The content on this page has absolutely nothing to do with paintings, prints or anything else on the site. As the menu says, it's just for fun -- especially if you're a calico lover or an animal rescue volunteer!

Did you know...

• Calico cats are not a breed. Calico coloring can occur in many different types of cats.
• Because of genetics, virtually all calico cats are female.
• If a cat is predominantly black and orange, with few or no white markings, it is known as a tortoiseshell. If the cat has large areas of white, with spots of orange and black, it is a calico.
• Dogs of similar coloration are known as brindles or tricolors. As with cats, the coloration can occur in many different breeds.
• Both calico and tortoiseshell cats may be dilute or pastel, with markings of gray and tan rather than orange and black.
• Calico cats are named after the fabric, not the other way around. The fabric originated centuries ago in a town in India known to the British as Calicut.
• In the United States, calico fabric is a cotton material with a small print. In the UK, calico fabric is a form of muslin and does not necessarily have a pattern.
• Calico cats are thought to be lucky in many cultures.
• The calico cat is one of Maryland's official state animals.

Calico forum

Do you have a calico cat story or animal rescue story that you'd like to share? I'd love to hear it! This is kind of a low-tech site, so there's no fancy system to post comments. Just e-mail me and I'll add your story to the page. Please, please, please -- no plagiarism, profanity or promotions. To get things started, here are two articles written by my son, a journalism student and longtime shelter volunteer.

• Cat Names
• Reasons People Abandon Cats