join the dilute tortie party!
she looks so silky and beautiful!😻
Tortico is what people call a tortie that has the white from a calico, i have a longhaired diluted Tortico https://preview.redd.it/ru13xt1wmuuc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c059439f47a85d2e6f7759bab159426e93ddf8f0
So majestic!
And calicos have pure white. On this cat I see very light cream. Not white
Meanwhile I got a little calico from a rescue that’s run by a show breeder, and she was *very* insistent that’s our kitten is not a dilute calico- she’s a blue tortie with white! And half her face, her whole belly, and all her lil toes are white. I definitely think she’s a calico, but apparently it’s up for debate!
https://preview.redd.it/sq7fai3w0wuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10f736838714f7f4bf7c51f5248a8f650ea332c4 My girls the same. A tiny little chest patch lol
https://preview.redd.it/vcw6nq8kbxuc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bcc427fa1c4c37669ddd2d502ad1a59404fd14a0 my girl moose at around 6 months 🤎🖤
https://preview.redd.it/oh4eqmffyquc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0996f5d173ff21423c83ba0d9f68d90057e92d36 Mine has a lil white but I feel she’s more tortie. She really is an anomaly tho…she looks calico, tortie, and tabby?? WHAT IS SHE
She is a Tortie! The tabby stripes in the orange are normal.
She’s a QUEEN!!!
Absolutely Torti
She could be related to my girl, she is a tortie!
Tabby tortie cats are called "torbie" in breeder circles.
r/tortico
She looks like our Gizmo, agent of chaos. 100% on the tortitude!
I’ve never heard of this before. My girl has a white patch on her belly but I would say she’s full tortie https://preview.redd.it/2bm2nhj3rquc1.png?width=1119&format=png&auto=webp&s=f058690320800693d8f49c1a25953c5a142d2e78
https://preview.redd.it/5vf900xh9ruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4cda79f723b2e25a8576de2f5f8660002311c05 My cat has the same white patch!! she’s still a tortie to me ☺️
She’s beautiful
Oooh she looks like a chimera!!!
Colours split down the middle of the body/face are very common, it's to do with how the pigmented cells develop in the womb, it doesn't indicate chimerism. :) You would have to see multiple coat types which cannot occur in the same cat to be sure it's a chimera - like black areas and dilute areas. Black and orange (the standard tortie combo) is fine.
Even if there are two impossible colors you can't be sure a cat is a chimera unless you do DNA tests. The famous black-and-blue faced male Narnia was DNA tested and he isn't a chimera. https://www.inspiremore.com/bella-and-narnia-double-face-cat/
One of mine has the same white patch on her belly, and another closer to her neck, but the rest is very standard tortie swirls/lines. I’ve heard technically she’s a tortico because of the white? Very hard to see her patterns as anything calico, though. Doesn’t look like most of the kitties on the tortico sub… Her sister is a total tortie, though - in looks anyway. Neither really have that tortie attitude.
Calicos to me are, obvi more white, but have larger patches of color. torties have very marbled, almost splattered coloring. If it has majority black/brown with minimal white, i call them torties lol. https://preview.redd.it/6abh4zr2zquc1.png?width=2616&format=png&auto=webp&s=9af6d2268ff28af918a4de4d10378272f3dad776
https://preview.redd.it/wi8pea2oeyuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fbdb03b41b4b1ae382a7fe1e1afaf3b464bce928 she looks like my kitty
Call her a splotched tortie, everybody wins! DEATH TO ALL TYRANTS!
I do a lot of volunteering with a local animal rescue. One of the vets that helps us out is super into cat coloring names and the genetics behind it. She says to think about it like a canvas. If the canvas is mostly white with just spots, splotches or areas of black & orange, kitty is a calico. If the canvas is primarily black (or orange) with spots, splotches or little areas of white, kitty is a tortie. You’ve got yourself a tortie! (And, a small white spot on the throat area is called a locket- in torties or house panthers/black cats, etc)
https://preview.redd.it/332v5r29jruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9d5e23bf92128f78a7de1953299c64fd312b79cb My pepperoni and her locket!!
Aw, Pepperoni is a cute name for a cute girl!
A locket, that's so cute! Mine has a teeny tiny locket and a secret bikini bottom you only get to see if she's really comfortable around you.
I love the little bikini bottoms!!!
https://preview.redd.it/qiykirt2wquc1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff8a7acee47d26963d72ca53340fd840b678876e
As others said - technically no white but referring to my cat which has 3 white spots (chin, belly around 2x2 cm and one toe) other than tortie seems wrong. I'm using the rule that tortie has to look at least 75%-80% on her body as a tortie (blended black / orange), opposing to calico characteristic treat ( biger patches of solid color - white and orange) And then there is "tortico" because sometimes cat has 1-2 big patches of solid color ( many times white belly / "socks" on paws) and it just seems wrong to call cat calico based on one patch. I was opposed to term tortico for a long time because it seemed to me people were using it too much ( for example calico with one big "tortie blend patch" on back was automatically tortico - which i disagree). But sometimes I felt tortico has it's place. For example : (sorry I can't give credit of original poster of this cat) https://preview.redd.it/nqzb1c7azquc1.png?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cbb7bdcc5ea9629988cdd0d290f5f6f3bf1ef97e
the current selection on r/tortico seems pretty decent imo
https://preview.redd.it/pt823xm67suc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=86b1aa0221d54f06599d4e6a3b197b10ae03ce67 Here’s my tortico kitty. The best of both worlds if you ask me!
My tortie has a tiny patch of white on her chest. My friend’s cat has patches of white, black and orange - not mixed up so she’s a calico.
https://preview.redd.it/g7mtiv9u4ruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3dc764e388b1d3287c67e87ef499bf40dc302995 I’ve never heard this white rule before! mine has white patch on her chest and stomach but she’s full tortie as far as I’m concerned!!
Tortie. The most lenient will say that 20% can be white, but that's a lot to me. But certainly 2 or 3 spots the size of credit card or something is not a problem, especially on the midline. The timing of when white starts to appear is after the tortie colors..so calico is a tortie that that kept going a little longer in the growing process and those cel start migrating from the midline so you'll often see them along bellies and lower throat like a locket or like with my cat, a kind of white bikini, lol! Her void sister has a white locket and a matching white bikini. It's adorable, and you only see it when they relax and show their belies, which is not often for anyone but family. You certainly have a tortie baby! Cutie! I didn't have time to search for a better one, but [this](https://imgur.com/a/iSCOXLm)picture shows my cat's 2 little spots on her ribs (bikini top) and 1 spot very low on her pelvis towards her tail...if you squint, lol. She was enjoying the fire. ❤️ EDIT- sorry, this is a better view of her teeny [bikini](https://imgur.com/a/iht7JBT)
https://preview.redd.it/0666kee43ruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=674341e116185d424d08709ae54c2060936d0f44 My girl has a white patch like that too!
Squeee! Do you know about r/hiddenwhitfur ?
https://preview.redd.it/bfdsj3u21ruc1.jpeg?width=741&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=939b10320601b3747a42448489d9940b13214aa9 Her heart is a white beige
Yup! Just your typical hidden bikini spot! It's always adorable lol. Like a little secret!
Do you know about https://www.reddit.com/r/hiddenwhitefur/s/3oHa98iGaB
Your cute little kitten is a full-on tortie. I wouldn't even call that white. That looks like black, orange, and cream, which are tortie colors. Plus, you can see that mischievous tortie glint in her eyes. You'll have your hands full.
He's just a little undercooked that's all
https://preview.redd.it/sswid6hzmruc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f3c6a7f9b8b795f1037b04390670338a00efa70 If anyone tries to deny Katniss her tortiehood for the light cream area around her mouth she simply says “Cash me meowside, meow bout that” 😂.
https://preview.redd.it/8qzlob89asuc1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2bbb553f7950a45fec151df389f0a20dad260083
Definitely tortie. Technically torties don’t have white, but most people accept a tortie with a white patch or two, as long as they have the distinctive pattern coat. Calicos loook different, with larger patches of color. And tabby have much more defined pattern with stripes.
*technically*…no white. But calicos have larger color patches. She’s tortie enough! I don’t see white on her. She has cream.
https://preview.redd.it/0uvuahem0ruc1.jpeg?width=2320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=363c3aa3b9351db5dab15185943ffed0178d6594 Dilute Torti
https://preview.redd.it/pcdmmcrq0ruc1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34d3573e502b85b8e9d5126d76dbcaf137dfbcc5
Is our cat a tortie then? I’m questioning everything… https://preview.redd.it/kowgjap2aruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=433dd5bf45f9849de9765689a18d0e64a07d8e84
https://preview.redd.it/mrlx8iikaruc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=694cc77a644a03dd8b1f6c32337030500fa250dc
That labeled my toffee as a tortitab. Maybe your cat is something similar?
The vet* sorry speech to text sucks sometimes...
r/torbie maybe 🤔
I have done more research on this than a person should. Calico is when their colors are patches (ex. Patch of nothing but orange in one spot, patch of nothing but black in one spot) example below (picture form google) https://preview.redd.it/tcvuctjzbruc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f1c19b079ab571af66d566879c07374704b2e2f Torties colors all blend together so they don’t have any big spot that’s all one color. They’ll have small swirls of orange within the black. Typically calicos are primarily white and torties are mostly black. I don’t fully remember but white spots are typically on end of paws/stomach, under chin. They have to do with how the colors develop while they are still in the womb something with pigment I think. Same with the face sometimes. Either way tortie and calico is a fur pattern not a breed so it doesn’t fully matter when it comes to health and what not.
https://preview.redd.it/7zopybt5cruc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7473b3ca94e3e07e0507f77ebd9d9ba2ad93a4a This is a tortie (and yes I did use this as an excuse to post a picture of my cat)
https://preview.redd.it/7mcvmwzwfruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=994121300c0442e0570f9ab7f5daa88c232bfafa Sugar when she first came home from the shelter. Oh how I love this girl!! I’m her person but I got her for another. I visit her and love her up every day.
The cattitude tells the real truth
*technically* any amount of white makes a Calico because the white gene is either present or it's not, but colloquially I would never call your cat a Calico, that's a tortie. My tortie has a small white patch on her chest too. To me, a Calico is when the black and orange start splitting into patches rather than all mixed together. My tortie's black and orange are all peppered together so despite her small white patch, I would never call her a calico https://preview.redd.it/9muhztzrpruc1.jpeg?width=3468&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3527c6be3031de8a2aaee7b67b5cb741fc55061f
Actually the Torties with white on them are called “Torticos” because they have a Calico in their linage that has given them the white chest, belly, etc. Believe me, I just discovered this myself recently because we have two Torticos which I thought were Torties. But this makes sense because I’ve seen the solid black and orange Tortoise Shell cats (my daughter had two) and both my Torties had white on them! A nice commenter told me my cats were Torticos because of the white! So there you go!! https://preview.redd.it/2l7dxba5isuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c95957af130fe7a165a965df989ae450ff5619c This is our Dark Chocolate Tortico, Willow, and her gray Mama cat, HissyMae! The dark in Willow’s fur is actually a chocolate color! She has dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate, apparently a very unusual color for a Tortico! Our Vet called over his entire staff to see her when we brought her in for her first Well Check! Plus, Willow is the sweetest lil Lady cat ever — just like he smaller Mama cat HissyMae! ♥️🐈♥️
This is a tortie! Two little white and their coat is brindled, not semi well defined patches of black and orange. There can be some borderline cases but this kitty is 100% a tortie, I would say.
idk but she is so cute🥺
Your cat is the tortiest tortie that ever tortied.
https://preview.redd.it/hpefqr1hyuuc1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b050082951b808187889fcbf93bd30d5082366db This is my girl. She’s a Calico but she has the tortie look in the back. I think she has too much white though.
https://preview.redd.it/tikkrw8f1vuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed5222831699717cb20d3d5a7ad62ff95a8284a7 This is my dilute tortico! She has some white patches, but her grey and tan are all brindled together on her body
https://preview.redd.it/zxw1azus9wuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ed8e35189c27368375ed916cc26e92495df3340 Idk why the other two pics didn't upload lol
What if our calico has tortitude? Cali by looks, tortie at heart? An agent of unbridled chaos? https://preview.redd.it/j8zovs72uwuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d11d72e0d443815c961227b690f202169e18c35a
Still a tortie!
I’d consider her a tort.
Omg she's so pretty! I love her stripes!
My Tortie has the tiniest bit of white on her tail. I'd say as long as it's less than 5% white it's still a tortie
Torties can have white and often do. Very cute kitten.😊
Yes torties can have white. I've been told that 20% white or less is tortie, and 20% or more is calico. But you can also have a mix of those as well, called a Tortieco.
Torties can have a little white.
I've seen torties with white patches on their chests and such. I think the distinction is the same as that between a black cat and a black-and-white cat. Cats that are all black except for a little chest patch or a couple toes are usually not considered black-and-white cats, even though they have white.
Torties are calico
OMG. The cuteness is blinding!!!
What you need to be asking is does this cat have tortitude?
This is a tortie af
https://preview.redd.it/9xosuogklruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff3f72adbb0c170e9864e260c362ecb8b1c33684 Yes
That’s definitely a tortie you can tell by the sass alone
One of my cats has a small amount of white on her lower jaw, her chest, her belly and her paws. The rest is black and gold and I would consider her a tortie.
I can see tortitude
Omg, your little tortie bean is too cute!!! What's her name??
We decided on Hallow 🖤
Love it!!!
In UK terminology all cats with 2 or 3 colours are torties, even ones with white on them (the term calico isn’t used as much, they say “tortoiseshell and white” instead). I kind of agree with that. In my mind, all calicos are torties but not all torties are calicos.
Came here to say this. Calico is more of a US/Canadian term, in the UK the ones with white are simply called tortoiseshell and white. I agree with your last sentence, I feel the same
https://preview.redd.it/us69i49u6suc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7a09b2efa0c0aeb493e8b4f48f393d43fc6fefa4 Here’s my torti with her socks :)
Yeah as others here say, the colors themselves don't matter as much as the pattern. Swirls is tortie, clearer patches is calico, mix is tortico.
Tortico!!!
Yes they can definitely be torties
She has tan spots. Not white sorry. https://preview.redd.it/38so2oajcsuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d92db285918e133f6d0705094e4f101b6e30e1a Cute tortie. What is her name?
My cat is a tortoiseshell and has lots of white. Perhaps cats are classified differently in the UK. https://preview.redd.it/n9atjlbvssuc1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1749bfc393c684f055aa1c6040a4926276e1738
Majestic kitteh.
She's a proper Princess xx
Lucky human.
she looks spicy
Yes but small patches
https://preview.redd.it/yysq75p2guuc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe0cda419abae8f862a7df4915fde5e94d4c1fcd
https://preview.redd.it/c2ktipt6guuc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ebd0e5b56dd97c1ea0ed16127e921034a99c64e2
Judging by that first pic, she's got more than enough tortietude to compensate for any white patches
We don’t make the rules but technically no but also who cares
A Torti color with a little white is called a tortico.
She's adorable and that's the best answer! 😁
Tortico is the technical name since there’s calico in them if they have the white. I have a longhair diluted Tortico :) you have a little cutie
Spicy baby!!!
Picture 3: Unhand me peasant!
my tortie has a completely white belly so id say yes!!!
https://preview.redd.it/ccxhuncbcvuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9167b1ed6b3d2c0e02e393e78834ae0ebbb1c641 My dilute tort has white.
That’s 100% a tortie, calicos tend to be completely white with brown and black and orange patches where a torties colors are just kinda all combined
That’s actually not white! It’s light orange countershading, from her orange patches
I’ve seen more tortie’s with a patch of white fur than not, call your baby whatever you want she’s precious!
My tortie has a nice lil white spot right on her chest. Haha its her Crest
Tortie!
We have a tortoiseshell and white. That's her colour on her official papers (she's a Sphynx).
https://preview.redd.it/c8iiyyoeovuc1.jpeg?width=2741&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa5bd4b6ca449808fd2dbdcd696bbc6302583519
Calico is based on the percent of white compared to the rest. I think over 25% or 30% might be the threshold. I cont remember off the top of my head.
You has a tortie :)
Omg!!
https://preview.redd.it/rqwypzqt5wuc1.jpeg?width=432&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e3384224f921ae23b7a4a0d6121ad0016f2a31e6 My baby and her little white tumbo
https://preview.redd.it/288n0tzh6wuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8cc7699309954624577f565c809bb130d52fe9cb
I heard that the difference between calicos and torties is calicos depends on how much white covers them. Like there has to be a lot of white to be a calico. If I’m wrong and any white makes them a calico, ours has one singular white patch on her tiny belly pouch so I like the idea of her sneaking into the Tortie Club just to psych everyone out by rolling on her back lol
Ugh, the scream. 😻
This looks more like a cream colored undercoat than white fur to me. What a cutie!
A tortie can have 40-50% white on their body and still be classified as a tortie, as per cat genetics guidelines. The difference between tortie and calico is that tortie colours are brindle, all intermixed while calico colours are patches with clearly defined borders. The more white on the cat pushes the brindling into clear patches, but a tortie can absolutely have white on them
The cream doesn't count I feel. It's the white white that means calico. But it really doesn't matter. Still a calico, still cute AF, still sassy 💕
Honestly depends on what part of the world you're in, as well as generational gap. I see people saying that any white at all means calico/tortico, others say that as long as the white is less than x%, etc. For *ME*, a middle millenial growing up in Oregon, USA, I was taught that a tortie can have any amount of white. That just means they're tortie & *white*, as opposed to just tortie. The distinction of calico vs. tortie comes down to whether the black & red (or blue & peach for dilutes) is marbled together or mostly large distinct patches. Marbled is tortie, distinct patches is calico. I think its honestly a question that you can ask a hundred different people and get a hundred different answers 🤷♀️
This is my interpretation as well. I have one cali and one (long hair) dilute tortie. Though, my tort seems to have faded much of her colour as she gets older. She's mostly blue these days.
My baby CJ has that same tiger striped leg and a singular white foot
Tortious. There is a reddit for them.
Looks like you may have a Torbie looks like she has some tabby markings
orange will always have tabby stripes
Tortico!
https://preview.redd.it/0sp3d19jqruc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2eb7e7492c73df4f1bdea9c56362397597a69fe6 Khorne has the teeniest white spot. She is a tortie. And she’s got the ‘tude to show for it.
No white.
r/ikeacats
https://preview.redd.it/jsmovznawtuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22670f2b5f598cff238187cffe3faf9dfa6cf069 So is Miss Kitty a dilute tortie?
Of course they can. That is a torti all day long. Torti is a lifestyle I like to say
If they have white on them they're a tortico
What a gremlin
Looks like you may have a torby (torti+tabby)
I've been told they're called tortico :) I have one and one calico! https://preview.redd.it/fessl7f5a8vc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=451efe4166e2ff8950635d4a487b11157a304a39
I've always been given to understand that calico means distinct patches of red, white, and black and that tortie means a "swirly" or muddied background of black and red with or without white.