Tortoiseshell cats are one of the world’s favourite moggies. Coming in a range of colors and patterns, with no two exactly the same, a tortie cat can make a great companion.
However, there is more to the tortie cat than meets the eye. Most people don’t know that the unique color of tortoiseshell cat is down to some pretty interesting genetics. For example, you might not realise that almost all tortoiseshells are female.
Here, to help you look into the wonderful tortoiseshell world, we have gathered together 35 fun facts about tortie cats.
Let’s start by looking at why so many owners love tortoiseshell cats, and why you might just want one.
And make sure to check out our guide to funny cat quotes after!
The Beauty of Tortoiseshells
Do you currently own a wonderful Tortoiseshell cat?
Have you always been a fan of this distinctive pattern?
Or, perhaps, you are looking for a new, fun, and loving companion?
Whatever the reason for your interest, there is one thing we can all agree on. Tortoiseshell cats are amazing.
If you are looking to adopt a new cat, why should you choose a tortoiseshell?
Let’s look at the wonderful world of cats. How does the humble tortoiseshell stack up against other breeds?
The Wonderful World of Cats!
Did you know there are an incredible 42 different pedigree cat breeds?
There are also countless mixes, as well as many color variations and patterns.
It’s no surprise that some people have a difficult time trying to figure out what kind of feline friend to choose.
But wait! While some pedigree cats and mixes are gorgeous and make great pets, what about the humble tortoiseshell? She can make a beautiful and affectionate companion, yet potential owners often overlook these cats.
The tortoiseshell pattern is what attracts so many potential owners. Tortoiseshell cats come in so many patterns and colors, and these delightful cats have so many personalities, that you might just find the right cat for you.
If you aren’t looking for a specific purebred cat, and instead want a unique kitty to share your your life, why not choose one with an interesting color? The tortoiseshell coloring is definitely one of the more intriguing options.
In fact, there are so many interesting things to learn about these cats that we have compiled them together in a list! If you are not sure if a tortie cat is the one for you, maybe these fun facts will change your mind.
So, it’s time to check out 30 outstanding tortoiseshell cat facts. Some of these you may know, but we are sure that some will surprise you.
In this article, we will mainly talk about tortoiseshell cats with two colors. However, some people call calico cats ‘white tortoiseshell, so we include a few facts about those, too.
Let’s start by discussing the differences between tortis and calicos.
1. Tortoiseshell vs Calico
Although people are not always aware of the differences, the tortoiseshell calico cat and the tortoiseshell are actually two different types of cat.
Calico is the term used to describe a tricolored or patched coloration that includes white. In other words, the cat will have black and orange patches.
Tortoiseshell cat coats have two colors, which does not include white. The colors are either mixed, giving that ‘salt and pepper’ appearance, or they occur in larger, distinct patches.
Although usually red and black, these colors can vary, with some cats boasting orange or yellow instead of red, or chocolate or grey instead of black. Just to add even more variation, one or both of the colors can be tabby.
Sometimes, people call cats with small patches of white ‘tortoiseshell,’ but the term is generally reserved for bicolor cats with no white color. Another type of tortie cat is the dilute tortie.
2. Dilute Tortoiseshells are Calico Cats
Although most torties are red and black, some have muted colors. Instead of bold and striking patches of color, their coats have softer, pastel colors.
Rather than red and black, these dilute tortoiseshell cats have orange and grey patches, yellow and chocolate, or other subtle color variations that make torties so unique.
However, these dilute color kitties are still tortoiseshell cats, but their genes have a mutation that leads to the muted colors.
Blue and cream tortoiseshells are a common combination that you might see, and this type of feline is often called a blue tortoiseshell cat. Here, the blue does not really refer to blue, but to a blue-gray color.
Although a tortoiseshell does not usually have white in its coat, which is calico, they can have smaller patches of white in their fur.
3. Tortoiseshells can have White Patches
If you see a tortoiseshell cat with small patches of white, this is called a tortoiseshell and white cat.
This cat has far less white than a calico or a dilute feline, and the other patches of red and black cover the majority of the body.
While we are on the subject of white tortoiseshell/calico cats, did you know that calicos are a state mascot?
4. White Tortoiseshells are the Official Cat of Maryland!
You heard us right! The calico or white tortoiseshell cat is the official cat of Maryland. The state cat became official on October 1, 2001.
The feline shares the same color pattern as the oriole, the state’s official bird, so the calico was the obvious choice.
Next, one that might shock you!
5. There Is No Individual Tortoiseshell Cat Breed
Many people don’t know this, but there is no tortoiseshell cat breed. We call them torties, and most of us know one, but they don’t form a breed. What’s going on?
The tortoiseshell coloring is a variation seen in many different breeds of cat, and it is caused by simple genetics.
The variation is caused by x-linked genes and is called a mosaic expression. While it appears complicated, the term ‘expression’ means that only one x-linked gene for hair color is expressed in each cell. This results in the mixed or patched coloring depending on which gene is left “on” in each cell. Let’s explain this a little further.
Cats, like humans, have sex chromosomes. A female has two X chromosomes in each cell, which we call XX. Males have only one X chromosome and a Y chromosome, XY.
In cats, the X chromosome contains lots of other information, including instructions about coat coloring. Because female cats have two X chromosomes, they receive two sets of instructions (genes) for coat color in each cell. In tortoiseshell cats, these instructions don’t match because they’ve got one gene for orange fur and one gene for black fur.
Now it gets amazing – during an unborn kitten’s earliest development, one X chromosome in every single cell deactivates. This process is known as lyonization, and the X chromosome which deactivates is completely random in each cell.
So, some skin cells retain the instruction for orange fur, and others keep the instruction for black fur. So, a tortoiseshell pattern emerges!
You’ll note that we talked about female cats. That’s because, believe it or not, almost all tortoiseshell cats are female.
6. Most Tortoiseshell Cats are Female
When we talked about tortoiseshell color, we discussed the XX genes in each cell, and pointed out that each hada different color. Male cats don’t have the XX chromosomes, because they must be XY.
Therefore, because two X chromosomes with genes for different colors are needed, males cannot be torties. This means that our torti patterned felines are female, since only females have two x chromosomes.
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Or does it…?
7. … But You Can Get Males Occasionally!
Are all tortoiseshell cats female?
No, there are actually some male tortoiseshell felines.
However, they are not very common.
Since the color pattern requires two x chromosomes, only male cats with an XX-Y gene mutation will appear to be tortoiseshell. This means that the cat can have the different color genes on each chromosome, but the male cat will have some other issues.
8. Male Tortoiseshell Cats Are Usually Sterile
Male tortoiseshell cats, with XXY chromosomes, are relatively healthy in most ways and can live a long and healthy life.
However, a male tortoiseshell cat is sterile due to the abnormal number and pattern of the chromosomes in the cellular DNA.
Approximately 1 in 3,000 (0.033%) of male cats have this condition, and their cells can undergo the same X-inactivation process as females. XXY males are invariably sterile and will remain rare.
9. This Sterility Can Be Seen In Humans!
The unique chromosomal pattern of the male tortoiseshell is sometimes seen in human males, too.
The condition is called Klinefelter syndrome in humans and leads to a significant reduction in testosterone.
The lower testosterone levels often lead to a quiet, calm, and sensitive personality, and you may just see these same characteristics in your male feline.
So, a male tortoiseshell may be the gentle and loving companion you are looking for.
Of course, you have to find one first!
10. Fertile Male Torties Are Rare, But They Do Exist!
Traditional male torties are sterile, but a relatively old study from the 1980s revealed that this is not always true.
Scientists found two fertile Burmese tortoiseshell tabby cats in the United States.
The cats did not have two X chromosomes, but the regular XY patterning seen in most male cats.
Researchers concluded that their tortoiseshell coloring was caused by the instability of certain genes linked to hair color.
In other words, the orange hair genes randomly turned off in some cells and produced the tortoiseshell appearance.
Whether male or female, hair length is something else that owners look for. Some like cats with short hair, while other are fanatics for long haired cats. Luckily, the torti cat coats come in all lengths.
11. Tortoiseshell Cat Hair Can Vary In Length
Tortoiseshell cats come in both long and short hair varieties. Whether you want a long haired tortie kitten with a luscious coat, or a short and easy to maintain version, you’ll find the right cat to suit you.
If you searched hard you could even find a tortoiseshell Persian cat or a tortoiseshell Siamese mix. Look at your local animal rescue facilities and breeders, and you might be surprised what you can find.
What if you want to adopt a tortoiseshell feline friend. Are there any health issues you should look for?
12. Tortoiseshell Cat Color Isn’t Connected to Health
If you are concerned about tortoiseshell cat health problems, then don’t worry.
Since the torties are not a specific breed, there are no health issues associated directly with the cats.
However, you should be concerned about general health issues and remember that if, for example, you have a Persian torti cat, you’ll need to look out for the health problems associated with Persians.
As always, when looking for a tortie, look out for the general cat health. According to an extensive Finnish study, the most common feline ailments involve the mouth, kidneys, and skin.
Assuming that you find a healthy torti cat, how long will she live for?
13. Tortoiseshell Cat Lifespan Depends Upon Breed
Again, because tortoiseshell doesn’t mean a particular breed, their lifespan can vary. If you know that your tortie belongs to a specific breed, such as American Shorthair or Cornish Rex, then look at the lifespan for that cat.
If you are not sure, you can look at the average feline lifespan to determine the tortoiseshell cat lifespan.
According to a UK study that looked at the longevity and mortality of over 100,000 cats, the average lifespan was found to be 14 years.
Crossbred or mixed breed cats live longer, so you do not have to go searching for a purebred if you want a lifelong companion.
14. Some People Think Tortoiseshell Cats Are Lucky!
According to some traditional folklore, the white, or calico tortoiseshell cat brings good luck.
For this reason, the people in the United States often call them “money cats.’
It’s not just money – amazingly, some people think that calicos are magical cats.
15. Others Believe That Torties Are Mystical!
Not only are torties considered good luck charms, but they may just ward off ghosts and evil spirits according to Japanese culture.
In fact, the people of Japan sometimes kept these cats on their boats to protect themselves while out on the water.
16. One Tortie Lived to 21 Years Old!
Marzipan, one of the most famous torties in the world, was a white tortoiseshell cat living in Melbourne, Australia.
This feline, who lived to be 21, enjoyed her life in the Astor Theatre and welcomed guests who arrived to watch movies in the cinema. She isn’t the only famous tortoiseshell cat. The Japanese went one better!
17. The Station Master Tortoiseshell Cat
Tama, a working cat in Japan is also a white tortoiseshell tabby cat.
This impressive feline was the station master for the Kishi Station on the Kishigawa Line in Kinokawa, Wakayama. Her job was to meet passengers and she was paid with cat food.
This tortoiseshell station master even wore her own hat and neck badge to signify her position. Like many of our beloved torties, she had a larger-than-life personality!
18. Tortoiseshell Cat Personality Varies
The tortoiseshell cat personality varys, simply because they can be from a range of breeds. As a result, they most often show the personality and temperament common to that breed.
However, many people claim that the tortie has its own unique personality that makes them very demanding. They are the divas of the feline world.
For this reason, tortie lovers refer to this personality as “tortitude.”
Although most studies have shown no special personality traits linked to torties, some studies and many owners disagree!
19. But There Could Be A Tortie Attitude!
Tortitude may actually be a real thing, according to a study conducted by the University of California.
According to the study, tortoiseshell and calico cat owners described their cats as stubborn and strong-willed in the vast majority of cases.
All very interesting and we are sure that many of you agree. The owners in the study also suggested that their tortie cat was full of energy and mischief.
20. Tortoiseshells Could be Energetic
Many people also associate high energy levels with tortoiseshell cat behavior or tortitude.
Is this true? We don’t know, but just in case, make sure that you have plenty of toys lying around. You may want to keep your feline active and happy.
21. The Word ‘Tortoiseshell’ Could Come From Turtles, Not Tortoises…
Some people are confused by the term tortoiseshell, because a tortoise’s shell is often a fairly uniform dark brown or green color, with little color variation.
However, the hawksbill sea turtle boasts a much more varied shell color, with rich tones of brown and orange.Why, then, do we call these cats tortoiseshells and not turtleshells? Surprisingly, the answer lies in the world of jewelry.
Yes, you heard us right!
The old fashioned ‘tortoiseshell’ jewelry wasn’t made from tortoises but from turtle shells. The term, tortoiseshell, actually comes from this jewelry, because it resembles the tortie’s coat.
Up to 22 facts, now – we’re almost there and hope that you are starting to love tortis just as much as we do!
22. Mitt Brushes are Great for Long Haired Torties
Mitt brushes or grooming gloves are often useful for grooming a feisty long haired tortoiseshell cat. Perhaps she has tortitude and doesn’t like being brushed.
These gloves can help you to brush your feline with gentle strokes, and she will not even know that you are brushing her.
Now, for the next fun fact – the torbie.
23. A Tortoiseshell Tabby is Called a Torbie
Sometimes, tortoiseshell cats can have tabby patterns in one or both colors.
A gray tortoiseshell cat or a tortoiseshell tabby cat, called a torbie, can sometimes have a unique color pattern called mackerel.
This unique name refers to the narrow and solid stripes that run vertically down the body of a tabby.
The mackerel pattern makes the feline look like a tiger cat, but the term mackerel suggests the appearance of a mackerel fish.
So, if you see this sort of pattern on a tortie, then you have a mackerel torbie.
Torbies are just another wonderful tortie variation, but can you breed tortoiseshell cats?
24. Tortoiseshell colors are genetic
If you want a specific tortoiseshell pattern, then you can breed for the pattern and color.
Color combinations do depend on genetics and they are not guaranteed, but you are much more like to see a tortoiseshell kitten if you breed with a tortoiseshell mother.
Breeding a tortie with black and red males increases the chances of ending up with tortie kittens in the litter.
Red males will often produce felines with more of a red color, while black ones will often produce a black tortoiseshell cat.
Talking of color – did you know that some tortoiseshell cats appear to be one color? Neither did we!
25. Some Tortoiseshell Cats Appear to be One Color
Some tortoiseshell cats look like they have a solid color, even if the mother is a tortie. If you cannot tell if your feline is a tortie kitten, then inspect the back of your cat to look for hair color variation.
There are more hair follicles on the back of a feline than anywhere else, so it may be easier to see bits of orange, black, or white in this area.
26. Muted Tortoiseshells can be Described as Brindle
Felines, like the muted tortoiseshell cat, are sometimes referred to as brindle. Brindle is a brown, tawny, or a light hair color with streaks of other colors mixed in.
Since brindle is most often used to describe the color of a dog, tortoiseshell is a more apt description.
However, you might want to use the term brindle to describe the pattern of different colors in your tortoiseshell.
I think we have talked about color a lot, so for those of you still not convinced by tortoiseshells, what about their personality?
27. Breed has more Influence on Personality than the Tortie Color
If you are looking for a specific tortoiseshell cat personality, then you should investigate the different cat breeds.
For example, Ragdoll, Persian, and Siamese cats are typically quite affectionate and make great companions.
You can then ask a breeder to let you know when a tortie kitten is born with the distinct tortoiseshell coloring.
We’re almost at the end. Why don’t we take a break from cats and talk about beautiful butterflies?
28. There is a Tortoiseshell butterfly!
The term tortoiseshell is not only used to describe jewelry and felines. There is actually a tortoiseshell butterfly as well.
The Aglais urticae is called the small tortoiseshell and features orange and black wings with yellow and black stripes on the top.
A small patch of white is found on the tips of the wings. They are stunning butterflies and well worthy of the name. Talking of names, tortie owners come up with some great names for their cats.
29. Tortoiseshell Cats can Inspire Amazing Names
Tortoiseshell cats often have unique names like Isis, Nubia, or Nefertiti.
These traditional Egyptian names are perfect for the cats, because tortoiseshells can be traced back to the Egyptians.
If you have any cool tortoiseshell cat names, let us know in the comments.
30. The Tortoiseshell Goddess
Did you know that some people in South East Asia believe that the first tortoiseshell cat had a divine origin.
She emerged from the blood of a goddess born from a lotus flower.
That really is one of our favorite stories about the origins of torti cats!
31. Tortoiseshells as a Love Charm
Another great myth about tortie cats says that, if you dream of a tortoiseshell cat, you are destined to be lucky in love.
Who knows? Maybe it will work for some of you!
32. Fortune Telling Tortoiseshells
One final myth, although we have no idea where it comes from, is that tortoiseshells are able to see into the future.
Even better, they can pass this gift on to a child in the household.
Although most of these myths probably are not true, we don’t care because we adore our tortoiseshell cats all the same!
33. WE LOVE TORTOISESHELL CATS!
Tortoiseshell cats are one of the most beautiful patterns around, and are simply wonderful cats!
Tortoiseshell Cats
Our favorite tortoiseshell cats are actually unique felines with brilliant color patterns, unique personalities, and a rich history. Few other types of cat collect so many myths and old wives’ tales.
If you are looking for that unique kitty in your life with a bit of attitude (or “tortitude”), then go ahead and find a tortie at your local animal shelter or breeder. Not only can you find a cat with beautiful colors, you can find ones with long coats or short coats, or find a Persian or British Shorthair tortie.
Few other cats come in such a range of colors and personalities.
Do you have a tortie of your own that you love, or do you have a feline with a unique tortoiseshell color pattern? Let us know in the comments below.
We regularly update this page in response to reader comments – we last updated this page in May 2019.
References
Pedersen AS, Berg LC, Almstrup K. A tortoiseshell male cat: chromosome analysis and histologic examination of the testis. Cytogenet Genome Res. 2014
Moran C, Gillies CB, Nicholas FW. Fertile male tortoiseshell cats. Mosaicism due to gene instability? J Hered. 1984.
O’Neill DG, Church DB, McGreevy PD, Thomson PC, Brodbelt DC. Longevity and mortality of cats attending primary care veterinary practices in England. J Feline Med Surg. 2015
Elizabeth A. Stelow. The Relationship Between Coat Color and Aggressive Behaviors in the Domestic Cat. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 2016
Kosowska, B., Januszewski, A.S., Tokarska, M., Jach, H., and Zdrojewicz, Z. Cytogenetic and histologic studies of tortoiseshell cats, Medycyna Weterynaryjna 57(7), 2001.
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We have been fortunate to have had two torties who agreed to share our home. Unfortunately our last one left for the Rainbow Bridge in 2015 aged 25 years.
I couldn’t be happier to hear that yours thrived for an amazing 25 years. My Sophia is 14 and my stomach dropped when I read here that 14 is a typical life span. She isn’t quite as spry as she once was but still full of life. And I’m curious if any of yours are big talkers? I’ve always had cats, although she is my first tortie, and I’ve never heard so many different sounds come out of a felines mouth. I swear sometimes she even barks at me! Absolutely precious! Thank you for your comments. You’ve given me hope for many more years with my baby girl
We just got our torti from the shelter. She is now 6 months old and at first didn’t want anything to do with our male cat, NOW she jumps on him and the wrestle and he will hold her down and give her a bath.
Very independent, hold her on her terms. Very squeaky high pitched talker.
Her name is Camo because she blends into everything!!!
Love this kitten!!!
i have a tortie named Sophia that is 2 years old and and a rescue kitty. She too is a big talker. She also is always attacking my hands and is a little skittish. Are you aware of any ways of correcting these.
I have always had torties my first beautiful little lady lived until the age of 25 my second sadly left us at only three due to an undiagnosed heart condition i now have my wonderful little lottie she is one year old and we call her our naughty tortie these are beautiful cats indeed my first tortie was called pickles and our second little darling was named pippa its hard to lose our faithful little furbabies
Sweet! My family had a old, kinda mean, tort named Pebbles, she was my grandmother’s best friend, she died at 26 years old, we now have a tort named named smudge, she’s as old as me!
That’s amazing! My baby girl Izzy is the light in my life. I found her at my vet and immediately she started talking to me loudly. 5 years later she still talks and is the most loving devoted cat. She prefers me. Torti’s are a trip. She’s so different. Definitely has attitude and never backs down against the other animals. She is tiny with long legs and a half face. I can’t imagine my life without her
My tortie passed away at 21 years and my parents was 24 when she went over the rainbow bridge.
I have 2torties and a calico all very high energy and very mischievous 😏
My beautiful Coco was a tortie. I saw her at 2 weeks old at the rspca. I’d gone to ‘just visit’. Whilst talking to the receptionist I could hear her squeaking from a box. The more I talked the louder her squeak until she popped her head out of the box. Love at first sight. They didn’t think she would survive being so young without her mother. We had the most wonderful 21 years together. Sadly I lost her in November. I’m so totally heartbroken.
aw that is the cutest story I’ve heard! I too have a tortie named Coco! She is about to turn 3 this year. I agree, for me and her, it was love at first sight too.
I am sorry to hear about your loss. That is wonderful that you had her for 21 happy years!
I have a sweet girl names Coco too! I adopted her this past January from Petsmart. She’s 5 years old. Quite a character, I’ve never had a Tortie before and she is a total lap cat and follows me around like a dog. Love her to bits!
I have 2 torties. A mother & daughter. They r the light if my life. The baby is crazy & the mom is real laid back. Complete opposites!
My tortise shell October lived over 17 years, my other one, Neo, is 16 and still going strong
Our naught tortie is just a wonder to us! Pure mischief wrapped up in a multitude of lovely colours.. she has a complete half & half coloured face, very unique facial markings..
My cat is named Miss Phantom and her nickname is Miss P. Her face looks as though someone put a ruler in center and divided it. She is eight years old.m
I love tortoiseshell cats. My fav is a Russian blue tortoise name Julia which I found on Instagram. She is so beautiful and does have tortitude. I do have my own tortoiseshell cat which is a saimese mix. I found her at the animal shelter and needed a cat to control the mice problem. I fell in love with her since and she is a constant comfort for me. So special with lots of tortitude.
Hi! And did she? Help you with the mice problem. Finding ourselves in the same situation! Would really appreciate your response. Thanks!
We have two tortie sisters, Minnie and Ava. They are both very affectionate and laid back. Maybe a little tortitude now and then, but so sweet and cuddly most of the time. They will be three years old in July. They also have two step sisters, Ember and Luna (short for lunatic). Ember( 3 years old) is a Tabby and Luna (6 months old) is an energetic and fiesty black cat with some stray white hairs throughout. We love them all so much.
We have a tiny little tortie named Wendy. She is in charge of 3 other cats and 2 Newfoundlands. She has no fear. I love this little girl. Her face is flat and the coloring splits across it. I think she’s going to be one of those tiny cats.
We just adopted a female tortie 4 years old. We love her! Follows us everywhere and so loving! She’s a great addition to our family.
I have a lovely tortoiseshell calico called Puzzle. She doesn’t do much except sleep and eat but she is so beautiful and affectionate it is a joy to have her around. Sometime she flares up and even threatens to bite me if she is stroked where she doesn’t want to be.
My McKenzie (calico) crossed the rainbow bridge this yr. Now we have Izzy who is a tortie 3 monthes old. So entertaining and full of energy. She has cuddly moments too. We love her!!!
My husband and I adopted our beautiful tortishell named Giya from a shelter a year and a half ago She is 3yrs old and is very special,and spoiled rotten. She has been the best cat since we had her. She is a indoor cat. We love her very much.
I adopted my Luna who is a tortoise shell kitty from a friend. She was 9 years old and I loved her immediately. She’s been with me almost 4 years and full of spunk. She definitely rules the roost!
My tortie name is Sophia !! She is my first cat… She picked me @ the animal shelter ..She was 7 months. Now, 2 1/2 yrs. later. She is my furry soulmate. I just love her. I would not know life without her ..She is super unique in every way …
My Tortie is COOKIE, and when I saw her on the spca website I fell in love instantly and when I went to adopt her we were fast friends. She definitely has tortitude but is so loving and affectionate. I constantly say she is the best baby ever!
I’ve had 3 Tortie’s all who have had their own very special & unique personality. The 1st 2 Terra & Harley lived long lives. The 1 I have now Joy Anne is 8 years old & was named Joy because she is such a happy playful kitty! All of them have had personalities where they were into everything. Meaning even more so than other cat breeds I’ve owned. 2 of my Tortie’s have also been tempted even when older to eat anything they find on the floor! Rubber bands, ribbon, paper, caps, you name it! So I try to make sure nothing that falls stays on the floor if its not kitty friendly.
My tortie Trouble is 13 yrs old. She talks to us every night as she carries her toy mouse into the bedroom and drops it by the bed. I can pick up that toy and put it in the toy basket and she will find it. ❤️❤️❤️
My Shorkie breed dog and We just adopted a Torkie. He is 21 mo and she is 3 yrs. they both weigh 7 lbs and she is also a munchkin with short hair. Does anyone know what other breed she could be. Oh yea…big time tortitude!!! We just fell in love with her!!!
I currently fostering 3 calicos and a tortie. They are sweet energetic. Their mother belongs to a neighbor who no longer wants her. The mother brought her four babies to my front door nearly three weeks ago as feral kittens. They are now nearly ready for adoption.
I just got a beautiful Tortie from the SPCA. I named her STARR….and she is a Beautiful STARR…. She is so sweet, affectionate and laid back. She loves to cuddley, hug, purr and talk to me. I love her sooo much. She sleeps a lot and is very observant and inquisitive when she is awake. Thank you for this HAPPY CAT SITE… its so encouraging and informative.
Hello Ms Debra, I felt compelled to let you know about my daughters beautiful Tortie for several reasons. I too am a Debra, my son adopted the Tortie as a kitten in 2012 from Animal Aid (similar to Australia’s RSPCA) for his younger sister. My daughter then named her STELLA = (STAR in Italian). Stella is also the sweetest, affectionate and laid back cat I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! Stella also loves to cuddle, hug, purr, dribble and talk. Stella is sooooo inquisitive & catches rats! YAY! My daughter, her boyfriend, my son and myself love her to the Moon and back.
Ciao Deb
I have a tortoise cat,4 years old with green eyes. very quiet, sweet, very smart. Playful, likes to make goofy out of herself.Not a lap cat but she follows me.
I have the cutest tortoiseshell in the world, I’m so happy my mom convinced my dad to let the mom have kittens. I also have the most beautiful calico in the world :).
So glad to see so many people appreciate tortoiseshell cats. I have had the privilege of owning a blue and cream tortoiseshell named Georgia. She became ill and I decided to euthanase her this morning. She was remarkably intelligent, feisty, and new her own mind. She was a good friend on rough days with an enormously empathic demeanour. I would consider getting another tortoiseshell again, particularly a blue and cream breed. Everyone loved her. I had her for 17 and a half years, and I estimate she was 18 1/2 years old. I’ll bury her at the pet cemetery in Auckland later this week. It’s a nice place to memorialise her along with my other cat Jonty whom is already there.
My baby Mey-Rin is a Tortoiseshell, she is just a ball of energy! Lovable and mischievous, carrying my clothes into my mothers room in the middle of the night! 🙂
I lost my other cat Sly just last year, and Mey-Rin has been a constant, warm comfort. I wouldn’t trade her for the world.
Our family is lucky to have a long haired tortoiseshell cat named Tosca. She is approx. 3 years old. Tosca is very friendly and follows me around the house. She is food motivated and will “sit” for a treat. She loves to be brushed. Her markings are very beautiful. The right half of her face is mostly orange with some black and the left half of her face is black with some orange. Her right hind leg has an orange streak on the bottom. She had a little orange patch on her belly which has turned white during the last year. The rest of her is totally tortoiseshell, including her ears. She loves to carry a toy mouse in her mouth. When she wants me to toss her toys she will sit down in front of me, walk to her toys, and then wait. Once a month, in the evening, she runs down the hall, pushes herself off the wall to turn around, and runs back. She gets along well with our other two female cats, a grey tabby and a black cat with a white chest patch. All were from the humane society in our area. We love them so much.
8+ years ago I went in search of a torty kitten, finally finding some at our local SPCA. They were only 4 weeks old so I picked one out, fell in love with her and had to wait 4 more weeks before we could take her home with us. At 7 weeks they called us and said they would put her down if we didn’t get her that day because she was sick. I told them not to do that we would be there in 15 minutes. We had to take her to 2 different vets before she got better. At about 2-3 years old she started to go blind. Later we found out she didn’t have any blood vessels in her eyes. Last Tues. She stopped eating and drinking, took her to the vet and he said she was dehydrated and had to stay overnight while they hydrated her. The next morning he called to tell us she was worse. He took an x-ray and it showed an enlarged heart. Even after the vet tried to save her, she could only lay there. We could feel her growing cold, so we had to make that dreaded decision to let her go. Our hearts are broken!!! She was the sweetest kitty we ever had! Heaven is a much better place today.
🙁
I have a Mackerel Torbie and didn’t realize it until I read this article. She was unique since day 1, born 2 days before the rest her litter. Her siblings were black tiger tabbies and so was her dad. Her mom was ALL black. She was different than them all and she is so energetic. I have never had a cat like her! Her personality is different than all the rest as well. And yes she does have that tortitude! I am so grateful I was able to make her mine! 😊
The neighborhood stray adopted my husband and me 6 weeks ago. She’s a small, 3-year-old tortie (I just read about them tonight and realized that is what she is). Her behavior and personality is 100% tortie! She is a foot stalking, snuggle seeking, bed sleeping kitty now.
Our Tortie Jess, definitely has Tortitude. We got her, along with her brother Charlie, a big fat aimiable Ginger Lump from a shelter. They had both been cruelly treated at their former home. It was love at first sight for both of them.
She loves going round the estate beating up the local toughs. She evidently has small cat syndrome. When she looks in the mirror she sees a Bengal Tiger staring back!
But she is a real love-bug with humans. Very talkative, very demanding.
We got out torti “Molly” 15 years ago from a kill shelter, I’ll neverknow why someone turned her in as she is perfect. Funny tho. Won’t go outside but briefly and don’t even hint that you may close the door or she’ll run in. Holds grudges against the kids (won’t hurt them) but will find the most opportune moment to corner them, and I’ll hear a kid yell, “mooommmm, Molly’s has me cornered, again!” Kitty has perfect teeth at 16, vet said good genetics. Molly loves reading time and is the first to offer compassion to the kids if they have a bad day. Love love love our torti with tortitude.
I have 2 Tortie Ragdolls kittens 6 months old both were born together with 3 males kittens, a Traditional Ragdolls, a solid black Ragdolls and a two color Ragdolls.They all lived happily in Jakarta Indonesia.
Excited to read your info on torties, as I recently discovered a stray that, until tonight, I couldn’t tell what coat it had. Realized when “she” showed up tonight, it was a Tortie, mix of black and orange with a white bib and white right front paw. Have been feeding her and hoping to lure her into my home eventually. Lost my last two kitties, one last year and the other two years before that. Wasn’t thinking of adopting just yet but she’s winning my heart. If she wants to come home, will be the first Torrie I’ll have. Wish me luck in my pursuit!!!!
My tortoise whose name is Kailua is a farm cat that I got when she was 8 weeks old. She is now 11 years and still going strong. 😁
The feline love-of-my-life was little Minx, a tortoiseshell tabby (torbie), with glorious tortie stripes on a classic (blotched) tabby background, and very green eyes. She was tiny (3kg)but feisty (a ‘minx’ is a sassy woman), and lived to 21 years. We had a mutual adoration of each other. She kind of saved my life twice, once by reacting to toxic fireplace fumes – my housemate had brought home off-cuts from a building site (probably termite treated), and another time by making a fuss until I followed her to the bedroom where clothes had fallen against a bar radiator and were smouldering! It’s been 14 years since she passed, and I still miss her, despite having acquired several more cats – currently have 3.
I have a kitten that sounds like yours! I’m sorry to hear she is gone. This one I adopted is splotched with orange tabby stripes on her back legs, no tail and some white on her chest. She is the funniest little cat and so smart. Bites my fingers when hungry. Talks to us all the time and just lost her baby teeth so looks funny when she talks. What a personality this cat has. Her name is Sansa Starfish. We adore her. But she is a nocturnal nightmare and intentionally looms for glasses of water to tip over!!!
Loved reading all the Tortie Tales. Since reading the description of Tortie markings I am struck that my Tortie has no orange or other such color, and no blotches. She is three shades of brown — a bit of light, mostly tan, with dark brown markings that are mostly circular stripes, starting down from the middle of her head. She has three dark rings around her tail like a raccoon, and that tail bushes up like a bottle brush when she chases my other cat. Definitely has Tortitude. But her most vivid feature or features are wide dark circles as on a target, covering the whole of each of her sides; that’s one big circle each side. Only white is a little patch under her chin. I rescued her from a nearby side street where she had shown up one day, very young and thin. People fed her but had no intention of taking her in over the winter. When I saw she was sleeping in the middle of the street and playing under cars I finally went over and announced I was taking her home. Got her fixed up at the vet. She walked with her head cocked to one side, and her right front paw turned out awkwardly. No idea why, whether birth or accident, but that was eight years ago and she is doing fine. I love her, and everyone is fascinated by her. No fear of strangers and eats like a horse. No one above mentioned a cat eating a lot, but this one eats as much as given and fast as lightning. Named her “Peezy” for the Leaning Tower of Pisa, because of her tilted head. Have to chuckle remembering a neighbor who commented, “Oh — you adopted that little crooked cat!”
I just adopted my first tortie named Mavis & her black brother Myst 2 weeks ago. They are almost four months old. It was love at first sight on the spca website. After the passing of my tabby and my ragdoll last month it was hard not having lively cats in my home. Well, little did I know what I was getting into. Tortitude does exist! Mavis is a firecracker. She is all over the place, eats eveything, jumps everywhere, climbs everything, super high energy, I am disbelief. Lol. Her brother is almost as stubborn but a little more docile. He lets us hold him when she doesn’t want anyone to pick her up and hold her. With all that said, she is also a chatterbox, a kissy girl, and such a sweet cuddlebug. She snuggles so much when I am ready to sleep and she wakes me up every morning snuggling on my shoulder. I can’t wait to see how life with these two unfolds.
I have a tortie named Nova. She has a mustache, it’s the cutest thing ever. She’s so sweet and super affectionate, but man, she’s a feisty little thing. I adopted her from The Cat House on the Kings and when i first saw her, I instantly fell in love with her and knew she had to come home with me. She’s my sweet Nova Kitty! 🙂
My precious tortie is named Vision. My sister lured her and her family from a cow pasture by feeding them twice a day. Soon, 26 of them would run from the woods every time her red car pulled into the driveway. Some had gotten so tame that they would wander into her home through the open sliding glass door. Vision walked right into our cat carrier one Sunday.She was named Vision because at times, you cant tell her eyes from her fur. That was 4 years ago. I couldn’t imagine my life without her. A sufferer of severe depression,Vision seems to know when I need he to cuddle with me. By the way, I got to meet Vision’s beautiful mom and dad and her siblings from an older younger litters, all who were eventually trapped, fixed, and released.
I have a tortie Misty. She has her mind made up. She will work at me until she gets what she wants. She is my best friend. She puts a smile on my face everyday. She is 6 years old. I love watching her play. I am glad that I was blessed with her. My mom just loves her to. I take her for a rise everyday to see my mom. When she sees my mom she goes over to her and gives her a head but. And lays in her lap just purring like hey wear have you been. She is a special girl with her mission to make everyone smile.
We have aquired our first torti. We love her so much! Full of engery and very smart. With her being four months old, that explains the high engery, lol. Her and our dog, loves to play together. And she let’s our daughter do just about anything with her. We are thrilled to her in our family.
I have a torture, Her name is Andromeda, yes like the galaxy, she is my ESA, and 1yr old, she has bouts, of hyper activity, but no real aggression, she is very calm and very relaxed most of the time, she’s not huge fan of baths, but will not use her claws on me at all during bath time, as long as I talk to her during bath time she is calm, and responds to my questions, she has incredibly soft and shiny fur, I love her. I wish I could add a picture of her.
Our little miss tortie diva is CleoCatra (although we just call her Cleo) so it cracked me up to see the thing about Egyptian names. She has SUPER LONG fur and whiskers, and after just going through another growth spurt at almost 16 months old, I’ve been trying to figure out what type she is. She has adorable tufts of fur sticking out of her feet and just the smallest bit of white with some black spots just under her chin, but otherwise she is all tortie colored. She is very sweet but definitely a diva too! She has a kinda shakey little meow when I pet her and she talks to me and she always gives me all kinds of blinky lovies. She’s already a little bigger than her adopted tabby brother…if she’s a Maine coon and keeps growing, with that long fur…we are in for a high maintenance kitty! But she’s so totally worth it, I wouldn’t trade her for the world!
My sweet loving little Sally Jean was a little stray cat who came to our door crying very loudly one stormy night It was freezing rain and blowing so hard. When I opened the door she ran into my house and into my heart. She lived with us 22 years. Sally hated the cold. She was always seeking the warmest place to lay. That place was on my lap as much as she could manage. Everyone called her my Velcro kitty. Sally and I had a special bond. She was my kitty and I was her person. Sally never grew to be a big cat. She only weighed only 4 1/2lbs. But she what she lacked in size she made up for with love. She helped me finish raising my 3 children, then she helped to raise 5 of my 6 grandchildren and then 3 of my great grandchildren. She taught them to be gentle and loving. When Sally left us she had what we thought was a little smile on her sweet little face. She is missed every day. But I know I will see her again some day.
We had 2 Torties, one was a purebred manx Smuge, the other was named Smidget. The manx had Tortitude to the Max! Smidget was a shy & gentle soul. They crossed the Rainbow Bridge over 25 yrs ago. Still miss my babies.
Had 2 Torties, one a purebred Manx (Smudge), the other was named Smidget. The Manx had Tortitude to the Max. The other was a shy & gentle sweetie. Both shelter babies.We found out that the Manx had been trained to fetch. Sooo sad it’s owner never looked for her. But very glad I worked at an Animal Shelter that she was brought to. She had been caught in a opossum trap. Took 2 days to calm her down, I fell in Love & took her home. That was over 25 yrs ago. Still miss my babies.
Hi I have 2 Torties Nala ( Blue/Cream) and Nadia ( Black, Gold, Red) they are so much fun. They both have their unique personalities. Nala is high energy and mischievous. Nadia has to be the center of attention, is very talkative. If its playtime Nadia lets me know with a constant Meow until I give in.😹
My beautiful Rockie just crosssed the Rainbow Bridge one month ago today. She was 12 years old. She had the most beautiful black and bronze and beige coloring. We found her when she was only 4 weeks old. Had to bottle feed her for several days until she learned to eat. She developed diabetes at age 7 and required 2 insulin shots a day but she was always a trooper about it. She was my constant companion and a real sweetheart. Rest In Peace my beautiful darling.
My Gizmo is my first Tortie, and likely my last cat because I can’t imagine having one after her. I initial went to a shelter to adopt a kitten, but she was perched right next to the door of the cat room, talking her sweet kitty talk to me. She was already about 10 months old at the time, and let me pick her right up. I fell in love with her immediately! She is so sweet and affectionate, follows me around like a puppy, and loves to play fetch…she was so gentle with both of my daughters when they were babies, and is still so tolerant of them loving on her in their 5 and 9 year old ways 🙂 She also has a mischievous side, most of which is tied to food…or anything she would like to pretend is food. I’ve caught her prowling the counters and table more times than I can count. Gizzie Bear is the furry love of my life, and I hope she’s around as long as a lot of these other stories have reported!!
We adopted a tortoiseshell female from our local pound. We have had her 4 months now. Very mischievous and energetic. Always getting into something. Very stubborn. Her name is Aurora. We love her. She is very entertaining
We have to rescue tortie cats. We also have one gray and white that are oldest cat, Rachel, the queen mother of all cats in our house brought home. She basically has her own pet. Rachel is going to be 19 years old this year. The other tortie is about 5 years old and is obnoxious and funny. She likes to flop around on the floor like a little fat bear. We call her Miss Kitty lulabelle floof noodle. All three of the girls get along great. My tortillas have never been high maintenance and Rachel is the epitome of a constant lap cat. The gray and white cat that she brought home however has got major cattitude! Her name is smidge the Pidge. we feel very blessed to have all three.
I found a female tortie 4 years ago as a spry kitt. Short hair at first but now shes bloomed into a fluffy demon. She runs us all and I never knew Torties require staff. Our Tortie has many staff members loyal and devoted to her constant need for love and attention. If she is hungry no one sleeps until she has been taken care of, day or night…. Her name is ABBEY however she has affectionately been renamed to ” BABY”. She is affectionate and spends her personal time with all of us so that no one is left out of pleasing her every whim. She considerate that way. Many times we have been taken away from our daily tasks to attend to her always immediate needs. We are blessed…IF the human sole can be possessed this little bugger has and has crept her way into our hearts as its difficult to leave her behind for very long as she’s so Damn CUTE…..We adore her and we hope she will live for many many years………
Our housekeeper felt we needed a cat, and I wanted a good mouser to live outside, so we got Lucy when she was about 5 months old. One day I had a 3 year old patient in my office and Lucy came to the glass screen door and put a paw up and meowed. The child asked if she could come in, so I let her in not sure how she would react. Well, turns out she loves sick kids. She lets them carry her around, sometimes by one leg, she lets them put her in the baby buggy and push her around. She will let a sick child hold her for hours on their lap. Now she lives in the house and we have our first fur baby. Every morning she climbs on my husbands chest and bats his cheek, then she kisses his chin, if that doesn’t wake him up, she puts her paw in his ear. She’s a great hunter, takes down bats, butterflies and mice. Her tortoise color makes her very hard to see outside, she blends right in! She is one of the sweetest animals we have ever had, and my neighbors with tortoises all say the same thing about their disposition, sweet and gentle with kids.
We put down our 17 yr. old sweetheart girlie-girl Marble on Saturday. I still can’t stop crying my eyes out.
I’m so sorry for your loss, my sincerest condolences.
I had my two beloved torties Tess and Angelina. Both passed at 11 years. Tess had hcm and Angie and had cancer and was done in by convenia. I miss my sweet girls every day. Tess was the sweetest, calmest cat on the planet, she came everwhere with me, school, the beach, no carrier, she slept holding my hand each night. Angie was a crazy tortie which shocked me- this seems more typical, lol. She was also very sweet and smart and so gorgeous with emerald green eyes. She was part siamese and talked a lot. She became very cuddly when my wizard, rescued from outside started sleeping next to me like Tess. Then they would fight to be near my face, with one on either side. Angie like Tess was a lapcat. I never thought she would be since her mother was feral and she was a bit skittish as a kitten. Then like Tess, she became mom’s special girl, after jumpimg up one day, she was there every night. I’d give anything to have them all back. All my 5 babies have passed now, Syb being the last, Tess being the dirst and Byron next. I am very depressed without them even though I have my baby siamese boy. It will never be the same again.
Our beautiful girl is named Truffles, because when we got her I thought she looked like a chocolate truffle rolled in Cocoa powder!
Our tortie is named Pywacket after a witch’s cat in 13th century England
i have a 4 month old tortie and called her lola
My mom and went to the local animal shelter and brought home a unique Totri kitten they named “Shelly” because; a) she was a tortoiseshell cat with a prominent black mustache, and b) she came from a shelter. I fell in love with baby Shelly on my first visit to my parent’s house. A purring fur ball of fun to nestled on my upper body. At age 9, my parents went to their own rainbow bridge within a 7-month period and I brought Shelly with me on a cross-country jet to magical Newport Beach. She took to the SunnySoCal climate and large house to explore. She lived another 3-years and I miss her each day since. Alas, no cat for me since.
I recently acquired a torti-point siamese. She is the most beautiful, loving companion. I found her on the side of the highway crying. She was only 4 or 5 weeks when I found her. I’m assuming she followed her mother and got lost. I have cared for her for 8 weeks now and she is simply wonderful. She knows my schedule and aides me in getting ready for work in the mornings. In the evening she knows she gets playtime once I get house chores completed, so she helps. After playtime, she loves to curl up on my lap with her blankie and suckle til she gets relaxed. Then, she walks up to give me kitty nose kisses and lays down to nap. She has definitely stolen my heart!
I got Shelby from a rescue when she was 7 months old because she had the colors of all the pets I had before her. To say she has tortitude is an apt description of her, but she also is a most smart, loving and loyal cat. She is now 9 years old and I would be lost without her.
I have a tortie that’s named Daisy because she has alot of gold. I wish I could post a pic of her after reading this she may be brindle, no white but has 4 colors. Black, orange, grey and a small patch of white under her neck.. She has had one liter and put off a calico and a tabby. She is due again any day now and I’m so excited to see what her new babies will look like. I really learned a great bit about her through reading your website, so thank you. She is like you said very compassionate and mild mannered, however a stray dog wandered up a few days ago and she really messed him up so DIVA here can be very aggressive. Poor dog I had to pull her off of him and he wasnt a small dog. Guess its pregnancy hormones and her so close to giving birth. So they can be aggressive if they are territorial as she is…lucky she is a cat not a dog or he would be in bad shape…. Thanks for the info I learned a little more about my rare little kitty!
my tortie is called fawkes
My tortie is named Evie. I bought her off of Craigslist 2 years ago, and she did have a brother with the same markings, but had a stub for the tail. He was not for sale. I’ll tell ya, she does have a personality all her own. She has been becoming more dominate towards all the other cats this past year. She does not talk that much, but when she does, its too cute. But she can have the sweetest personality as well, and purs a lot. She does have a white bandanna marking under her chin and white tipped paws like socks. I also call her my Halloween kitty.