Calico cats, with their distinctive tri-colored coats of white, orange, and black fur, have long been associated with good fortune, prosperity, and even magic. If you’ve wondered what deeper spiritual meaning lies behind these beautifully multi-hued felines, you’ve come to the right place.
In short: calico cats represent blessings, money luck, and spiritual protection due to beliefs stemming from Japanese and other cultures. Their three colors symbolize the triad of mind, body, and spirit working together in harmony as well as the trio of past, present and future phases uniting luck and power across time.
Read on below as we dive deep into the history, legends, and symbolic interpretations around calico cat spiritual meaning.
The Japanese Legend Behind Calico Cat Symbolism
Maneki Neko Beckoning Cats
The Maneki Neko, Japanese for “beckoning cat”, are the famous porcelain cat figurines often seen waving their front paw at entrances of shops and restaurants in Japan. These figurines are thought to bring good luck and fortune.
The calico (tri-colored) pattern became strongly associated with the Maneki Neko cats over time.
According to legends, a priest had a calico cat named Gotoku that saved his life during a rainstorm by beckoning him into a shelter right before lightning struck the tree he was standing under. The priest believed Gotoku’s tricolored fur saved his life that day.
He made the first Maneki Neko in Gotoku’s likeness to honor her and bring good fortune to his temple.
The Legends of Gotoku and Hikimayu
There are a few origin stories around the calico cat and the Maneki Neko. Another tells of a feudal lord in Edo (now Tokyo) who took shelter from a rainstorm under a tree near Gotoku-ji temple. He observed a calico cat, named Tama, waving its paw gesturing for him to come into the temple gate.
Curious, he followed the cat and shortly after, lightning struck the tree he was just standing under.
Out of gratitude for saving his life, the lord became friends with the temple priest and a patron supporting the temple till the end of his life. After Tama died, wooden figurines of calico cats were made in memorial.
This story popularized the Maneki Neko and reinforced the symbolism of calico cats bringing luck.
Tri-Colored Cats as Protective Charms
In Japanese culture, tri-colored animals like calico cats are thought to have mystical powers. Their three colors represent the three phases of the moon – yellow for waxing, black for full, and white for waning. They are considered to be good luck charms that offer protection.
Having originated from Japanese folklore, the vibrant calico is now an iconic part of the Maneki Neko beckoning cats found displayed in many Asian stores and restaurants. Next time you spot one, know there’s an age-old story behind the tri-colored coat!
Calico Cat Meaning in Other Cultures and Traditions
Chinese Culture and Feng Shui
In Chinese culture and Feng Shui teachings, calico cats are thought to be lucky and bring good fortune into the home. This is because of their distinctive tri-colored coats which symbolize luck, prosperity, and abundance according to ancient Chinese wisdom.
Calico kittens in particular are highly prized.
There is an old Chinese saying that goes “a calico cat brings fortune” (三色貓招财). Having a calico cat in the home is believed to usher in blessings of wealth, harmony, and peace for the family or business owner. The more vibrant the calico coloring, the better luck it will attract.
Calico cats are also symbolic in Feng Shui for their balance of black, orange, and white fur which represents the balance of yin and yang energies. They remind us to seek balance and calmness in turbulent times.
Some Feng Shui masters even recommend getting a calico cat figurine or painting if you cannot adopt a real one!
Early American Beliefs about Calicos
In colonial America and the early United States, many interesting folk legends and beliefs arose around calico cats. Early Puritan communities viewed calicos with suspicion, believing their tri-colored coats were a mark of witchcraft or supernatural meddling.
However, more rural farming families prized calico cats for their superior mousing abilities.
Sailors in the mid-1800s considered calicos to be good luck charms if they onboard ships during long ocean voyages. They thought calico cats “knew the way home” and would guide ships safely to port through storms and rocky coastlines.
The variability in calico fur patterns reminded the sailors of the changing tides and waves.
Native American tribes, particularly in the upper Midwest and Plains regions, tell children’s stories of how calico kittens got their patchy, brilliant coats – typically a playful act by a mischievous fox or coyote spirit sprinkling them with fallen leaves!
The Roma and Travelers’ Symbolic Cat
For the Roma communities (also called Romani Gypsies) and other Traveler groups, the calico cat holds unique cultural symbolism. They are considered sacred animals and kept as beloved pets due to their wandering nature, resilience, intelligence, and close bonds with humans.
In traditional Roma tales, the calico cat serves as a reminder to embrace all the colors and patterns that life presents instead of only expecting black and white. Their patches represent the winding turns on the road, the diverse people one meets, the fragments of wisdom gathered.
It is believed that if a family finds a stray calico cat, especially if it has a lot of orange tabby coloring, they will be blessed with good health and good fortune in their travels. The calico’s presence reminds them that diversity and change bring new perspectives.
The distinctive look of each calico fur pattern represents individuality amid common humanity.
The Color Symbolism Behind Calico Cats
The Color White in Spiritual Meaning
In many cultures, the color white symbolizes purity, innocence, and new beginnings. Similarly, the white fur on a calico cat can represent cleansing, clarity, and openness to receive spiritual guidance.
As calicos bridge the physical and spiritual realms with their distinctive fur colors, the white fur is thought to connect them to higher planes of existence.
Orange Fur and the Fruitfulness of Life
Orange is often tied to vitality, creativity, and the life-giving energy of the sun. For calico cats, splashes of bright orange in their fur symbolize the fertility of life, fruition, and the joy found in living fully with gusto.
Just as orange trees bear vibrant, sweet fruit, an orange calico cat radiates the abundant blessings found when engaging passionately with the world.
Black Cats and Mysticism
With their distinctive black patches, calico cats share an association with mystery and magic along with other black cats. Black absorbs rather than reflects light, keeping others from fully knowing the darkness within.
For calicos, these mystifying black accents amplify their role as cosmic messengers and remind us that much lies beneath the surface, invisible to the eye.
Calico Cats as Spirit Animals
Protection, Luck, and Balance
Calico cats are often seen as good luck charms and are associated with protection, harmony, and balance. Some believe that having a calico cat brings good fortune. Their tri-colored coats are thought to symbolize the spiritual power of three or the trinity.
According to folklore, calico cats protect the home from danger, illness, or bad energy. Sailors historically believed that calicos guarded against storms or misfortune at sea.
Creativity and Resourcefulness
The vibrant, patchwork fur of calicos is connected to unleashed creativity, artistic expression, and resourcefulness. Just as no two calico coats are exactly alike, those who have a calico cat totem are believed to have unique talents waiting to emerge.
Calicos teach us to blend our many creative colors and talents to craft beautiful lives. Their blended coat symbolizes the ability to adapt and make the most of available resources.
Trusting One’s Intuition
With their mystically blended colors, calicos remind us to trust our sixth sense instincts. Their unpredictability parallels the winding path of intuition that cannot always be explained rationally. Yet, calico cats seem to know things without seeing and have an air of mystery about them.
Having a calico cat as a spirit guide encourages listening to one’s heart over logic to find answers we seek. The calico blazes a trail of intuition for us to follow courageously.
Bringing Calico Cats into Your Life
Getting a Calico Cat
Adding a calico cat into your home can bring joy, comfort, and even good fortune (according to some beliefs). Calicos are mostly female cats due to their unique genetic makeup, and they are known for being energetic, feisty, and very affectionate.
If you’re looking to get a calico cat, consider adopting from your local animal shelter. Shelters often have many calico cats available for adoption. When meeting potential calico companions at the shelter, look for signs that the cat is social, playful and comfortable with humans.
An outgoing, friendly personality is typical of calicos.
You’ll also want to kitten-proof your home before bringing one of these curious kittens home. Calicos love to climb and explore, so secure any fragile items and hide loose strings or cords to prevent accidents.
Calico Cat Tattoos and Artwork
The unique, vibrant colors and patterns of calico cat fur make a beautiful subject for tattoos and artwork. Calico cat tattoos can symbolize good luck, prosperity, creativity, and spiritual harmony. They also look amazing!
Some ideas for calico cat tattoos:
- A realistic portrait of a calico cat
- Just the colors and patterns of calico fur in an abstract design
- A calico cat with symbols, like moons, stars or flowers
- A minimalist line drawing of a calico cat silhouette
Calico cat paintings and drawings also make great gifts and home decor items. The colorful patterns allow artists to showcase their creativity. And the calming, spiritual symbolism of calicos makes them fitting subjects for meditative or mindfulness-themed art.
Other Calico-Patterned Objects as Charms
The distinctive calico pattern goes beyond actual calico cats. Calico-patterned charms, fabric, ceramics and other items can also bring good vibes and fortune into your home.
| Item | Description |
| Calico fabrics | Use in clothing, quilts, pillows or wall hangings to surround yourself with calico energy |
| Calico pottery or dishes | Brighten up your kitchen and dining spaces |
| Calico jewelry | Unique rings, pendants and charms for portable good luck |
The vibrant patchwork colors and patterns of the calico design seem to radiate positive energy. Surrounding yourself with calico-inspired objects allows you to harness this vibrant, uplifting quality in your everyday life.
Conclusion
With their distinctive and colorful patched coats, calico cats have inspired legends, myths, and spiritual symbolic meaning across many cultures over time. Seen as good luck charms, creative muses, spiritual protectors and more, calicos beautifully embody harmony, fruitfulness, mysticism and intuition.
Whether you welcome a calico cat into your home, decorate with calico-patterned art and objects, or simply admire their tri-colored beauty from afar, these captivating cats can remind us to embrace both balance and spontaneity in life’s ongoing fortunes and phases.
