A cat’s striking and unusual coloring has taken the internet by storm, amassing over 26 million views on TikTok by Wednesday.
Mariacarla Caruso, the cat’s owner from Italy, shared with Newsweek that she rescued the kitten, named Kitty, in March 2021 after hearing a faint meow outside. Upon investigation, she discovered a plastic bag hanging from a tree with the kitten inside, all alone. “By her size, it seemed she had just been born a few hours earlier,” Caruso explained. “It was a sad story with a happy ending, fortunately.”
Caruso took the kitten in and welcomed her into the family home, where she has lived ever since. In early 2024, Caruso began posting videos of Kitty on TikTok under the account @thejacketcat. Viewers quickly became captivated by Kitty’s unique fur pattern of white, black, and orange patches. However, to Caruso, this is just how Kitty has always looked.
“Her colors have always been there; she is a ‘calico’ cat,” Caruso said. “I’m familiar with this type of fur pattern, but I must admit Kitty’s specific pattern is quite unique and amusing.”
In a TikTok video posted on February 13, Kitty is seen standing on the sink, meowing for attention. The top half of her coat resembles a tuxedo cat with a black and white face, but as you move downward, orange fur covers her front legs. When Kitty spins around, viewers get a full view of her distinct coloring.
TikTok users immediately fell in love with Kitty’s fur, calling her coloring a “genetics jackpot.” By Wednesday, the video had garnered over 4.5 million likes and more than 20,800 comments.
“He put a cardigan over his tux,” one viewer remarked.
Another joked: “The printer jammed on this one, but what a cute result.”
A third comment read: “My brain can’t comprehend this lol.”
Calico cats are defined by their unique coat colors, not by breed. To qualify as a calico, a cat’s fur must include white, black, and orange. According to a vet-approved article on Catster, calicos typically have a mix of black and orange fur, with about 25 to 75 percent of their coat being white. These cats are known for being sweet and friendly.
Calico cats’ distinctive patterns are a random result of genetics. While their appearance may vary, calicos are often categorized into one of six types: traditional, dilute, patched tabby, male, short-haired, or long-haired. Despite the variety of calico patterns, one common trait is that most calico cats are female. Male calicos are extremely rare.
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