Q: I heard that male calico cats are extremely rare and valuable. Is this true? And why haven’t people tried to cash in on this?
As rare as they are, male calicos aren’t worth those thousands of dollars that urban legend might tell you. Over the years, I’ve seen three of these “male” furry phenoms. Outwardly, they look and behave like any other kitty cat. But their DNA is different. They’re genetic misfits and they’re infertile. They can’t sire a litter to produce any offspring.
The calico color pattern is a sex-linked genetic trait. The tri-colored appearance is “attached” to the X chromosomes. Cats with a calico color pattern have an XX (female)chromosome combination. Males, with their XY chromosomes, can’t be calico colored.
The exception to this rule comes when there is a genetic anomaly. On rare occasions, a “male” kitty may have an XXY triple chromosome makeup. Outwardly, he looks like a boy. But that triple chromosome renders him unable to have any viable sperm. So the reality is this. A male calico may be somewhat rare, but he can’t produce any more of his own kind. He’s just a colorful, good-looking guy.
And truth is, I never heard of anyone offering big bucks for a male calico anyway. One of the three kittens I saw sold for $5 (a neighbor bought him), and the other two were just given away. A male calico isn’t worth a fortune. He’s just another cat.
Q: We have an unusual kitty. Volturnus likes to get wet. He enjoys taking a bath, and even runs in the sprinklers on the lawn if we throw a toy for him. He’s become somewhat of a nuisance; I have to close the bathroom door when I shower or I might have unwanted feline company! Have you ever heard of a cat that enjoys getting wet?
Cats like Volturnus aren’t really rare, but they are very entertaining. A lot of clients have told me about their water-loving kitties. And I have to say some of their stories border on the unbelievable. One cat learned to use the family toilet instead of a litter box. This cat even learned to flush the commode … at least occasionally. Another person told me that his cat could actually turn on the water faucet in the bathroom when he wanted a drink. Trouble is, that smart kitty hadn’t learned the importance of water conservation. He always left the water running after he quenched his thirst. So he was finally banished from the bathroom.
Q: Our old cat, Clem, has started making strange noises at night. He’s at least 15 years old and he never goes outside. Clem’s definitely a senior citizen now, but he still plays with his toys every day. It’s at night that things have changed. He sleeps in another room at the end of the house. We hear him yowling sometimes, almost as if he’s in a fight. This happens only once in a while. And he only does it once or twice, then seems to fall back asleep. Any ideas?
A change in behavior like this may or may not signal a serious problem. It’s possible (but not likely) that Clem is having some crazy dreams. It’s also possible that his vision is failing and he feels “lost” in the dark of the night. But I’m concerned that he might have other problems. So it makes good sense to have him evaluated by his veterinarian.
Clem could be suffering from something as simple as a pinched nerve in his back or neck. Pain can cause animals to cry out and if he moves in his sleep, he could have acute discomfort causing him to complain. Watch him carefully in the daytime to see if he’s acting stiff and sore, all symptoms of old-age arthritis or soft tissue inflammation.
Other, more serious troubles could be the cause of Clem’s outbursts. Seizures and other central nervous system problems can create behavior changes. And though we don’t talk about it very often, some cats develop age-related senility, just the same as do dogs and people.
There are lots of different medical conditions to consider here. A thorough physical exam, and a few tests should allow his vet to determine what’s wrong. And many of these problems are treatable, even in a kitty as old as Clem. Once treated, hopefully he can get back to a more restful sleep again.
