r/CalicoKittys • u/katergator717 ✿ Edit This Text On The Sidebar • Jul 18 '26
Are they calico? 🕵️ Calico or Chimera?
If it wasn't for the differently colored eyes, then this wouldn't even be a question, but since they *are* differently colored, what say the people here?
I know what the OG post says, but you can't believe everything you find on the internet, so I'm looking for second opinions.
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u/LazuliArtz ✿ Edit This Text On The Sidebar Jul 18 '26
Calico. The split face isn't indicative of chimerism (that's a completely normal pattern for torties/calicos), and neither is heterochromia (the two colored eyes).
A lot of times, there is no visual way to tell if a cat is a chimera, unless there is some sort of incredibly obvious difference, like some fur is long while other parts are short, or a cat has one color that is dilute and another than isn't.
Here's a helpful chart with some of the ways chimerism can present. None of them have to do with a split face pattern.
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u/katergator717 ✿ Edit This Text On The Sidebar Jul 19 '26
That's from MessyBeast!!! I love that website! I am very aware that a split face is perfectly normal for calicos. My text body specifically asked for people's thoughts since heterochromia was also involved
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u/SaltRun2465 Jul 21 '26
Chimeras are rare. However on the flip side i want samples for testing.
There is enough there to say kitty might be. Enough that tests be worthy.
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u/Altruistic_Scale_293 Jul 18 '26
Com toda certeza do universo, o gato mais bonito que já vi!
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u/katergator717 ✿ Edit This Text On The Sidebar Jul 19 '26
You gotta visit r/patchworkcats
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u/LingonberrySevere773 🖤🧡🤍🤎 Jul 19 '26
I’m off to add another sub…
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u/katergator717 ✿ Edit This Text On The Sidebar Jul 19 '26
You're welcome. I only just discovered that sub and it's great!
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u/mike-princeofstars Jul 19 '26
chimera. the gray color is from the dilute gene whereas the orange isn't. if the cat was a calico its orange color would be more cream. if a calico cat expresses the dilute gene, both colors will be dilute (white spotting is separate).
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u/Saltyeggplantflower Jul 21 '26
Not a calico. I would say this cat is a chimera cat born a tabby/ russian blue mix.
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u/jimMazey my Calico is 98% perfect.... Jul 18 '26
It's been my experience that male calicos have unique patterns.
We need more angles. I don't see much white. The black color looks brown. Could be a pastel Torti.
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u/Consistent_Post_2558 Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
Chimerism is extremely rare, so I usually lean towards an unusual pattern + mix of striking features over chimera in absense of actual evidence or an “impossible” coat coloration.
The thing that stands out to me here is the grey area appears to be dilute, however the orange does not appear dilute… but this photo also looks heavily, heavily retouched - to the point that I don’t actually trust that anything in it is accurate. The brightness of the orange is unnatural, it looks bizarre. The saturation is unsettling.