Tortoiseshell cats are named for their distinctive coloring – a combination of patches of black, brown, amber, red, cinnamon and chocolate. The size of the patches varies from a fine speckled pattern to large areas of color. The term “tortoiseshell” is used for cats with brindled coats that have few or no white markings. Cats of this coloring with larger areas of white fur are called calicos. Sometimes, these colors present in lighter versions such as lilac or cream. Torties with this lighter coloring are called dilute torties. Occasionally, the typical tortoiseshell colors are also seen in a tabby (striped) pattern, and these cats are sometimes referred to as “torbies.”
Tortoiseshell cats are almost exclusively female. Tortoiseshell and calico coats are the result of the interaction between genetic and developmental factors. The occasional and very rare male tortoiseshell cat is the result of a genetic mutation.
In addition to their distinctive coloring, torties also have a reputation for unique personalities, sometimes referred to as “tortitude.” They tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and they can be very possessive of their human. Other words used to describe torties are fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable. They’re usually very talkative and make their presence and needs known with anything from a hiss to a meow to a strong purr. These traits are stronger in tortoiseshell cats than in calicos – it seems as though these traits are somewhat diluted with the addition of more white to the color scheme.
As of the writing of this post, I share my life with Amber*, and those of you who’ve followed this blog for a while have gotten to know her in her Amber’s Mewsings posts. You will soon be able to read all about Buckley in Buckley’s Story – Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher. The photo above shows Buckley in the front, Amber behind her.
Prior to Amber and Buckley, there was another tortie in my life. Virginia was the first office cat at the animal hospital I managed. She was my introduction to torties, and my love affair with this particular type of cat began with her. She, too, had the “tortitude” I so love about these particular cats.
Do you have a tortie or calico in your life? Does she have “tortitude?”
*Sadly, Amber passed away on May 13, 2010, after a sudden, brief illness. I now share my life with Allegra and Ruby, two tortoiseshell cats who have their own columns here on The Conscious Cat, titled Allegra’s World and Ruby’s Reflections.
Photo ©Ingrid King, all rights reserved
Glen, you have an active imagination. No wonder Kasey loves you. You think way out of the box. Hang in there Kasey your servant may be going over the deep end. (Smile) (by the way, Steelers won their game today.)
While Kasey is attached to me and see’s me as a protector, she is still a typical tortie, a “warrior queen”; as I piosted a while back, she even defnded me from Taz playfully nipping at me when I sat on the floor.
I have noted here several times about her guarding the house.
I had a humorous thought tonight (at least to me). On some si-fi movies, they will show some allien world, the setting is often at night, in some exotic jungle type terrain.
The sound effects are unworldly, frightening noises issuing from the darkness, building a sense of a threatening and hostile environment.
I almost think in such a situation, Kasey would not be the slightest bit concerned, I think she would view the noises as her next victim giving away it’s position 😉
That is funny, Steeler blocking at the door.
“Glen, I really think Kasey sees you as her safety blanket, like little children do with their blanket, take it away and they will cry. So I am not surprised she sings after you.
I think the abused cats, that we take in and love,as we do, I do mean all of us, learn right away we will protect them because we are their safety blanket.”
Yes, I think thats right.
One of my wife’s friends observed that Kasey looks to me and is calm and comforted when I am around, she said; “She knows you won’t let anything happen to her”
Glen, I love that Kasey “sang” when you were gone. That’ll teach you to leave without letting her know about it first!
Bernie, sounds like S-L-O-W-L-Y will be the name of the game for changing Steeler over to her new food. VERY slowly :-)! She sure showed you. If only they would understand that when we humans make these changes, it’s because we have their very best interests at heart.
Ingrid, Harry, Glen and Jay: Let me bring you up to date on the food changeover. Well, folks, I just finished running the vacuum. I put down food for Steeler, this time I put down a dry food, in a separate paper bowl. It is a brand that she will not eat ever. So I had this brilliant idea if I put it down she would automatically eat only the wet. Sounds good on paper. Well I got a whole lot of tude from Steeler. She is a southpaw, and just when I turn around she had taken her paw and purposely upset the bowl of dry food, and kicked at it as though it was littler. I have now rerun the vacuum and “again I have been outwitted by Steeler.”
Glen, I really think Kasey sees you as her safety blanket, like little children do with their blanket, take it away and they will cry. So I am not surprised she sings after you. When Steeler sees me put on shoes she sits in front of the door, like a blocker, because she doesn’t want me to leave. I think the abused cats, that we take in and love,as we do, I do mean all of us, learn right away we will protect them because we are their safety blanket. Lord, I am beginning to preach. Time to go.
Sorry, Kasey.
Last Thursday night, I had to go out for a couple hours.
I was told that after I left, Kasey sang a song at the back door for about 10 minutes after I left. Well, the “song” sounds like a rusty playground swing set.
She is “somewhat” attached to me 😉
If she is up and around when I leave, I usually pet her and tell her I am leaving, sounds odd, but it works.
No ramps needed, Bernie 🙂 I don’t think ours come from below in the middle of the night, instead, they use our bed as a landing strip. If you’ve ever seen a fighter jet land on an aircraft carrier, or flown into Midway field in Chicago (around an office building and then apparently straight down to the runway) you know what it’s like. Sadly, we have much less of that now that our bedroom door is closed all the time to seperate Brooke and Sabrina. We’ve made huge progress with the two of them, but are not there yet. More about that, later.
Harry, the oldest accepted the change more easily than Sabrina. I am playing the pick and choose what you will eat from the plate. So far, Steeler will eat a little of what she should have, then, quit, and later eat some dry. She is going make this a battle of wills. But, hey, that’s her personality. By the way you may want to build a ramp on both sides of you and your wife’s bed. Delightful, when the early dawn having this race track across the lower half of the bed. Now it’s a regular occurrence and I just groan and try to go back to sleep.
Bernie, the “cats have staff” quote isn’t originial to me. I saw it on a t-shirt 25 years ago…
The food battle does continue, slow and patient being the key. “Change” is a dirty word if you’re a cat. We’ve changed foods in the past, so I know that we will eventually prevail, and you will too. I don’t think it’s so much age as personality – our toughest battle is Sabrina, the stealth tortie who is 1 1/2. The others, who are 5 – 10, switched easily.
Ingrid the food batter will continue.
Nan, that is what I meant when I said something must have scared the dickens out of her. Maybe someday she will mellow out, but as long as she runs things, well maybe not.
Kira, sounds like you are having a really good taste of the tude of the cats. You are just like the rest of us here. it seems Harry, (often writes on this post) is right about “dogs have owners and cats have staff”. Enjoy your furry wild child.
We think that Buttons’ fear might have to do with the fact she was a stray before she moved into the shelter where she was when she adopted us.
Bernie, you’re doing great with the food changeover. A tablespoon at a time is a pretty decent amount for a cat. And you definitely don’t want her to not eat at all, so until you can convince her that the canned food really is best for her, leaving out a little dry is fine. If at all possible (translate: if Steeler will accept it!), make the dry food a grain-free one, too.
As for Allegra’s adventure in the kitchen cabinets, I think, like all torties, she just likes to keep me on my toes!
Nan, Allegra is afraid of loud noises, too. She’s fine with the vacuum, but when the trash trucks go by on our street, the noise sends her running to her safe place. And forget about the lawn service – she’ll stay under the sofa while they’re outside, thank you very much!
Kira sounds beautiful! Some calicos seem to have an extra dose of tortitude (calicotude?). I love the expression “furry wild child” – so appropriate!
Kira, is my beautiful long haired calico I found in Wisconsin at a wedding I attended in 2002. (I live in Iowa) Kira always has a agenda and if you interupt her, she hisses. She knows what she wants and wants it now. She wanted out on the screened in porch one day but it was way to cold. I told her she could not go out, it was to cold. Her response to my tone was hissing and walked away from the door. She is loving one minute and growling and hissing the next. But when she looks at me with those gold and green eyes I know I am her human and she is my furry wild child!
Ingrid, I just read the new short story on Allegra. Sounds like she is quite the adventure one. Managing to get into the cabinet and sleep. Now why is it if we call out Torties, sometimes they can be hiding, napping or right about 5′ away and they will ignore us like we don’t exist. Other times, especially if the I am on the phone, Steeler will just keep squawking until I hang up. Then she wants my attention. Go figure.
Nan, I am surprised to hear that Buttons is afraid of Tipper and noise. Something must have happened that scared the dickens out of her. As for the candles, well once burned, twice scared seems to apply here. Steeler does not seem to let anything really get to her. Some would think she is laid back, but then she shows her true self and my friends will often ask, what’s next.
I hope Buttons overcomes some of her fears, I know that will probably take a long time, but there is always hope.
The quote “Seems like Torties will not show fear or back down from anything.” Does not apply to my Buttons. She is afraid of everything!! Even her sister Tipper. We’ll be in the bedroom getting dressed, with the door shut, and she’ll hear Tipper coming up the stairs and Buttons’ll stop whatever she’s doing, usually purring from the attention I’m giving her, and stare wide-eyed at the door. Even though Tipper can’t get anywhere near her, she’s ready to hide. She also runs away from the vaccuum and other loud noises, we live on a highway (she’s 100% indoors, so is Tipp) with a backyard full of cow-fields and woods, so there’s guns in hunting season and lots of loud noises. Her favorite place to hide is under my bed, since usually it’s just my husband and I who go in there. She’s also afraid of lit candles, but that’s because my sister’s dogs were visiting and chased her up on a ledge with lit candles where she burned her belly. She won’t go a room if she can see lit candles.
Glen, it seems like Kasey and Steeler both of whom came in from survived the elements and all the problems of the outdoors, are two gals of the same cloth.
It will take more than a sweeper to back these two off. I am willing to the your little terrier is giving her a wide berth, for fear Kasey will have her for dinner.
Harry, I like your quote “dogs have owners, cats have staff”. How true. Now you and I both are having this integrations of food ordeal. I am finding it is not all that easy. I am doing everything to get this finicky one to eat the grain free wet food. So far, I have mixed it with tuna, and then with canned chicken, finely chopped. If I put some tuna broth over it she will eat some of it. I am still at a tablespoon at a time. This is going to be a slow process. I hope to be able to give her less and less of the tuna and chicken over time, until I get her onto total wet. I do let a about 1/4 cup of dry for her. Can’t just cut her off cold turkey. This is a battle of wills. Good luck with your little one. Do you think maybe we might be at the stage with these two ADULTS, where we can’t change old habits? (keep smiling)
Kasey is a very loving and friendly cat, with people.
But “Seems like Torties will not sho fear or back down from anything.”
That would be her.
I think it is partly tortitude and partly nurture (if you can call it that). She went through neglect, some abuse and had to fight both domestic and wild animals for her first 8 years. She was used to machinery too, so a mere vacuum isn’t a problem 😉
Our other cats react to a perceived threat with fear, retreat and will only react if conrnered (not a big issue, they are all indoor cats).
Kasey is different. She by passes the first steps and fearlessly goes after whatever the threat is, as something that came up to our screen window one summer at about 5:00AM found out. We hear the snarl and the heavy thump when she hit the screen.
Our little silky terrier found this out when she first came here. He tried to bluff her, contesting the right of way in a small space; her reaction was a full out attack, no fear, no show of backing up. This was stopped quite quickly, not a thing we encourage.
She is better now with the other animals but she does “rule the roost”
Harry, I just checked out the pic on Facebook. Now that is one tough pit boss. She isn’t missing a thing.
You and Ingrid thought it was fun to hear of Steeler new race track. Hey guys/gals it is great entertainment when we are awake. However, at 3 or 4AM or later, it is not so funny. I think she starts early AM just to irate me. Buy hey she being able to reach tall places in a single run!
Jay, just for the record, Steeler will try to stop me from vacuuming. There are times when she literally tries to sit on the brush cleaning area to stop me. Don’t ask me why. I just live here.
Love the pic Harry. Seems like Torties will not sho fear or back down from anything.
When I vacuum both other cats do burn outs getting out of the room.
Stirfry will watch and even with the vacuum inches away will not move.
The ears flatten and tail thrashes around but no backing up.
Onlt time I ver saw her scared was when I carried her to the road to get my mail.
Tried to go over my shoulder.
Probably a near miss when she was a feral kitten or she saw something get hit.
I am glad that she avoids roads just in case she would get out.
Those workmen better do a good job or the’ll be talking to their “Boss”
Harry the inhume race track is something Steeler figured out all on her own. My granddaughter watched her climb the first steps to the bed and decided Steeler needed a more simple approach.
Hence the carpeted ramps, yes you heard me carpeted. It is only hilarious to watch her when you are awake, asleep, not so much.
However, Steeler is getting Physical Therapy with the ramps, and I hoping she will shed a few pounds. Harry Steeler is already 5 and the slowing down part, well not here.
Jay, thanks for the condolences. I hope you find a good dog that is ready for the challenge of Stirfry. From her pics I would be really afraid. But that is a keeper picture.
We had another good Sunday here on Concisous Cats. I am glad Ingrid was in town and was able to see what we were up to this time.
We’re having a small addition put on the house, and the construction is noisy. Our other cats are all hiding – except for tortie Sabrina, who is on the perch by the glass door supervising. Whenever one of the workers comes near the door, she paws the door, chirps her tortie chirp, and tries to attract attention. She even head butted the door so hard I thought she would give herself a concussion. I put a photo of her looking out the door on the Conscious Cat Facebook page.
Bernie, I’m still laughing about the visual of Steeler u[ and down the ramps. She is a character, that’s for sure!
About the food change: it can take a long time. Don’t give up. I have one friend who changed her cats from a dry and canned diet to all raw food, and for one cat, it took almost a year. She would just put a teaspoon of the new (raw) food next to the regular food, rather than mixing it in. For almost a year, she wound up throwing out the raw food every day since her cat wouldn’t touch it. Then, one day, he ate the raw food, and never wanted the old food again after that. Go figure.
Bernie – I’m laughing about the ramps… Brooke, our tortie, used to do the same thing all night long. Fortunately, when she hit about five, she slowed down. What’s it they say, “build a ramp and they will run”? Something like that 🙂
Sorry it’s so hard to change Steeler off the dry food. In classic fashion, I’m being bitten by my own advice – we’re changing to a different canned food, and Sabrina, our “stealth tortie” (who will let me pet her for a few minutes, and then attack me – I keep reminding her that I’m the only reason she came home from an adoption event, and she’s better lose the ‘tude) refused the new food. Even when mixed. Even when mixed with a spoonful of the old food on top. We’re just being persistent, and mixing very little of the new food, with the hope of increasing it slowly.
Jay – my favorite is, “dogs have owners, cats have staff.” I love dogs too, but I’m owned by cats.
And that quote about dogs and cats.
Dogs will do anything for you to get a treat but a cat will give you a look that says the expect that treat Because they are THE CAT.
Bernie, wish you could video how Steeler was using your bed as an off road race track. Cats are so inventive.
I always had dogs (Bichons). Then we adopted a cat from a shelter (Tabatha). That was around 1998. Got divorced in 2000 and got custody of the 2. Samatha my dog loved cats and would watch as feral cata would come around and I would feed them. Most were large cats but this little black cat kept showing up but woud be chased off by the bigger ones. I would watch for her and put out treats. She was very skittish and would run off as soon as I opened the door and watch from a distance. Took a few months till she would come to me. Saw she was a black/brown cat and was very friendly. Followed me around as soon as I got home and would eat 3- 4 hot dogs for 1 meal. A bad winter storm made me take her in. Sam was immediately put in her place that this was not a dog friendly cat. And Tabatha found out that even though she was twice her size Stirfry would not back down. And now 10 years later Stirfry is still the boss. Sam went blind and deaf in 2003 and would occasionly bump into Stirfry and get swatted right away. She died in 2005 but I still have Tabatha and Pumpkin (Stirfry’s son). And after all these years the pic you saw that I took years ago in the catnip is still the way she is. She does not purr but growls as I pet her. And that look and hiss are an everyday occurrence. She is laying on my lap right now but if I pick her up and turn her around to face me I will look her in the eyes and tell her how much she is loved. Her ears go back and those teeth come out and a constant hiss starts. Tortitude to the extreme.
I will get another dog soon and he will have to learn where his place is.
Sorry to hear that the Steelers lost to the Patriots last night.
OK Jay, what does that quote mean to you? Are you saying dogs are dumb, or are you saying cats are smarter, according to that quote. So I will pass on a quote.
I like both animals, although, I only have Steeler. I think a dog in my home would leave home the first chance he got.
I looked at the pics on the Facebook, is that your pet Stirfry on there with the ready to attach on there? That’s a familiar look.
Harry, my granddaughter has revised the steps for Steeler to get up onto the bed. She and her friends made not 1 but handicapped type ramps to the top of the mattress. Now there is one on each side. Well not after about a week, I have a Tortie who runs up on one side of the bed only to run down the other side on the other ramp. Sleeping is getting to be an interesting around here. Steeler is very vocal while she is during this game of running across the bed and down off the other side. Just when I thought she had reached her level of devilment, she starts all anew. I never know what she will do not. Her attitude is truly wild.
Bernie – more like a barn door 🙂
And I love reading about other peoples torties. What I think is so unusual about Stirfry and then discover that it typical of them all amazes me. And when I tell people that have “Normal” cats how she acts they can’t believe it. I learn more every day about how special they are and love her even more.
How’s this one.
“Cats are smarter than dogs.
You can’t get 8 cats to pull a sled through snow.”
Jeff Valdez
Ingrid, thank you, your being very diplomatic.
Jay, the banter with you is all in fun, but you opened the door.
Rob, your Jessie sounds like so many other Torties, here. My Steeler will stare at me while I try to sleep, but I have become a very light sleeper, because as soon as I feel her paw lift up I quickly talk to her, otherwise, it is claw the shirt time and wake this person up. Have fun with her. She will only get better (for her) for you, well enjoy the ride.
Her name is Jessie, but she gets called, “Baby Girl” more than anything else. I added a pic to the facebook page.
I think Bernie and Robert Heinlein both have it right 🙂
Rob, going “from a cuddly ball of love, to a raging mental case with claws in under a second” is such a perfect description of tortitude! And yes, please post her photo on our Facebook page.
Jay, it is pretty funny how we consider tortitude normal, since we live with it every day.
Hi Rob, when you mention that your tortie “She goes from a cuddly ball of love, to a raging mental case with claws in under a second.” to others they do not understand but here we take it for granted. Glad to see ya here. What is yur torties name?
And please post pictures of her on
http://www.facebook.com/consciouscat
Jay
The Heinlein one I heard 25 years ago, years before my 1st cat but always remembered it. Others I have found on a website of famous cat quotes.
And I have learned from my cats – why do any more than you have too.
Jay, not fair to quote someone else. I made my own quote. Cats are unpredictable and mysterious to both men and women. Women are as I said, unpredictable and mysterious to men.
“Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”
Robert A. Heinlein
Jay, I reread your last post. Well, I guess I will take on the topic first of all on women. You said “never did understand women so why should cats be any different”. I was hoping Ingrid would jump on the one, so she is being a lady, however, I on the other hand would like to take a jab at the perceived answer.
Women and women, unpredictable and mysterious to men. Cats are unpredictable and mysterious to men and women. Best I can come up with right now!
This explains so much! My tortie has pleanty of tude! She wakes me up when she is ready to eat and paces to and from the bedroom when it is time to sleep. She goes from a cuddly ball of love, to a raging mental case with claws in under a second. She even sits inches from my face and watches me sleep. She makes sure people know she is the Queen and we are nothing but her entertainment!
Bernie, it’s generally believed that cats don’t see color, or at the very least, only see a limited color spectrum. Since they evolved from hunters, their vision is much stronger than humans, but brightness is more important than color. They can see in very dim light (although, contrary to popular belief, they can’t see in complete darkness).
Jay, I think keeping humans on their toes with their constant changes must be the number one rule in the book of tortie conduct. It seems that no matter how different our torties are in some respects, they all seem to have that in common!
Bernadette where have you been? Haven’t seen any posts recently. It is great to hear how stirfry is a lap cat…Sounds like you may have what is known as “sibling rivalary” going on between Stirfry and Pumpkin.
JAY, my vet told me that these cats think of us as their toys. I gave that a lot of thought and found she may be right on.
Stirfry is a lap cat but only on her time. No secial food (they all eat dry Purina. But 2 days ago Pumpkin decided he wanted to be a lap cat. He’s 7 years old and never did before. He’s been coming into the bedroom and while Stirfry’s on my lap he will put his paw up and meow. Then when she had left he jumped up. Got cat scratches and he settled down. A big difference of 20 lbs to her 7.
He did this again tonite while I was watching CSI.
Presently Stirfry is sleeping on a chair in the kitchen, Tabatha is on the couch while I am watching a remake of Miami Vice and Pumpkin has settled in watching an air vent waiting for a mouse. I just came back to check my mail and saw your note. Each Tortie is different and just when ya think you have her figured out they change. Never did understand women so why should cats be any different.
“You can keep a dog: but it is the cat who keeps people,because cats find humans useful domestic animals.”
George Mikes from “How to be decadent”
So that’s the plastic attraction! I had no idea. I’ve had three cats who licked or chewed plastic, from the shower curtain (my torbie Fawn) to popping bubble wrap with teeth. Currently, Mr. Sunshine actually eats plastic, so I need to be especially vigilant.
Tape is another thing, and I’ve always thought it might have something to do with the adhesive, as we know where many adhesives come from.
Funny, none of my torties was ever a thief! And they are very gentle with me. Perhaps it’s because I’ve always had so many other cats and they knew they couldn’t be the boss–Cookie is now finally the most senior cat.
Jay, I am sorry I forgoy to respond to you for your advice on feeding wet food to Steeler. I hope we can get to that step. I am as intent on changing Steeler’s diet, as she is to fight me on it.
For you folks that say your Tortie’s are lap happy and cuddly, gee what are you feeding them. Right now as I type Steeler is reaching over and pulling my blouse with her claws. She really want me to put this computer down. Steeler a lap cat, cuddly (maybe if I sleeping) no, not Steeler, just the opposite she runs the show and trust me she is a dictator, even with me. But I love this crazy Tortie.
Bob, I was just reading some of the posts here and came upon yours about Elizabeth. I did enjoy the way she gave you a right to the jaw for attention. So glad she hit it off with you (in a matter of speaking). Steeler smacks, reaches out and pulls my sleeves for attention. She will do this even if I am sleeping, believe me, I awaken quickly because her claws are like a leopard.
Ingrid, transitioning Steeler is tougher than watching the “Steelers” lose a football game. Changing her habits is like nothing I ever have known. Even when she is up to real mischief, which is quite often lately, I tell her no and she pays no attention to that either. The food arrangement will continue until she is fully weaned off the dry, however, with her preferring the wet warm, Thank heaven for stove fans. Warm pet food smells Nasty.
I read on the Conscious Cat about Allegra. Surprisingly I had a question answered that I had been wondering about. You said colors don’t mean anything to Allegra. Does that mean cat’s don’t see colors as we do?
Ingrid, I did not know that about plastic.
Pumpkin is my only cat that constantly chews on plastic and I thought he just like to clean his teeth that way.
He has caught 2 mice in the last week and both times dropped them when asked. Both mice just layed in front of him and when picked up (using a sock) they were unharmed and were tossed outside.
Don’t think it was the same mouse but can’t be sure. I showed them to Stirfry, before tossing them but she was not interested.
Lianimal – I can picture Monkey carring off those CD’s and trying not to get caught. Driving their caretakers crazy seems to be the hobby of a tortie.
Bernie – my friend gives her cats a special treat by mixing dry food with a tablespoon of canned and warm tap water.
Maybe Steeler might like that.
Jay
Lianimal, I’m still laughing as I’m picturing Monkey dragging off the whole stack of cd’s! Thank goodness she didnt’ eat the rubber band, though – that could have been disastrous. At least the hair and dust can’t hurt her!
Katharine, Allegra tends to pick up anything that’s on the floor and try to eat it, too. I’ve learned to be very vigilant about not dropping things!
Sandy, Allegra is fascinated with anything plastic, too, and, unfortunately, loves to chew on it. It’s actually pretty common in cats, and one of the main reasons is that many plastic manufacturers use animal digest in their production process. It’s possible that the cats can smell or taste this and that’s why they’re so drawn to these products.
Bernie, don’t give up on trying to transition Steeler to canned food, it’s so much better for her. It can take a while to transition them, especially if they’re hard core dry food addicts!
Lianimal don’t need any thanks. Ingrid is the expert on cat nutrition. Harry also is a big help.
Harry your advice on how to integrate the wet food with Steeler’s dry food, well it flopped. This finicky eater would pick out the still solid dry bits. Nothing that was wet. So I tried mixing the Evo with her tuna in water, well no way again. So I decided to try another approach and heated the wet to warm in the micro oven. It really brings out the smell, good for cats, not so good for the house. So now Steeler will eat about a tablespoon then quit. But this is a start. I would never have believed a cat could be so finicky. All’s well with her otherwise.
Katharine, my Steeler will not eat anything like your Snoopy or Lianimal’s Monkey. But I do agree that Torties are a personality all their own.
I have a torti and she is exactly as described here! She is VERY needy. Always has to be on my lap. When I sleep at night she has to be right beside me and when there is one sign that I am awake..all I hear is loud meow meow meow! She is VERY loud and vocal. I would not say she is independent though, she is very clingy to me. She is so funny-you could play with her a bit rough but she will NEVER bite down hard..she will bite slightly-then hurry up and lick me like sorry sorry!–she also has a weird plastic fetish..she LOVES plastic bags, tampin wrappers, my flip flops, the shower curtain. Anything plastic she will sit and lick it for hours, odd?
Lianimal,
Snoopy does the same thing!! She will sneak off somewhere and i’ll find her eating a piece of mud, a dustball, a dead leaf or some unidentifiable clump of debris she’s found somewhere in the house. As you do, I leap over to remove the item, but it’s chewed and swallowed by the time i get there! I always wonder if Snoop does it when it’s not quite dinnertime but she’s peckish and she does it as a guilt thing, eg ” Look what you’ve reduced me to! I’m having to eat dust because you havent fed me…!” (Just as my folks’ old cat would do if he found his food bowl empty – he would go over to mum’s favourite potplant and noisily chew all the heads off the flowers until he was fed!) But,Snoopy also seems to do it purely for ..erm… enjoyment!?!….Yuk!
Torties are obviously bonkers, and Snoopy is no exception! Monkey sounds a bit wacky – she must be fun to watch! Aren’t tortie owners lucky to have such loopy pets!
Hi and welcome to all the new tortie people!
And thanks Ingrid and Bernie for the advice.
Monkey has brought crazy to a whole new level these last couple of days. Wednsday I brought a stack of music CDs home from work to listen to. There were about 6 of them held together with a couple of big rubber bands. I set them on the end table as I walked in and forgot about them. Later when I went to get them, they weren’t there. I looked all over and thought I was losing my mind, until, about 20 minutes later I saw Monkey carrying the whole stack by the crossed rubber bands, trying to sneak them from behind the couch. She appeared to be heading toward my bedroom when I interscepted her.
Then, last night……out of the corner of my eye I saw her head bobbing wierdly, so I looked and she had found a big ball of dust and hair somewhere and was EATING it! I hollered and went to get it away from her, but she saw me coming and just chewed faster. By the time I got to her she had swallowed it.