Dilute Calico Cat Shows Off Her Rare Muted Coat In Sweet Video
When it comes to cute pets, our fur babies can look so many different ways. It's true, there's no one way to be cute, but in some cases, a pet's cuteness can be incredibly rare. Like this rare short-legged feline that gets along with everyone. Did you know that there is a rare cat color called dilute calico? This dilute calico cat that shows off her unique look in a TikTok video — and talk about gorgeous!
@cat__astrophes Also known as Niska 🤍 #dilutecalico #calicocats #rarecats
In the video, the TikToker kindly introduces Niska, a sweet dilute calico, as she basks in the sunlight. Though the video is only a twelve-second clip, we're able to spot Niska's unique muted coat with its tri-color pattern, along with her lovely green eyes.
Viewers immediately fell in love with "beautiful" Niska. In the comments were other dilute calico parents, sharing photos of their rare and special sweethearts. The general consensus is that these felines are absolutely lovely, and we agree!
All about dilute calico cats
Possibly one of the most surprising facts about calico cats is that they aren't actually a breed. Nope, what makes a cat calico is its tri-colored coat, and plenty of felines can have that, including the Japanese Bobtail and the Turkish Van. Niska and cats like her are called dilute calicos because of the muted coloration of their fur. Instead of the standard black, orange, and white, dilute calico patterns may appear cream, white, and blue-gray — and it's incredibly rare. But just how rare?
About one in every 1,000 cats is calico, and even fewer of those are dilute calicos. If you happen to spot a calico or dilute calico in the wild, she's likely female. The unique gene that determines color variations in cats lives in the X chromosome. So, since female cats have two X chromosomes (XX), they're more likely to be calico. This is also why calico cats can not be intentionally bred, as the coloring pattern is quite unpredictable as it relates to genetics.
Now, male calico cats do exist, but they only make up one in every 3,000 calicos. So basically, spotting a male dilute calico is not that dissimilar from spotting a unicorn. Want to see more interesting coat patterns? Check out this dilute tortie Maine Coon who looks like a miniature Chewbacca — since we're keeping to the theme of fantastical characters.