Are Calico Cats Lucky? Meet Ember & Raven
By Daclaud Lee
I never planned on becoming a cat owner. Despite being allergic to pet dander and intentionally avoiding pets for most of my life, two hungry calico cats appeared at The Arcane Foundry and completely changed those plans. Calico cats have long been considered symbols of good luck in many cultures, and while I’m not usually one to believe in fate, it felt like these two showed up for a reason. What started as a simple and shall I say, “impulsive” act of kindness on my part quickly became a sense of responsibility, and before long I realized that luck, fate, or duty had placed me in the role of their protector and guardian. I guess now I have a new purpose in life.
Are Calico Cats Lucky?
When Ember and Raven first wandered into my life, I knew almost nothing about calico cats. After taking them in, I started researching their unusual coats and quickly discovered something I hadn’t expected: throughout history, calico cats have been considered symbols of luck, prosperity, and protection in many cultures around the world. Apparently, finding even one calico is considered fortunate by some people, so finding two at the same time felt like quite a coincidence.
While I have a deep interest in folklore, I’m not normally someone who puts much stock in superstition, but I have to admit the timing was hard to ignore. These two cats showed up completely unannounced at The Arcane Foundry and somehow managed to turn a simple act of feeding a pair of strays into a new responsibility and a new chapter in my life. Whether it was luck, fate, or just random chance, Ember and Raven have already brought something valuable with them: companionship, purpose, and a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful things arrive when you’re not looking for them.
Cultures Around the World Think Calico Cats Are Lucky
Before adopting Raven and Ember, I had no idea what Calico cats were. I was never a pet guy. A friend of mine told me and I became fascinated as I always am. One of the reasons I became interested in calico cats is because of the amount of folklore surrounding them. While there is no scientific evidence that a cat can bring luck or prosperity, it’s fascinating to see how many cultures throughout history have viewed calicos as symbols of good fortune. From ancient seafarers to modern businesses, these distinctive cats have earned a reputation that spans continents.
Japan: The Lucky Cat
Perhaps the best-known association between calico cats and good luck comes from Japan. The famous Maneki-neko, often called the “beckoning cat” or “lucky cat,” is frequently portrayed with calico markings because they were traditionally believed to bring exceptional fortune.
Even today, you’ll find Maneki-neko statues displayed in restaurants, shops, and businesses throughout Japan. The raised paw is said to invite customers, prosperity, and good luck, making the calico one of the most recognizable symbols of fortune in Japanese culture.
Maritime Folklore
Long before modern pest control, cats were valued aboard ships for keeping rodent populations under control. Calico cats were especially prized, not only because they protected food supplies but also because many sailors believed they could bring favorable weather and protect a ship from storms.
Whether or not those beliefs were true, calicos became respected companions on long voyages and earned a lasting place in maritime folklore.
Irish and European Traditions
In parts of Ireland and Europe, calico cats have also been associated with good fortune. One old folk belief suggested that rubbing a calico cat’s tail against a wart during the month of May would make it disappear. While there’s no medical basis for the claim, it demonstrates just how deeply these cats became woven into local superstition.
Across Europe, calicos were often viewed as household guardians that brought prosperity and protected families from misfortune.
The United States: “Money Cats”
In the United States, calico cats have earned the nickname “money cats.” While the name isn’t rooted in any single tradition, many people have adopted the belief that calicos symbolize abundance, success, and financial good fortune.
Of course, owning a calico won’t guarantee you’ll win the lottery or become wealthy overnight. But for many owners, the joy, companionship, and personality these cats bring into a home are reason enough to consider themselves lucky.
Chinese Beliefs
Unlike Japan’s strong association with calicos, Chinese folklore doesn’t place the same special emphasis on the calico coat pattern itself. Instead, cats in general have long been viewed as protectors that guard homes from pests and, in some traditions, from negative spirits. Because of their rarity and striking appearance, calico cats are often admired, but there isn’t a widespread traditional belief that they specifically bring good luck in the same way they do in Japanese culture.
Are Nearly All Calico Cats Female?
As with any responsible person thrust into a new environment, I wanted to find out as much as I could about my new pets.
One of the most fascinating things I discovered about calico cats is that nearly all of them are female. In fact, approximately 99.9% of calico cats are female, making male calicos extremely rare.
This is why I wanted to name them girl names. I had ChatGPT come up with many options, but I eventually decided on Raven and Ember.
The reason comes down to genetics. The orange and black colors found in a calico’s coat are linked to the X chromosome. Female cats have two X chromosomes (XX), allowing them to inherit both the orange and black color genes. During development, different cells randomly activate one X chromosome or the other, creating the distinctive patches of orange, black, and white that make calicos so recognizable.
Male cats typically have only one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY), which means they usually inherit either the orange gene or the black gene—but not both. The rare male calico is usually born with an extra X chromosome (XXY), a genetic condition similar to Klinefelter syndrome in humans. These cats are exceptionally uncommon, occurring in roughly 1 out of every 3,000 calico cats.
For owners of calico cats like Ember and Raven, this means you’re sharing your home with a pair of felines that belong to one of nature’s most unusual genetic combinations. Their striking coats aren’t just beautiful, they’re a living reminder of how remarkable genetics can be.
How Ember & Raven Found Their Forever Home
The story of Ember and Raven wasn’t planned. In fact, it happened completely by accident on the night of Wednesday 8th, 2026.
One evening I was outside watering the herb garden behind The Arcane Foundry when I noticed a pair of glowing eyes beneath the truck, which was parked along the alley. That kitten would later become Raven, the little one with the black patches.
She didn’t seem frightened at all. Instead, she simply looked at me and let out a quiet meow.
Normally I don’t mess with animals because I’m allergic to pet dander, but I decided to test my so-called animal magnetism. I held out my hand and motioned for her to come over. To my surprise, she did. Moments later, a second kitten emerged from beneath the truck. This one, with the bright orange patches, would later become Ember.
I stopped watering the garden and walked back to shut off the hose. The kittens followed me the entire way. Ember confidently took the lead as if she already knew exactly where we were going, while Raven stayed close beside me.
By the time I reached the front porch, it was obvious these two weren’t planning on leaving.
Unfortunately, I had absolutely nothing to feed them. The only food in the house was snacks for customers. Then I remembered I had a half gallon of milk for my morning coffee. Without thinking, I poured some into a bowl.
It wasn’t until afterward that I learned kittens really shouldn’t drink cow’s milk. Ember barely touched it, but Raven eagerly drank what she could. Looking back, I think she was simply too hungry to be picky.
Since it was late and every grocery store nearby was already closed, I started thinking about what I had back at home. Then it hit me, I had a single can of tuna sitting in my pantry.
So, I drove twenty miles to my primary home, found that one lonely can of tuna, and drove all the way back.
Before leaving, I had already decided to let the kittens inside where they would be safe for the night.
The moment I walked through the door with the tuna, they knew exactly what I had. Before I even opened the can, Raven was standing on my leg, clawing at my jeans trying to reach it while Ember sat nearby meowing in anticipation.
I divided the tuna between two bowls, expecting them to fight over the food. Instead, they calmly shared the meal as if they had done it a hundred times before. Everything I had read online suggested separating their food, but these two seemed perfectly content eating side by side.
The next challenge was even more immediate.
I didn’t own a litter box.
I didn’t have cat litter.
What I did have was a cardboard box and a bag of leveling sand I had been using for a paver project outside. It certainly wasn’t ideal, but it worked well enough for the first night until I could place a Walmart delivery order the next morning.
Looking back now, it’s funny how quickly everything changed. What started as an ordinary evening watering the herb garden turned into finding two tiny companions who had somehow decided The Arcane Foundry was going to be their new home.
I named them Raven, the curious little explorer with the black patches, and Ember, the bold orange calico who always seemed ready to lead the way.
Sometimes I wonder if calico cats are really lucky. If so, then maybe my luck would change (not that it was truly bad right now, but who doesn’t want more luck?).
After meeting these two, I’d say that maybe it was fate or coincidence that made a guy who is allergic to pet dander adopt them and give them a home at his maker’s studio.
Finding Purpose in Unexpected Places
For most of my life, I’ve been driven by work, projects, and the constant pursuit of building something meaningful, but life still felt empty. I’ve launched businesses, renovated properties, learned new skills, created communities, and filled my time with hobbies and ambitions. Yet even with all of those accomplishments, there was often a lingering feeling that something was missing, a sense that I was still searching for a greater purpose beyond the next project or goal.
I don’t have children, and romantic relationships have often come and gone like passing seasons. For years, much of my motivation came from my work, my responsibilities, and helping care for my autistic brother and aging mother. Those things mattered, and they still do, but they never fully answered the question of what I was ultimately building toward.
Then Ember and Raven appeared.
On paper, they’re just two stray calico cats that wandered into my life. But in practice, they became something entirely different. For the first time in a long while, I found myself responsible for living creatures who depended on me not because of a contract, a business arrangement, or a family obligation, but simply because they trusted me. Every day, they look to me for food, safety, and protection. Their well-being is tied directly to my actions.
Perhaps that’s why so many cultures consider calico cats to be lucky. Maybe luck isn’t about wealth or success at all. Maybe it’s about finding exactly what you need when you didn’t even realize you were looking for it. Whether it was fate, coincidence, or simple chance, these two cats gave me something I wasn’t expecting: a new sense of purpose. Not another project to complete or another goal to chase, but a responsibility worth carrying and a bond worth protecting.
For someone who never intended to become a pet owner, that may be the greatest surprise of all.
An Unexpected Chapter
If you’ve made it this far, you probably know I have a hard time believing in luck. Whether calico cats truly bring good fortune is something everyone has to decide for themselves. What I do know is that Ember and Raven have completely changed my perspective in ways I never expected.
The funny part is that I never planned on owning cats.
I’ve spent my entire life avoiding becoming a pet owner because I’m allergic to pet dander. Knowing that, adopting two kittens wasn’t exactly the logical decision. It meant committing to running an air purifier almost constantly, sweeping the floors much more often than I used to, and accepting that there would be more work to keeping The Arcane Foundry clean would become part of my daily routine.
There are times when I despise the extra work (who wants to scoop waste from a kitty litter every day and add feeding cats to an already busy schedule?) and there are times when I secretly regret taking them in, but I feel like it was meant to be.
The moment I decided to bring them inside, everything changed. They were no longer just two stray kittens looking for food, they became my responsibility. As their owner, it’s now my duty to protect them, provide for them, and make sure they have a safe home where they’ll never have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. They depend on me, and I take that responsibility seriously.
It’s too early to determine whether or not Ember and Raven will make me rich or magically changed my fortunes, but they have transformed The Arcane Foundry into something that feels even more alive. Whether they’re greeting visitors, chasing each other through the studio, inspecting new projects, or simply curling up nearby while I work, they’ve become part of the story of this place.
Sometimes the most memorable things in life aren’t planned. They simply show up one evening while you’re watering an herb garden and quietly decide they’ve already found their home.
If that’s what people mean when they say calico cats are lucky, I think I finally understand the saying. Maybe I didn’t rescue Ember and Raven as much as they found exactly where they were meant to be, and in the process, they gave The Arcane Foundry two permanent guardians of its own.
What Should You Feed 8–10 Month Old Kittens?
One of the first questions I had after Ember and Raven unexpectedly entered my life was simple: What exactly do you feed adolescent cats? Since I had intentionally avoided becoming a pet owner for my entire life up until now, I had absolutely no idea where to start. So I did what most people do, I spent an evening researching online, reading veterinary resources, and even using tools like Google and ChatGPT to help estimate their age and nutritional needs.
Based on their size, behavior, body proportions, and the fact that they were clearly no longer tiny kittens but not fully grown adults, I estimated that Ember and Raven were likely somewhere between 8 and 10 months old. At that age, cats are still growing and developing, which means they need more calories and nutrients than a fully mature cat.
Most veterinary sources recommend feeding kittens and adolescent cats a diet specifically formulated for growth. This can include both wet food and dry food, with many owners choosing a combination of the two. Wet food provides additional moisture and is often easier for young cats to eat, while dry food can help support dental health and provides a convenient source of calories throughout the day.
For growing cats in this age range, look for foods labeled:
- Kitten Formula
- Growth & Development
- All Life Stages (from reputable brands)
The first ingredient should ideally be a real animal protein such as chicken, turkey, salmon, or other meat rather than fillers.
After my late-night research session, I decided to provide both wet and dry kitten food so Ember and Raven could receive a balanced diet while they continued to grow. Since they had arrived looking extremely hungry, my initial concern was simply making sure they had reliable access to food and clean water. Once that immediate need was met, I could focus on providing better nutrition for the long term.
One thing I learned very quickly is that caring for young cats isn’t just about feeding them, it’s about helping them transition from survival mode to a stable, healthy routine. As their newly appointed guardian and protector, that became my duty, whether I had planned on becoming a cat owner or not.
FAQ about Calico Cats
Are calico cats lucky?
Many cultures consider calico cats symbols of good luck, prosperity, and protection. While these beliefs are rooted in folklore rather than science, calicos have been cherished around the world for centuries.
Are all calico cats female?
No, but almost all are. Approximately 99.9% of calico cats are female due to the genetics responsible for their distinctive coat colors.
What breed are calico cats?
Calico is a coat pattern, not a breed. Many different cat breeds can have calico coloring.
How old are Ember and Raven?
I took some photos and submitted them to Google and ChatGPT and they both estimate that Ember and Raven were 8–10 weeks old in these photos.
Do calico cats have different personalities?
While personality varies by individual cat, many owners describe calicos as confident, intelligent, curious, and affectionate. Raven is more straight forward and likes to initiate things, she also likes to be the favorite, while Ember is more timid at first, but once she warms up to you, she is much bolder than Raven.