What a Cat-titude!

This is what, I think, one refers to as a calico cat... not a breed, just defined by their striking orange, black, and white coat. Nearly all such cats are female - the genes for orange and black fur are carried only on the X chromosome. Because female cats have two X chromosomes (XX), they can inherit both color traits. During early development, one X chromosome randomly turns off in each cell—a process called lyonization—creating the patchwork of orange and black.