Rare Calico Cat Stuns Viewers With Her 1-in-4,000 Coloring
All cats are special, but some are extremely rare, and we get to meet one of them in this viral video.
Meet Niska, a very rare Calico cat type known as the dilute or muted Calico.
How rare is Niska? According to FelineNest, dilute Calicos are estimated to occur in only 1 in 4,000 to 10,000 cats.
Veterinarian Dr. Rebecca MacMillan told FelineNest that because dilute Calicos are a result of such a unique genetic combination, "Most people will never see one in person."
But in this video, you get to see this beautiful and rare Calico cat in all her muted coloring glory.
@cat_astrophies Also known as Niska #dilutecalico#calicocats#rarecats
原聲 - NoralFlute
As you can see, Niska's gorgeous muted coloring gives her a very bold appearance comprised of soft gray, cream, and light orange tones.
Related: Rescue Calico Cat Goes From Unable To Walk To Living Her Happiest Life
What Makes a Muted Calico Cat So Rare?
So what makes a muted Calico kitty so rare that you may never see one in your lifetime?
Let's first define what a muted Calico cat is.
The muted Calico or diluted Calico cat possesses the dilute gene, which regulates the formation of pigment for each hair strand.
If the gene is activated, the pigment affects more hair strands, resulting in the cat's color appearing more faded and soft than that of a regular Calico.
It should also be noted that muted Calicos are typically female because these color genes are located on the X chromosome.
Since females have two X chromosomes, this means more colors appear together, which is why Calico cats are predominantly female.
If you're curious about the chances of there being a male diluted Calico, according to FelineNest, only 1 in 3,000 regular Calicos have the chance of being male, and only 1 in 10,000 to 30,000 male cats could be a diluted Calico.
That is pretty darn rare!
It should also be noted that each dilute Calico cat's pattern is distinct, making them completely unique from any other kitty.
It appears that Niska lives with her cat sister, Mattie, but Mattie isn't a muted Calico.
As for the characteristics of a muted Calico cat, they are known to be intelligent, affectionate, adaptable, and a little shy with new people.
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This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 3:55 PM.