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First, you should understand that tortoiseshell is not a breed in and of itself. It can occur across breeds.

Second, the majority of tortoiseshell cats, like calicos, are female. One source I checked claimed that only 1 in 3,000 tortoiseshell cats were male. This has to do with what chromosome this color variation is linked to (X). When you have a male tortoiseshell cat it is quite often sterile - can't make babies - because it has an extra X chromosome which messes with their sex characteristics.

Most boys are XY, girls XX, male tortoiseshell & calicos XXY - that extra X causes a male tortoiseshell and messes with its ability to breed.

A pretty scientificy answer, the long and short of which is - such a mating is highly unlikely to produce any kittens. It's rare "luck" when you get a boy.

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13y ago

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