Plush Calico Cat Puppet 20" 20" Long x 9" Wide x 6" Tall he Calico is not a breed of cat. It is a color pattern of reddish and dark patches on a base of white fur, and can happen in any breed. The name 'calico' comes from the South Indian port city of Calicut where a brightly colored cloth on a white background was made. Calicos are almost all females. Two female genes, called X chromosomes, are needed to create the color patches. Calicos are considered good luck. In the United States, they're sometimes called "money cats." Japanese sailors take Calicos on ships to guard against storms.