Tortoise Shell Toms?

[jezebel]

I used to live near an enormous tortie female - she ruled the neighbourhood, cats and people!

[souffle]

They do exist but are genetically abnormal and rare. They usually have an extra X chromosome so are XXY and infertile. Some are chimeras where two embryos have fused in early development so that the cat has two different sets of colour genes and others are mosaic where  the XXY condition arises after conception and the cat is a mixture of cells with different numbers of X chromosomes.
These cats are usually infertile.

[emmmy_lou]

Yes, I would assume its just a BIG female....

[Dawn F]

I think they do exist but are rare

[Mymblesdaughter]

It's obviously possible see this article, (sorry it's from the mail!) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1209167/Eddie-male-tortoiseshell-kitten-Britains-rarest-cat.html

Looking at the cat in the picture he looks black to me so difficult to see.

I've only realised recently that my last cat - grey cat was a dilute tortie. She was grey with ginger flecks. Now I know why she was such a madam.   

[Purdy Bear]

Is there such a thing as a Tortoise shell tom?  I know you can get females but I thought due to genetics the toms don't last long.  The reason I ask I've just seen a humongous tortoise shell by my front gate and automatically though tom, but it can't be can it.   I'm sure the cat had a main coon strain cause he was one big puddy tat.