Howdy, Partner. There's a New Sheriff on the Porch for Halloween.
Howdy, partner. On the edge of a wooden porch scattered with yellow leaves, a little calico kitten has saddled up in full Western gear: a brown felt cowboy hat tilted low over her ears, a tiny denim vest, and a red paisley bandana knotted at her neck. Patches of orange, black, and white peek out from under the outfit, and her green eyes squint from beneath the brim with a determined, sheriff-in-town look. A jack-o'-lantern grins from the corner, dried corn stalks lean against the post, and a misty autumn yard stretches out behind her.
Calico cats, with their mix of white plus orange and black patches, are almost always female. Like orange coloring, the genes for orange and black fur sit on the X chromosome, and a cat typically needs two X chromosomes to show both colors at once. Male calicos do exist, but they're rare and usually the result of an unusual genetic combination. Calico, like tuxedo, describes a coat pattern rather than a breed, so it appears in many different kinds of cats. Owners sometimes joke about calicos having big, spirited personalities, though every cat is an individual.
This particular cowgirl certainly seems to have spirit to spare. She's sitting tall in her saddle, or at least on her step, and she looks ready to round up the whole neighborhood.
Every town needs a sheriff. This one keeps the peace with very small boots and a very big hat.
