Only one out of every 3,000 calico cats is male, and this little foster kitten is one of them. Meet String!

String came to Southern Pines Animal Shelter (in Southern Mississippi) through animal control. "He was a little too small, when he arrived, to thrive and stay healthy in the shelter environment, so he was sent into foster in one of our wonderful foster homes," Southern Pines said.

"Female cats have two X chromosomes, while male cats have an X and a Y chromosome. For a cat to be a calico or tortoiseshell, the animal must have two X chromosomes, which means the kitty is going to be female the vast majority of the time. When the calico pattern exists in a male, it’s because the cat has three sex chromosomes: two X, one Y (male)," DR. Marty Becker wrote via VetStreet. "And if both X chromosomes carry the calico blueprint, you’re looking at one rare cat: a male calico."

"String is doing really well in his foster home, and enjoying life as a spoiled kitten. When he is old enough and heavy enough, he will be ready for adoption," Southern Pines added.

Only one out of every 3,000 calico cats is male and this little foster kitten is one of them. Meet String!

String is enjoying life as a spoiled kitten in his foster home.

 Those big ears!

This summer alone Southern Pines has saved more than 1400 lives. Follow them on Facebook. See how you can make a difference here.