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Adopting a Calico in St. John's
The Calico is a coat pattern, not a breed: the bold tri-colour patchwork of white, black, and orange, with the closely related tortoiseshell blending the same colours more finely. Calico and tortie cats are almost always female, a quirk of feline genetics, and they appear regularly in Newfoundland rescue as Domestic Shorthairs. This page gathers adoptable Calico and tortoiseshell cats from the NL shelters we cover into one place, refreshed regularly.
The striking coat says nothing about personality, which the City of St. John's Humane Services can describe from real observation. Search by the calico look if it appeals, then choose on temperament.
What to know before you adopt
Almost every calico and tortoiseshell is female, because the genes for orange and black coat colour are carried on the X chromosome, so it takes two X chromosomes to display both. They are Domestic Shorthairs at heart, with all the usual mixed-cat advantages of hardy health and a long life. Tortie and calico cats have a folk reputation for a feisty, opinionated streak sometimes called "tortitude," which is more charm than science but beloved by their owners.
Care is the same as any Domestic Shorthair: occasional brushing, daily play, and an indoor home, which is the Newfoundland standard given cold winters, busy roads, and island coyotes. A calico with a sunny window and some vertical space is a content companion. Pick the cat whose personality fits your household and enjoy the one-of-a-kind coat, since no two calicos are patterned alike.
Looking more broadly? Browse every adoptable cat across the province on Cat Adoption Newfoundland and Labrador.
The rescues that most often list Calico Cat cats across the province are St. John's Humane Services.
Calico Cat Adoption FAQ — Newfoundland and Labrador
Where can I adopt a Calico cat near me in St. John's?
LocalPetFinder lists adoptable Calico and tortoiseshell cats from Newfoundland rescue, led by the City of St. John's Humane Services. Tri-colour cats appear regularly in NL rescue. Listings refresh regularly and each profile links straight to the shelter to apply.
Why are almost all calico cats female?
Because the genes for orange and black coat colour sit on the X chromosome, and it takes two X chromosomes, the female pairing, to display both colours alongside white. Male calicos exist but are extremely rare genetic anomalies and are usually sterile. So when you adopt a calico or tortoiseshell, you are almost certainly adopting a female cat.
Is a Calico a breed of cat?
No. Calico is a tri-colour coat pattern, white with black and orange patches, that appears on Domestic Shorthairs and some longhairs and pedigrees. It is not a breed. The closely related tortoiseshell blends the same colours more finely. Temperament depends on the individual cat, so choose on personality and enjoy the unique coat.