'Extremely Rare' Cat Up For Adoption At Peninsula Humane Society

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Veterinarians and animal rescue officials could hardly believe their eyes when a certain stray kitty arrived at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. The male kitten was identified as a tortoiseshell tabby — an "extremely rare" combination.

"Tortoiseshell Tabby cats, known for their black and orange coloring are almost always exclusively female, so we were quite shocked when a Tortoiseshell Tabby kitten who was found as a stray in Redwood City, CA was male," said Buffy Martin Tarbox, communications manager for the rescue society.

Mateo, the two-month-old kitten, was named after the county he was found in and is considered a "genetic anomaly." He was slightly underweight when he arrived and placed in the shelter's kitten nursery until he reached at least two pounds, the minimum required weight for adoption.

"At first we couldn’t believe the kitten was indeed male, but after several thorough examinations, much to his dismay, our Veterinarian services staff confirmed he is indeed a male," Tarbox said.

Tortoiseshell tabbies are not a breed, rescue officials said. That name refers to their patterned coats, which typically resemble the shell of a tortoise and are typically black and orange.

These kitties are also known to be sassy and have plenty of "fortitude." In some cultures, cats of this particular coloring are called "money" cats and are considered to be lucky.

Mateo is considered to be a genetic anomaly since the gene that controls the orange and black fur color is typically found on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes, while males have an XY combination. This usually means that only female cats can be born with this unique orange and black fur coloring, Tarbox said.

"To be a male Tortoiseshell cat, he must have three sex chromosomes: two XXs and one Y," Tarbox said. "We cannot ever recall a male Tortoiseshell Tabby come through our shelter. In 2019, a shelter in England announced they had a male Tortoiseshell Tabby available for adoption and the kitten received international attention.

"Maybe our local Mateo will become an international superstar too!"

But Mateo isn't the only anomaly on the block. Tarbox said another male tortoiseshell tabby was found around the same area and was currently in foster care with a volunteer.

"He’s named Francisco and should be available for adoption soon," Tarbox said.

Mateo is neutered and available for adoption immediately. He's described as playful and affectionate. His adoption fee is $120.

Anyone interested in adopting Mateo can call 650-340-7022.