Why Are Male Calicos Rare

David Bowie is a male calico cat who was brought to the Humane Society of St. Joseph County on Dec. 29, 2018.

Update: David Bowie has been adopted, according to the Humane Society of St. Joseph County.

Original story:

David Bowie is a unicorn.

Or he may as well be, since he's just about as rare.

The newest kitty waiting for a forever dwelling at the Humane Lodge of St. Joseph County is extremely rare: a male person with a calico fur blueprint. He is about 4 years quondam and is affectionate, approachable, front declawed and gets along with the other cats in the shelter, said Genny Carlson, the executive manager of the shelter.

But what stands out almost about David Bowie is his sex.

"Have whatsoever of you ever seen a male person calico cat? Nigh of u.s.a. oasis't either!" the shelter wrote Friday in a Facebook post.

The shelter used a ordinarily cited statistic maxim one in 3,000 calicos are male. While it's hard to pin down that number, everyone agrees David Bowie is a rare true cat.

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The calico fur pattern is predominantly white, with patches of two other colors — in David Bowie's case, orange and black. And because a cat'south fur color is linked to its cells' X chromosomes, calico cats are rarely male. Male cells accept but one X chromosome, meaning usually, males are only one colour.

However, there are iii ways in which a male true cat tin can take a calico fur pattern, said Kari Ekenstedt, an assistant professor of anatomy and genetics in Purdue University's Higher of Veterinary Medicine.

Showtime, a male true cat'south cells could take 2 X chromosomes, as opposed to simply one. And if each jail cell's ii 10 chromosomes carried a different fur color, information technology would be piece of cake to explain how a male person cat could have both an orange and black fur pattern, Ekenstedt said.

Another way, Ekenstedt said, is through the mutation of Ten chromosomes in a male cat's cells. For example, Ekenstedt said, a male true cat'south cells could acquit X chromosomes that would go far black. Simply while the embryo is developing, Ekenstedt said, 1 X chromosome could mutate and switch to a new color. This could cause the X chromosomes in other cells to also mutate, giving the cat a mix of both colors.

Ekenstedt said she suspects this is the most mutual way male person cats with the calico fur pattern are created.

"Even though, when I say common, it's vanishingly rare that nosotros ever run into them," she said.

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The 3rd possibility, Ekenstedt said, is that a male calico could really exist a bubble. This would hateful the cat has a mixture of XX and XY cells. This happens when two different embryos merge together, Ekenstedt said.

Without conducting tests, there is no way to know how David Bowie became calico-colored. Male person calicos are oftentimes sterile, Ekenstedt said, but because David Bowie has been neutered, that does not affair.

Ekenstedt said other than causing possible infertility, calico patterns do not affect a male true cat's health.

"There's no reason he shouldn't live a dainty, long, healthy life," Ekenstedt said.

David Bowie's adoption fee is $50, Carlson said. Anyone interested must fill out an awarding on the Humane Lodge of St. Joseph Canton's website. On the form, y'all may list David Bowie as the pet you are interested in adopting.

You may too need to consult with an adoption specialist at the shelter earlier you may take David Bowie domicile, Carlson said.

As of Friday, the shelter has 100 total cats available to adopt, Carlson said.

Andrew Clark is Facebook editor for IndyStar. Call him at 317-444-6484 or electronic mail him at andrew.clark@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Clarky_Tweets.