'Rare' Tortoiseshell Rescue Cat at Oregon Shelter Is 'Like Spotting a Unicorn'

The Humane Society of Central Oregon is celebrating a "rare" cat that came into their care, calling a tiny kitten a "unicorn."

On June 6, 2024, the Humane Society shared more information about Cinder, their "rare unicorn" cat.

"Cinder, a tiny one-pound kitten that was brought to the Humane Society of Central Oregon (HSCO), was discovered to be a rare type of cat: a male tortoiseshell cat that is also a hermaphrodite (a feline disorder of sexual development (DSD))," the humane society shared.

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Posted on their official Facebook account, the Humane Society explained some details about a typical tortoiseshell-colored cat that made Cinder stand out.

"Tortoiseshell-colored cats, recognized for their striking swirls of black and shades of orang e, are typically female," they explain. But that's not totally accurate with Cinder.

Crystal Bloodworth, DVM, the Humane Society of Central Oregon’s Medical Director, said, “To call [Cinder] a male is tough, but with the binary nature of animals and people’s perception of animals, we chose male.” The organization said the decision was made when the cat went to get spayed and realized they needed to be neutered.

The Humane Society of Central Oregon's Clinic Manager, Bailey Shelton, CVT, said meeting Cinder "was like spotting a unicorn!"

She continued, "Even though I’ve only been in the veterinary field for nine years, this very well could be a once-in-a-career moment. They always talked about how rare male tortoiseshells are back in school, but seeing one in person is something else. You just never know what amazing surprises await you at the humane society!”

On Facebook, the comment section is filled with people sharing sweet wishes for Cinder and sharing their own stories of their Tortoiseshell cats.

"What a beautiful kitten no matter what," one person shared.

"What a beautiful kitten. I wish I could see [them] when they grow up! What a wondrous world we live in," another wrote.

"I had to check this out as I'd heard male tortoiseshells were rare. Very cute kitten!" wrote someone else.

"He's absolutely a beautiful phenomenon," added another.

Why Are Male Tortoiseshell Cats So 'Rare'?

According to Cat Town , Tortoiseshell cats, nicknamed "torties," are given their name because of their coat color. And what makes male torties so rare is these cats are almost always female.

"If you’ve ever met a tortie, chances are, they were female. Almost all tortoiseshell cats are female! About 1 in 3,000 tortoiseshell cats are male, making them quite uncommon," the site explains.

"This is because two X chromosomes are needed to produce the trademark tortoiseshell coloring of black, orange, and yellow/gold, while male cats only have one X and one Y chromosome."

So, for a tortie to be male, they need to have an extra chromosome, "making them a very rare XXY. Since this occurs due to a genetic anomaly, male tortoiseshell cats are also usually sterile, making them even more rare!"