Male Calico and Tortie Cats: How Does This Happen?

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Male calico and tortie cat

How are some male cats calico or tortie?

Calico and tortie cats are almost always female, which we have covered in our article on calico cats. To recap, cats have 19 chromosome pairs, 18 autosomes and the sex chromosome pair of XX or XY. The chromosomes are located within the nucleus of every cell. Each chromosome is made up of matching pairs, which provides information from the mother and the father. Genes are located on the chromosomes and are tiny segments of DNA which act as a code that specifies the production of a protein, which do most of the work within the cells and are essential for the function and regulation of the body’s organs and tissues.

Chromosome and DNA

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Calico and Tortie Cats – What is the Difference?

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calico and tortie cats - what is the difference?

What are calico and tortie cats?

Calico and tortie (tortoiseshell) are both common coat colours/patterns which appear almost exclusively in female cats. The terms calico and tortie are often used interchangeably, and it is easy to see why. Both patterns refer to a multi-coloured cat which may consist of black and orange, brown and orange, grey and cream with or without white.

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What is 20/20 Vision & Does A Cat’s Eyesight Decline With Age?

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What is 20/20 Vision & Does A Cat's Eyesight Decline With Age? 1

As I work in human eyecare and we are fast approaching the year 2020, there is an increasing focus (pardon the pun) on 20/20 vision along with bad jokes. But what exactly is 20/20 vision and do cats experience a decline in vision the way humans do? Visual acuity refers to the clarity of vision, … Read more What is 20/20 Vision & Does A Cat’s Eyesight Decline With Age?

Christmas Food Guidelines For Cats (Safe & Toxic List)

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Christmas turkey

For many, part of the enjoyment of Christmas is time spent with family and friends over Christmas lunch or dinner. As pet owners, we want to include our cats in the festivities, but not all food is safe for cats to eat. We take a look at common Christmas foods which are safe or dangerous for cats.

When it comes to food, moderation is the key. Treats should make up no more than 10% of a cat’s diet as they are not complete and balanced and many contain empty calories.

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Cat Themed Health and Awareness Days – January to December 2020

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Cat health and awareness days 2020

January 2020 2nd January – Happy Mew Years Day 2nd January – National Pet Safety Travel Day (US) 14th January – National Dress Up Your Cat Day (US) 22nd January – Answer Your Cat’s Question Day 24th January – Change a Pet’s Life Day Glaucoma Awareness Month Thyroid Awareness Month (US) February 2020 4th February – … Read more Cat Themed Health and Awareness Days – January to December 2020

Cat Tail Language – What Your Cat’s Tail Is Telling You

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Cat tail language

Cat tail language

A cat’s tail can tell us a lot about how the cat is feeling and is a valuable communication tool not only between cats but also to communicate emotions to humans.

Paying attention to the cat’s tail is just one part of a larger picture. The position of the body, eyes and whiskers, as well as vocalisations (meowing, hissing, purring, chirping), are also important clues as to how the cat is feeling.

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