My fiance is a vet and I asked him about it. He said male calicos are genetic brainfarts and do tend to have severe health issues ranging from kidney malfunction, brain damage, hyperthyroid (which sometimes causes aggression) bone weakness, genital deformities, cancer, chest deformities, diabetes. Basically they're not supposed to exist and nature takes lengths to keep it that way. He also said they are almost always infertile (but still should be neutered if you try to keep it as a pet, otherwise it has a 70-80 percent chance of testicle cancer and will urine mark all over house and have aggressive tendencies) and rarely live past 6 months of age. None make it past 2-3 years and despite popular urban myth they are not worth any money. In fact anyone who knows the truth about male calicos won't even adopt one for free because they're short lived and often cost a lot in vet bills.
I know people who have male calicos and they can get old like any other cat, but the chance of health problems are greater in one, and they are sterile (in most cases). So some do die young, but that can happen with any living creature, not just because it's calico.
Your calico cat has just as much of a chance at a normal life as it's siblings except for mabye being sterile.
calicos have orange, black/brown, and white as their coloring and are 99.9% female. The few males that are born are "genetic brainfarts" as it has been said
>Relax, his lifespan will be the same as any other cat, he's just very unique so be sure you find him a good owner!<
Er, not so likely according to the veterinarian I live with. He said a little more than half will pass away in the first year. But it's always possible for them to live to 18-20 like some cats can do, too. But lifespan can vary depending on what the owner is willing to spend on vet care, aka if he's diabetic or needs monthly fluid treatment to boost his kidneys. Or who knows, he could have no problems at all.
Just be sure his new owner (if you adopt him out) knows about the possible health risks and shortened lifespan before they take him home. (and that the myth about male cali's being worth money is just that, a myth and that they're 98 percent sterile.)
He just told me to tell you to double-check VERY closely because every time a client has brought him a supposed male calico it either turned out to be a mis-labled female or not really a calico and the same goes for his vet colleagues. They're just THAT rare - so rare that they 'don't really exist, from a numbers standpoint.' It's all because a cat must have two X chromosomes to be a calico and two X chromosomes = female. A male calico is x-x-y and is thus either an abnormal gene type or intersex (AKA if it IS a male and a calico there's a good chance he has male 'parts' plus ovaries!) So he may have to be neutered AND spayed, lol!
Mudskipper I just wanted to mention certain breeds of cats are prone to serious health problems more than others, so mabye the ones the vet saw were of a different breed other than domestic shorthair, so the health issues were most likely NOT because it was calico, but increased because of the cats breed.
I know this is an old post but wanted anyone who came across it to have some facts!
1 in 3,000 calico cats born are male, it's due to an XXY vs XX(female) or XY(male) chromosome anomaly. The colors orange and black are carried on the X chromosome so males being XY can only be orange or black but normally not both. 1 in 10,000 can be fertile however most are sterile. Even sterile males should be neutered not just to cut back on health issues all males face but because it affects attitude as well. As with Calico cats, there are around 16 possible breeds since calico is not a breed but in fact a coat color (3 colors / white, orange, and black/brown), tortoise shell or torties are a variation of calico normally referred to because of coat patterns. Male calico cats are considered a chimera because of the XXY chromosomes.
Due to the genetic anomaly they can have more health problems but NOT always. As with most animals, breed and care determine more so if health issues present or not.
Unlike what has been said in previous comments, I know first hand they can live normal lengthy lives. Less than 30miles from me lives a very happy Maine Coone FERTILE male calico who is several years old and in my own home lives a happy rambunctious male Calico.
Now to answer the question of worth, an animal is worth whatever the person possessing or wanting to possess deems appropriate. My animals every single one is priceless to me and my family, that being said ... Collectors can be willing to pay upwards of $5,000usd for a male calico and more for a fertile one. This should not be taken into consideration though when trying to place ANY animal, what you should look for is whether the potential owner can provide it a happy, healthy, full life, can they love it? Care for it vet wise? Will they keep it long term? Do they plan on using it to breed? If so, what are their standards for breeding( do they breed animals to death, follow veterinary guidelines for breeding, or...)?
Hope this lays a lot of misinformation to rest. Have a happy fur filled life
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