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Calico Cat Names: 108 Names For Stunning Tri-Colored Felines

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When you stumble across a calico cat, you know you have something special. The blend of black, orange, and white always looks stunning. And you never know what pattern you’ll get! Every calico looks unique. It’s one of the best parts of sharing your life with a calico. These beautiful cats take your breath away. And they deserve a name that captures that amazement. Why settle for “Patches” or “Callie” when you can choose something special? Luckily for you, we have 108 calico cat names that break the mold. Your lovely calico will hold their tail up with pride with any of these name options!

Calico Cats

Calicos aren’t common coat colors – and for a good reason. Getting a calico cat is DIFFICULT. You need the proper genetic conditions for calico fur to show up. And it starts with parents carrying genes for a black coat and an orange coat. The genes for cat fur color are carried on the X chromosome (B=orange, b=black).

Male cats? They’re usually solid in color. And why? Because males only have one X chromosome (more on that in a second). They get either the B or b gene. That means a black or orange cat. But females? They have two X chromosomes, so they have a chance at some gene scrambling. And now and then, they end up with a B and b together. The two colors DON’T cancel each other out. Instead, they lead to a cat with patches of BOTH.

How? It’s a process called lyonization. One of the chromosomes in a cell curls up and forms a Barr body. This prevents the genes from expressing. Lyonization is RANDOM in every cell. Some of the cat’s cells decide to express a B gene, while others express the b gene. And as the cells divide and grow, you get patches of orange or black. Voila! A calico cat’s born! Of course, you still need to account for the white you see. That’s due to piebalding. And that’s ANOTHER gene affecting skin color. When the three get together? You have the distinct tri-colored coat of the calico.

Now, you CAN find male calicos, but it’s RARE. In fact, only one out of THREE THOUSAND males will develop the calico pattern. This is due to a condition known as Klinefelter (and it happens in humans, too). The male cats end up with two X chromosomes, allowing for the B and b gene combination. However, because they have that extra chromosome, these males usually end up sterile.

Types of Calicos

Most people think “calico” when they see three coat colors combined. However, there are different types of calicos. The combination of the colors, and how dark they appear, determines what kind of calico you have:

  • Calico: These kitties have white in their mixture.
  • Dilute: When the black and orange soften to grey and peach, you have a dilute on your hands.
  • Tortoiseshell: If you don’t see patches of white, your cat is considered a tortoiseshell.
Calicos often feature orange, black, and white fur

Calico Cat Mythology

With such a special hair coat, calico cats have carved out their place in our mythology. You’ll find calicos popping up in every culture – and, surprisingly, the legends all have a positive slant! People knew they were looking at felines with something more (possibly due to no two calicos looking alike). They’re one of the few felines to earn unique names around the globe, too:

  • Glückskatze: For the Germans, these cats stood out, and the word translates to “lucky cat.”
  • Lapjeskat: Holland capitalizes on the pattern of the calico coat, calling them “patches cat.”
  • Tobi mike: In Japan, these stunning felines have a name that means “triple fur.”

Legends

Calico cats held a special place in our earliest stories. And some of those legends can provide the perfect inspiration for calico cat names.

The Greek myth of Hercules refers to the servant, Galanthis. Desperate to prevent Hera from interfering with Hercules’s birth, Galanthis tricked the goddess into believing the demi-god had already been delivered. Unfortunately, Hera uncovered the deception and changed Galanthis into a calico cat.

Ceaileacó (Irish for calico) cats held the power to heal – or so old tales would have you believe. If you rubbed one of these magical feline’s tails over a wart, the blemish would disappear.

Lucky Cats

The Germans weren’t the only ones to associate calicos and luck. Japanese sailors preferred these tri-colored felines over any others when they went out to sea. They believed the cats brought luck. And that’s why the popular Maneki Neko statues you find around Japan usually sport calico patterns.

In the United States, calicos were considered SO lucky, they were named “money cats.” Keeping a calico in your home was rumored to bring your household good fortune- literally!

Calico cat names should capitalize on their unique patterns

Calico Cat Names

With so many possibilities in pattern and shade, calico cats stand out from the crowd. The ideas for calico cat names are endless. You can choose from ANY possibility! These felines are so stunning to look upon, and they deserve names that reflect their beauty. (I know, you can find the occasional male, but most calicos are female) It’d be such a shame to choose a boring, standard name. Your unique feline deserves something that stands out – precisely the way they do. And with all of their colors? You can peruse our entire name database! Or you can use these 108 calico cat names to get your imagination firing on all cylinders.

Famous Calico Cat Names

From television and the silver screen to the real world, calico cats have captured the world’s attention. They’re so beautiful! And since you can’t possibly mistake one for another, it’s easy for them to stick out in our minds. Why not use one of these notorious felines as a start on your calico cat name journey? At least you’re precious kitty will be in good company!

  1. Bombalurina: One of only two calicos in Andrew Lloyd Weber’s production of Cats (Jemima, the kitten, is the other).
  2. Delia: You don’t get much better than tribute on a musical album. Freddie Mercury dedicated Innuendo to this lady.
  3. Inga: This working calico was the chief mouser at the Mount Washington Observatory until 1993.
  4. London: What other cat can claim the title of Vice President of Claims at Lloyd’s of London?
  5. Marzipan: Vistors to the Astor Theatre, shared the shows with this calico until 2013.
  6. Mochi: This chubby feline featured in Disney’s hit Big Hero 6.
  7. Pig: For some reason, Hollywood likes making calicos fat, and this feline companion in Home is no exception.
  8. Pudge: A fan of tri-colors? Odds are you already follow her Instagram feed.
  9. Rainbow: Perhaps not as famous as her daughter, CC (Copy Cat), Rainbow was the donor to the first cloned cat – who proved cloning calicos is tougher than it looks!
  10. Selima: This lovely calico lived with Earl Horace Walpole and served as inspiration for Thomas Gray’s “Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes.” (Okay, I know – kind of morbid, but, unfortunately, the cat did succumb to a goldfish bowl)
  11. Sheriff Callie: Youngsters in the family probably enjoy this cartoon favorite.
  12. Tama: On the Kishigawa railway, a feral calico made herself at home. Now she’s the official station master!

Calico Cat Names Based on Food

So, when I started putting this list together, I felt like it’d be impossible. How are you supposed to find foods and beverages that match the colors of a calico cat? But the more I played around with the idea of mixing things, the more it came together. After all, plenty of the best culinary creations NEED specific components to work. And if you start to think about food THAT way, you’ll find plenty of calico cat name ideas. It takes a little more imagination, but when you start to think things through, your imagination soars.

  1. Amaretto
  2. Ambrosia
  3. Apricot
  4. B-52 (A drink made with orange liqueur, Kahlua, and cream)
  5. Butterscotch
  6. Cayenne
  7. Chili
  8. Clementine
  9. Maize
  10. Muesli
  11. Nacho
  12. Neapolitan
  13. Paprika (The orange is a close match to a typical calico)
  14. Rye
  15. Saffron (When you use saffron, it changes color)
  16. Samoa
  17. Skittles
  18. S’more
  19. Snickers
  20. Spice
  21. Strudel
  22. Sundae
  23. Tiramisu
  24. Trailmix
  25. Twix

Calico Cat Names Based on Nature

Believe it or not, you CAN find these three colors in nature, if you look hard enough. And even if you’re missing a shade or two (it’s usually the white that’s omitted), there are some unique plants, animals, and minerals that make the perfect inspiration for calico cat names. After all, you have a special feline on your hands, and you want them to FEEL special with their name. Once you look around – or do a bit of careful research – you’ll start to find plenty of possibilities.

  1. Almandine (Garnets in red-orange hues)
  2. Cosima (A breed of orange rose)
  3. Fritillary (Butterfly species with orange, black, white, and brown)
  4. Garnet (These stones come in a variety of colors – including one that changes color)
  5. Lantana
  6. Magpie
  7. Mokara (A breed of orange orchid)
  8. Monarch
  9. Oriole
  10. Tiger Lily
  11. Viceroy (Butterfly mimic of the monarch)
  12. Wooly Bear
Calicos in pop culture are often portrayed as chubby

Calico Cat Names Based on Patterns

Trying to assign calico cat names based on colors doesn’t necessarily work. (Trust me, I tried finding words that worked for all three, and it came up bust) However, when you start to think in terms of PATTERNS, you strike a gold mine. Even if you can’t find a match for the specific markings of your beloved tri-color (or tortoiseshell), you can find something that evokes the beauty you’re seeing. And that’s what really matters. You want that name to dazzle every bit as much as your feline.

  1. Ashlar (This term’s used in stone masonry – it refers to trapezoids or squares)
  2. Autumn
  3. Blotch
  4. Brocade
  5. Camouflage
  6. Confetti
  7. Crisscross
  8. Dapple
  9. Doodle
  10. Harlequin
  11. Harmony
  12. Jigsaw
  13. Kaleidoscope
  14. Marble
  15. Mosaic
  16. Motley
  17. Myriad
  18. Nebula
  19. Patchwork
  20. Pebbles
  21. Piebald
  22. Pixel
  23. Puzzle
  24. Quilt
  25. Random
  26. Swatch
  27. Trio
  28. Turtle

Calico Cat Names Based on Popular Culture

Putting together patchwork pop culture references? Not as easy as you might think. And the trio of colors doesn’t show up that frequently, either. However, I still managed to scrape together some credible ideas for calico cat names from the movies, television, and literature. So if you want to venture down that pathway, you have some pathways you can follow.

  1. Catrina (Edgar Allan Poe owned a tortoiseshell – so why not name your cat after his?)
  2. Ernie (Yes, from Sesame Street. He has the same colors as your average calico cat)
  3. Mystique (With her shape-shifting abilities, this X-Men characters can wear ANY look)
  4. Pepita (Not precisely a cat, this alebrije from Coco features different patterns on her coat)
  5. Picasso (Have you seen his work? It reminds you of some of calico cats)
  6. Shamisen (A rare male calico, you’ll find him in the anime and manga, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
Calico cat names should reflect the uniqueness of their coat

Unique Calico Cat Names

You have a cat that doesn’t look like ANY other! So why not celebrate that individuality with a name that stands out from the pack? These unique calico cat names think outside of the box. They challenge everyone to think a little more and consider things from a new angle. This is perfect because these “lucky cats” deserve something special. And once you consider things in a new light, you’ll find your brain coming up with PLENTY of possibilities. I did. I had a dilute tortoiseshell a few years ago, and her name was Talisman. (No, not after the Stephen King book, though everyone asked ALL the time) The name stood out because SHE was as rare as a talisman.

  1. Aurora
  2. Calypso
  3. Canvas
  4. Chimera
  5. Cybil
  6. Maryland (Calicos ARE the state cats!)
  7. Quirk
  8. Unicorn
  9. Zodiac

Calico Cat Names – Different Languages

Obviously, coming up with different terms for “calico” may not be in the cards. But that doesn’t mean you need to close the book on different languages when you start thinking about calico cat names. You have one of the most beautiful cats out there – so why not think along those lines? Or perhaps consider something regal? Maybe even mystical? If you hit on a trait that’s important to you – or your feline! – you can find plenty of possibilities in other languages. One of the most beautiful dilute torties I ever owned came to me as a bedraggled kitten. Her siblings pulled out her whiskers, and she looked awful. But I saw the beauty underneath. So I named her Nimue, after a Celtic goddess of the moon. And she grew into that name within a few months. Names? They have POWER.

  1. Akimi (Japanese for “beautiful”)
  2. Ammon (Egyptian for “mystery”)
  3. Calista (Greek for “beauty”)
  4. Fia (Italian for “flickering fire”)
  5. Fiadh (Irish for “wild”)
  6. Gina (Italian for “queen”)
  7. Hayami (Japanese for “rare beauty”)
  8. Kamilah (Egyptian for “perfect”)
  9. Kiyomi (Japanese for “pure beauty”)
  10. Masami (Japanese for “elegant beauty”)
  11. Maeve (Irish for “enchanted one”)
  12. Niamh (Irish for “brightness”)
  13. Orla (Irish for “golden princess”)
  14. Roisin (Irish for “little rose”)
  15. Sybil (Irish for “fortune teller”)
  16. Tahiti (Hawaiian for “rising sun”)

Maneki Nekos

Calico cats brighten up the world. You’ll never see two that look alike – and that’s the source of their beauty. (Perhaps their luck?) These rare beauties deserve to have calico cat names that reflect their special coats. With a little imagination, a dash of creativity, and looking outside of the usual expectations, you’ll find the perfect idea for your tri-colored feline.

Who knows? Maybe that unique name will even bring some good fortune your way.

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Andria Kennedy

Andria Kennedy

Andria grew up in a pet-friendly household. On weekends, the family made trips to zoos and aquariums in the area. So it wasn’t a surprise when she gravitated toward a career with animals.

After six years working among the background operations at the Philadelphia Zoo, she gained a unique insight into the veterinary world. The vet staff provided her first lessons in terminology, the identification of medical equipment, and glimpses of radiographs (x-rays). She also enjoyed plenty of opportunities to talk with everyone, including the veterinary technicians. And they offered an alternative for someone NOT interested in surgical pathways: Namely, their course of study.

Andria enrolled at Harcum College. Philadelphia boasts two programs for vet techs, but only Harcum works with the Ryan Veterinary Hospital and New Bolton Center (University of Pennsylvania’s small and large animal facilities, respectively). Harcum’s vet tech students receive six months of hands-on teaching and experience alongside Penn’s vet students.

With the opportunities and connections available with one of the top veterinary schools, the decision was easy for her to make.

New Bolton Center: Large Animal Medicine
Andria ended up trudging through snow up to the knee and shivering in subzero temperatures during her winter semester, but she wasn’t disappointed with her choice. New Bolton provided a thorough grounding in large animal medicine. A horse-lover as a child, the experience renewed those old emotions.

And a few memories stood out and remained to this day:

  • Standing alongside a Clydesdale and feeling TINY
  • Holding the reins of a horse galloping at top speed on a treadmill
  • Nursing tiny foals through the first days of their life

Ryan Veterinary Hospital: Small Animal Medicine
Veterinary students can legally work at a practice while studying. Andria took advantage of the opportunity, gaining “real life” experience while attending class. It provided a slight advantage when she entered her three months at the small animal hospital.

However, as Ryan Veterinary Hospital offers treatments unique to the veterinary community, she continued to gain valuable experience. For instance, she spent a day working alongside their Chemo Team. The positivity of everyone she encountered – staff, clients, and patients alike – left a lasting impression.

Additional standout moments included:

  • An afternoon spent with the head of the feline kidney transplant program
  • A day serving as the anesthesia technician in their new radiation unit
  • Recognizing a radiograph of a giant elephant shrew (applying her previous zoo knowledge)

Emergency/ICU Veterinary Technician
Accompanying her Associate of Science in Veterinary Technology, Andria received a passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). The two led to her certification/license as a veterinary technician – first in Pennsylvania (CVT) and later in Virginia (LVT).

Emergency medicine appealed to her from the beginning. The flux of ailments, injuries, and even species kept her mind sharp at all times. The knowledge required to handle cats, dogs, exotics, and even wildlife is highest in an ICU setting. When a vet tech never knows the patient’s stability coming back to the treatment area, skills and the ability to respond in an instant always stay in peak shape.

With treatments evolving at a constant basis, Andria sought out the best Continuing Education opportunities. She attended the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (IVECCS) Conference whenever possible. This allowed her to discuss the latest wound treatments, medications, and advancements in diet formulations.

Cardiology Veterinary Technician
With the increased knowledge and experience, Andria noticed gaps in her abilities. Her grasp of cardiology remained at the basic level. She wanted to boost her skills and understanding as much as possible, improving her patient care. When an opportunity within the practice arose to move into the cardiology department, she accepted.

She sharpened her ability to read ECGs, recognizing arrhythmias of every type. Speaking with the cardiologist, she learned to read echocardiograms, picking out the most common disease processes. And, courtesy of her position in the department, she took in everything she could regarding the grain-free diet concern.

And throughout her ten-year career, she built her store of client interactions. She learned stories of heartbreak and hope. In the middle of the night, she shared touching and humorous conversations. Every moment taught her to engage with people. And the skill blended into her writing ability, capturing the interest of pet-lovers everywhere.

Check out Andria’s LinkedIn here

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