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
And #4 is a straight up tortie lol
I loved Roxy! And I so want that cat tree they got for her!
Yes! That was awesome!
Go figure, Jackson’s second cat is a torti point siamese type lol
Hmmm, I think in another life I was a torti. Or maybe an ancestor of Peaches. I got added to a FB group called something along the lines of “Selling, auctioning or re-homing small animals”
Can’t c&p my original reply because I posted once and immediately quit the group. But I basically said I was not an advocate of buying, selling or breeding animals. The owner of the page asked why, and, I CAN c&p this one, because it was PM…afraid the claws were out…just a little. lol
“Lynn Garrow
Sorry, couldn’t answer in the group because I left. Have you ever been to an animal shelter? If not, you should go. See how many dogs and cats they have. Probably at least half of the animals you see will be put to sleep because there aren’t homes. Yet people continue to breed for money or be irresponsible and not spay or neuter. Even animals like rats, hamsters etc., there are rescues for because people are so irresponsible. Google any domestic pet, you will find rescues in every state. I am in no way condoning ANY buying or selling or breeding of “Small pets” until we stop having to euthanise 8000 to 11,000 dogs and cats EVERY SINGLE DAY. DO NOT add me to any more of these groups. I may or may not complain about you to the Facebook admins.”
Hey Berns. I was reading above that you wanted a story. I have a story. I’m pretty sure Shanks (and me, by proxy) is probably about to go through a HUGE identity crisis. When I eventually found the owners of his mother, they told me he was a male. I assumed that was true, and never checked. When I took him in for his first health check and shots, I told them he was a he and the vet didn’t tell me any different. As he grew up, he grew more and more long luscious fur, including “back there”. Plus he’s very black. You can’t really see anything besides blackness and a lot of fur. With his neuter looming close, I wanted to check…and well, I’m not finding much evidence of “His” maleness. I felt one little something, but it could be a mat. If Shanks turns out to be a female, it’ll actually be more of an issue for me, to get used to calling “him” “her”. I’m sure Shanks “Himself” won’t care one way or the other. “He’ll” Probably notice I don’t call “him” Bubbs or Handsome anymore…And yeah, if “He” turns out to be female, as I suspect, I am DEFINITELY changing vets! lol…on a side note, I keep checking, thinking I must have missed something. I’m starting to feel like a creep!
Lynn, sometimes it’s easier to check while he’s got the leg in the air and bathing. If he’s got a matched set they are usually easier to see when he’s upside down on a long-haired cat. If he’ll let you, it’s easier if he’s on his back anyway and you can get him to spread. Also, if he’s got one of “those”, you’ll see it when he licks it. Don’t want to get too graphic but if you’ve lived with girl cats all this time you’re in for it. Of course, if he’s a girl too, then you can pass on that experience.
lol, I’ve only mostly had girls, plus he/she never cleans him/herself, I clipped a HUGE dingleball off his/her butt yesterday, plus I found something that MIGHT be a mat or a …well, you know
Heaven help Shanks!!!! His Mom is getting …….. awe geez. Poor baby.
Bernadette, OH BOY!!!!! 🙂
Oh my Wild Child I love this one. Watch out for the animal rights groups coming to check your intentions out:). I hope you keep his or her name. I think Shanks is a real winner. As for the vet, well, HELLO. Get the chart and graphics out for show and tell. I would like to see that show.
Of course you would probably catch he–! But hey laugh and teach the class on his and hers and its. Love your stories.
I look forward to them
Are you going to enjoy some crystal skull liquid tonight? If so, what time should I check on CC to see if you had a rattling of tales of my Wild Child. You really are the best. Awe shucks, there I said it. Your a good kid in other words. Keep doing what you do.<3
Stop checking! Poor little guy…lol….! Or girl? He’s probably cryptorchid. When does he get neutered? Um, I mean, when does she get spayed? I can’t wait to hear the outcome of this!
Right leave that poor kitty’s private jewels alone. Or as Azur would say, the kits “Junk”. I love that description she used for Punky. 🙂
Okay, I’ll leave his or most likely her junk alone until I get him/her to the vet. Poor little Shanks might end up transgendered
Please no transgendered kits. This little kitten just needs to let you know what it is. But whatever, don’t change the name or the nicknames. He/she is used to them. The kit won’t care if it is a he or she. 🙂
No clue. Don’t you have to know what their sex is when you make the appointment? lol…I mean, a neuter is much quicker and simpler than a spay……
LMAO I will never tell him (or her) about this….LMAO
So what? I tell the vet I got wierded out by fondling the poor guy/girl and have no idea of the sex of the cat I lived with for 4 or 5 months? lol
If the vet didn’t notice at his first appointment that he wasn’t a he, I’d make the appointment for a neuter and let the vet deal with it if he turns out to be a she. Just be prepared that you might drop off a boy and come home with a girl…. Sorry. I know it’s not funny. Well, maybe just a little bit :-)?
LOL..it IS funny. But then, when I think about the vet. If it turns out Shanks is female, and the vet didn’t catch that…is this REALLY a vet I want ANYWHERE near ANY animal? Probably not
Yes it is funny, Ingrid. That could very easily be the case for Lynn and little Shanks. Talk about a Cat Blog for all inquiries. This is it. 🙂
Hey gals, on this topic of Shanks, what happened to our gentlemen on here. They are sure quiet on this topic. Wonder why. I can hear them going uuuurrrrrrgggggghhhhh just the thought his one !!!!!!!! 🙂
LMAO…poor Shanks, all the guys are probably hiding lol
Right, but if I know Harry, Jay and Glen they will jump in here later when they read these posts. Harry may be at the Cat rescue tonight or sleeping. Jay is working and Glen may be trying to find words to use to us that can be printed. Just kidding Glen. I know you are one of the good guys.
You were right, Bernie – long night of rescue. Good night – two 7 year old sisters adopted together, three adoptions overall, one return of a cat adopted 3 years ago. But when the adopters leave, and the lights go down, and the employees are sweeping the store, the rescue work isn’t done. Kittens staying for the weekend needed treatment sheets done, records signed off on by the manager, same for the return, then the credit card machine has to be batched out, the contracts and credit card batch filed, the event cages cleaned out… yeah, that’s the glamorous side of rescue. Some busy nights I don’t even actually touch a cat.
Now, about Little Miss Shanks – did I ever tell you about my childhood friend Paul’s big black female cat named Brenda?
Well Harry, you made my day. I just knew you would have had a say in this if you were available.
No you never told us of ” did I ever tell you about my childhood friend Paul’s big black female cat named Brenda?”
I bet that is a story to hear. We will be waiting.
Harry – That glamour side of the rescue really wants me to join up 🙂
I can see your not in the PR job description business.
And not getting to touch a kitten. 🙁
Lynn, I really fell sorry for Shanks. Gonna give him/her a complex.
Am I going to say anything – NO WAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was out out of town on a work related “road trip”and came to this a bit late.
I guess on this subject, to introduce some high culture into the discussion, maybe Shanks should just quote the famous cartoon sailor;
“I yam what I yam” 😉
Bernie – back then, no one neutered their cats. Brenda was about two, before my dad saw her and said, “you know, Brenda’s a boy?” Poor guy went the next 15 years as a Boy Named Brenda.
Jay – that IS the glamorous side of rescue. I left out the part where one of the cats pooped all over himself, and Rachel had to clean it up.
Glen – what’s this have to do with potatoes?
“Glen – what’s this have to do with potatoes?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHBt9mHq-5c
Shanks could say; Stop guessing, I am what I am.
When I was in my early 20’s a friend found an abandoned cat and knew I would take it so she brought it over to my parents house for me to stop by an pick up. Beautiful kitty with silk like long black hair. My Grammie Susie was still alive then and lived with my parents so she flipped the cat over and told me it was definitely a male, so I named him Sanchez. I never had a reason to double check her determination as she had always been right when determining the sex of my cat Princesses kittens.
Well after having Sanchez a few months, “he” went into heat. I was SO glad that I had kept the now “her” as an indoor cat as it meant no babies. A couple of months later I had her spayed.
The whole thing became a running joke that we would tease Grammie Susie with.
lol Aww!
We’ve been quiet from my household, I know, aside from me posting everything but the kitchen sink on FB and social networking I haven’t commented much here. Cookie’s last month was all-consuming and after I caught up on sleep I had to catch up on work, which includes posting things all the time, everywhere.
I do appreciate all your good wishes and cards, and as always I enjoy reading about everyone else’s kitties. We are doing okay…it is two weeks today. I just don’t want to keep saying, “…when Cookie was here…”, which all of you would say is fine, but it’s not always good for me. But I do note that the little unintentional sale I’m having tomorrow at my shop (Judi, the owner, just asked me if I could cover the Saturday hours and I decided to make the most of it) will be the first time I’ve done a special sale there without Cookie. I’ll probably be busy with customers, Judi’s and mine, and I really am taking my room apart, it’s long overdue, even Cookie disapproved of how I maintained it. Considering taking Jelly Bean with me just for moral support.
I’ll be thinking about you tomorrow, Bernadette. I know it won’t be the same as it was with Cookie, but I’m sure Jelly Bean would be happy to provide a little extra emotional support.
I’m not so sure the Bean is as devoted to me and watchful–and won’t chance to run out the door for an adventure, or leap to high places where the rather breakables are, but I may take him down for a while. But I think today will be okay.
Bernadette how did the sale go. Did you take JB or change to another of the sweethearts. I know you took one, but I was still wondering which you took. Also how much vintage glass was lost, if any. I bet not 1 piece.
Those kits of yours are well trained to behave in public.
Hope all went really well.
Bernie, no one went with me, and all that glass was one of the reasons.
Tomorrow is a new beginning for you and you will be in my thoughts. You are a very strong and loving woman and I know you will do well. Take Jelly Bean. See how it works out. That could become a very interesting tale.
I hope the sale is a blowout!!!
I did not know this existed, but it’s pretty amazing. Dio and Malmsteen cover Aerosmith’s Dream On http://youtu.be/tZamjrXCDvo
Wow! What a find! This is incredible! Eat your heart out, Steven Tyler!
Right? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always loved the Steven Tyler version, but Dio put so much feeling and soul into everything he did. Sure, he didn’t hit the high notes, but after hearing this, we have to ask, did the song really even NEED those high notes? I think not. If I were a member of Aerosmith, I probably wouldn’t even have given Dio permission to cover my song. I mean, he’s DIO! He almost HAS to do it better! lol
I like Steven Tyler, too, but this is just amazing.
Awe my dear friends. You guys are going to have little Torties and special other kitties needing therapy. Then of course, I would like the name of their therapist. My friends are going to drive me there with the music. I admit I am trying to like some of it, oh but, geez oh geeezzz!!!!!!!
I will make sure I try to keep it from Steeler. It could end up being her kind of music then I would have to move out!!!!!:-P
I’m SURE this would be Steeler music. If it’s true that there are stereotypical leanings toward certain interests or behaviors
NO NO NO, Steeler is not going to get hooked on the music. You have no idea of all the stunts she gets into without my having to listen to music with her.
You folks are sure a fun lot.
My muted tortie, Rheu, is a new experience for me. She very early established boundries. She will come and cuddle up to me, but on her terms. When asleep, I acquire a small warm bundle under my arm who stays with me till I wake, but as soon as I wake, she hops down from the bed. She comes when I call, but I am not to grab her or “wool” her. She also talks back and argues when told “cats down!” I rescued her from Richmond Animal League, and she very quickly subjugated my 10 year old dog, who considers her his baby. An active, playful, stern at times like an outraged owl, dear little 9 pound exotic muted tortie.
Rheu sounds like a real sweetie, Marjorie. The arguing back is definitely a tortie trait!
She sounds adorable! Do you have pictures?
Marjorie Rheu sounds like she is all Tortie. Love the arguing back at you. I get that all the time and I don’t believe I have won an argument yet. Hey welcome also to CC. Glad to have you. 🙂
Hey Tortie family. I am one of those folks that like to remember happy events and remind others (in advance, of course). On April 10, 2011 a group of us met in Falls Church, VA for a very special book signing, Ingrid’s Buckley Story. Well now, we have an anniversary of sorts coming up on April 10, 2012. We met great new friends and kittens and had a wonderful time. A group of Tortie/kitties owners enjoying the absolutely wonderful occasion and what great friendships were formed. To this day, we are still a real family. Geez it would be great if some day a get together could be help where more of us could just meet and greet and build on our friendships.
Just reminding my compadres of an upcoming anniversary. Oh, yes, chocolates are fine. 🙂
Chocolate covered… mice? No wonder Frankie was on the computer.
Harry that is the best laugh I have had in a long time. On second thought no chocolate. But what a memory. How did Frankie get on the computer??? I think Jay has a little juvenile delinquent on his hands. 🙂
It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year. What an amazing even that was, on so many levels.
Who knows what the next year will bring.
Frankie says he will share his chocolate stuffed mouse ( I used chocolate in the trap).
Does this count ? 🙂
Oh good grief Harry, Look what you have started now? Do you know how often I may hear this?
My chocolates are in serious trouble now. Won’t know what’s in them.
Steeler says, she will get you all for ruining her Mom’s bestest treat. :-P)
Wow those are some pretty good mousers you have. Well I have to admit they are smart kittens. They let you catch them and then they are smart enough to open the cabinet and have mousse tail.
I just wonder if it was Frankie or a combination of kittens. I bet there was a tug of war for the mouse. Somehow one of the good little “mousers” managed to get 1/2 a mouse. I just wonder where is that missing half. It may not have gotten eaten!!!!! Check the bed, then the rest of the house. That missing half mouse may not have been eaten.
Jay it is never dull at your house. With the Critters outside and the 4 kittens inside, makes for a fun story time.
What a way to have to catch mice. You have to set the trap, then one of the smarter kits know how to open the cabinet and have a snack. Gotta love the ingenuity. Who ever said cats are not smart. I think they are extremely imaginative and really self reliant, in addition to be very wise.
I imagine Stir just looked at them and said “damn kids” making a fuss over a little mouse. She
would not waste her energy on that.
Love these stories. First you kill, then they find and “well your really not sure are you?” You need kitty mousewash. 🙂 For sure.
It’s pretty bad that when you have 4 cat’s I have to put out mouse traps.
I put on of those live catch traps but the mouse chewed his way out.
Then I put out a kill trap and caught one under my stove cabinet this morning.
Tnite when I came home the cabinet door was open (don’t know how) and the trap with a HALF a mouse was by the cat food dish. I suspect Frankie wanted dessert.
LOL…Love this story!
Hey now, where are all our folks here? I know you are out there, but what the heck are you all hiding from?
I promise not to give you grief about not being here, but if I have to, well hey, get some news on here. Pretty please. 🙂
See I can be nice.
I was sittting in my computer chair watching Punky and Frankie box each other.
Then Pumpkin came in at my feet and looked up at me. Gave him scratches. Then Frankie came in and Punky jumped onto the bed.
After a while I when to turn the lights out and Punky jumed off the bed and ran ino Frankie who was in the hallway.
21 lbs of orange hit him and totally bowled him over.
Frankie got up looking like “someone get the licence of that truck that hit me”
If Steeler gets any more vocal, I will need to have earplugs. She is getting move vocal as she gets older, oops, I mean younger.
She vocalizes to herself in any room she goes to. Now remember she has run of the house. So I hear her from the second floor. She sits up there at the window and talks. At what, I don’t know.
Maybe the birds.
Kasey has a habit of “singing” when she is by herself, too.
Then sometimes, ifI leave her upstairs when I go to the basement, this normally fierce tortie does the lost kitten squeak until I come and get her.
Singing would be an improvement over the way Steeler vocalizes. I wish you could hear her video. That is definitely not a meow and not even close to singing.
Sometimes the sounds she makes, gets me running to see if she is stuck or hurt, only to see her sitting or standing and looking at me with that look of “What” at me.
I never get a kitten squeak, if I do, then I know to be worried, really worried.
You’ve all probably seen yesterday’s post on Talking Cats. The comments people left about their talking cats are a lot of fun.
Yes I did and I immediately knew where Steeler fit into that one. Talk about a vocal Tortie.
She talks even when no one is near her. Her vocal range is unheard of and really doesn’t sound much like any Tortie or cat around. 🙂 Then she is not like any cat around here. 🙂
I know, what the heck is Bernie doing up at this ungodly hour. When I get the answer to that one I will let you all know. Just kidding. Have an app’t.
Well it’s time to update you all on Steeler. I have been busy trying to pack some items for donation to charities. Well I being in a carton and place it in the sunroom. Turn around and, well yep, there’s Steeler in the box. So I get another carton and place it in living room doorway and come with an armload of items and, yep, there she is. This time I took the camera and took a pic of her. She was lying down and looking through the handle holes watching me. I have a feeling that packing away and donating items for charities is going to take a while. Maybe I will just start putting the items in large trash bags. Cartons in this house belong a a Tortie, that can move faster from one box to another better than I.
Steeler thinks it’s a game. She is lucky she is so loved, or she might get packed away. 🙂 Just kidding.
She sure is loved.
By you and all of us.
Hi folks. I normally don’t post url’s but this one is kind of special for Valentines Day. Look for the Tortie. Happy Valentine’s Day to all.
BERNIE AND JAY HAVE SENT you all a special Valentine wish!
To view your Valentine ecard, just click the link below:
http://www.americangreetings.com/ecards/view.pd?i=560647314&m=2323&rr=y&source=ag999
With Best Wishes for a Wonderful Valentine’s Day,
Your Friends at AmericanGreetings.com
That’s adorable! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Jay, Bernie!
Thanks Ingrid.
Thanks Ingrid. It was a good day for me. Full of surprise.
Steeler is so jealous anymore. If the phone rings, she is trying to pull it away from me. I know our Torties are possessive, but she is beginning to become obsessed with cutting that phone away from me. I have to give her treats to let me talk and she doesn’t care who may be on the other end of the line.
I can’t wait for football season to come back. At least then she watches TV. She also like animal planet, but it is not on often enough. 🙂 🙂
“Stir gave him a look that said – go ahead try it. No Growl or hiss – just that look.
He left the room real fast.”
Yes, that sounds like Kasey, too.
I wrote once before that Taz and Morgan, who play together were scuffling about 4 feet away from where the “Warrior Queen” was at rest (flopped like a beached sea mammal).
She just started to get up when she heard them.
No growl, no hissing.
Both cats vanished, immediately.
You know you’ve arrived in the tortie world when just the threat of you getting up scatters them and empties the room 😉
I have bee enjoying the antics of Punky and Frankie.
They will fight and wrestle each other every night.
Frankie will crouch down and wiggle his butt before ambushing Punky.
Well the other niight I saw him crouch down and prepare to jump on Punky as he walded from the kitchen to the hallway.
But in mid leap he saw it was Stir.
He stopped and I swear I heard ” Oh Sh** !!!!!! ” from him.
Stir gave him a look that said – go ahead try it. No Growl or hiss – just that look.
He left the room real fast.
Some easy music for Sunday Morning
Peaches Music ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVgMzKMgNxw
It’s been an interesting morning. For a few moments, we had 7 cats in our bedroom. The door’s been open for about 90 minutes, and Brooke and May have settled on the bed, Piper on the cat bed under the window (asleep) and Sabrina, after hiding under the bed for a while, is now under a chair, fairly relaxed. She and Brooke have even blinked at each other a few times. Everyone’s liberally coated with Bully Remedy, and I’m wishing I had some Safe Space for Sabrina. This is the MOST progress we’ve ever made. Now, if I can just put Brooke out before things go south.
Sounds like the start of a wonderful day.
Harry, I would stay in bed if I were you. See how long the babies will be “good” kittens. Just think of it as a Purrrfect day to just read in bed. Of course Julie might tell you to get your b—
up and get busy on a “honey do” list.
A roomful of kittens. Sounds really good to me. 🙂
Ha! Julie was the one still in bed. Sabrina came out of hiding, and she and Brooke stayed away from each other. Eventually, I took Brooke out, but they were together about 2 1/2 hours today…
Hey good for Julie. Her “honey do list” overtook your, “awe just let me rest here”. Today is a good day to just stay in bed and read. At least here it is. Steeler is purring like an engine and I am looking around for an elf to help me with this darn tv remote again. Never have a child around when I need one. 🙂
Brooke and Sabrina in the same room is good progress.
For 2 1/2 hours is excellent.
Wow, that’s amazing! Your situation is truly a testament to how well the essences work when they’re combined with listening to what cats need and behavior modification.
I would not want to put anything on Stir or Bernie would on Steeler to change their personality. Thank makes them who they are.
But Tabatha wants to buy a 55 gallon drum to put on Stir.
It’s not just modification of the cats, it’s also modification of how tense I am when they’re together. We just had Brooke in again, she stalked Piper, ran after her, Piper ran and climbed up on the desk, hissed… but Brooke followed at a walk, tail up, looking like “why won’t you play with me”… and I realized that, although she’s playing aggressively, Brooke is trying to play.
Progress continues.
That’s an excellent point, Harry. Cats are so sensitive, and they pick up on our emotions, sometimes even before we even realize that we’re tense. That’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned, and am still learning, with Allegra. I don’t know if you saw Jackson’s most recent Spirit Essences update: he mentions that in both cases last week, he used Stress Stopper for the cats whenever there was a tense situation, but he also used it for the humans. As he said, “if we’re not projecting a calm and grounded energy, then how could we possibly expect the cats to?”
Isn’t i crazy how that stuff works? At first I called it crazy voodoo mumbo jumbo. Until I tried it and actually found out it works!
I know, I know… but it’s EFFECTIVE crazy voodoo mumbo jumbo, so who are we to question!! 🙂
This is interesting…not every chick can pull off the bald thing. You’ll probably like this Ingrid. http://youtu.be/PuNxpykpRo0
I do like this – she has a beautiful voice. The bald look – not so much, but she can pull it off.
Not just anyone can pull of bald lol. But she kind of has that manly Grace Jones thing going on. It’s even rarer for someone to “Prettily” pull off bald. I’ve seen it twice in my life. Sinead O’connor when she was young, and my friend Maryann after chemo
Hey that was quite a welcome home from Peaches. I still think she is being picked on. 🙂
LOL Berns, you’re always for Peaches! But if you ever came to my house Monkey wouldn’t leave you alone, you’d never see SHanks, and Peaches would come out hissing and spitting lol
Hey my Wild Child, I think maybe you need to talk to Jay. His Stirfry is “ferocious”, however, with me, she is a gentle tortie. This makes Jay ask “what did you so to my Stirfry”. Recently when I visited, Stirfry started following me around, just to be near. So I think maybe I have a little touch of kitten tude and they sense it.
However, I wish Steeler would cooperate a lot more. But, hey, she gives me a run for the money.
Her food bill and sitter costs are higher than my living cost. Go figure. 🙂
Not to mention litter costs.
Stir loves you – must be cause you know Torties.
But lets some innocent person come in and Jaguar Cat comes out.
lol if I could find someone Peaches liked like that I would beg them to take her home. I love her and I’ve had her over ten years, but she’s not happy and she doesn’t really like me very much most of the time. She’s NEVER liked me much. When me and my ex were together she was very much HIS cat. When I moved I left her with him. He had her for a couple weeks and decided he didn’t want the responsibility, and brought her back to me. Peaches has never really been “My Cat” although I love her and do my best, she doesn’t actually like me, and she must be miserable. poor thing
I bet Bernie would have Peaches purrring and wanting belly rubs within hours.
If you can pet Steeler anything is possible
No if I can pet Stirfry and not have her hiss, then Peaches, Monkey and Shanks would be mellow in no time. But, hey, Lynn is a good mommy to her little ones. I would just recommend she duck when monkey goes to jump on the wall, and duck fast. 🙂
Hey Berns, don’t you think you’re missing an 11 year old Tuxie in your life?
Hey my wild child. I talked to Steeler about that. Her reaction was similar to mine. No, Hell no. We have a crowded playpen as it is. She would not stand for it and I can’t be running to KFC every day for chicken. So I will just enjoy all the other kittens here.
You know Peaches is a doll. You just can’t accept that she shows, even tho she is not a Tortie, she has the attitude of one. I, also, like to keep the scarring of claws on my down to 1 Tortie. 🙂
Today’s metal http://youtu.be/rsuTuAVJrF8 This is Jay and Monkey music, so beware
Today’s funnies; Monkey fell into the closet trying to chase Shanks onto the wall and apparently she’s too chubby and/or uncoordinated to climb out like he does, because I had to rescue her. Then there was Shanks sitting in the window trying to catch snowflakes…and a not funny but sweet moment, featuring PEACHES beleive it or not!
When I came home the dry food bowl just had a few crumbs in it (I’m not a bad mom I swear, when I left it was low but not empty) so, I filled it, Monkey and Shanks immediately stuck their faces in it, but Peaches was already headed to it , they just beat her there. knowing how much she hates them, I dumped a little in SHank’s wet food bowl just for her. she ate what she wanted, then came and head-butted me and let me pet her for almost 5 minutes! That’s big for Princess Peach! lol!
Frankie loves his new collar but we tried to put one on Punky. Ni luck.
Guess they don’t make any bigger break away collars for a plus size orange cat.
Glen, do you have this problem with Taz ?
I can’t classify this one as either Monkey or Peaches. She’s got quite a vocal range, plus, not a lot of chicks can sucessfully rock the bald look
http://youtu.be/PuNxpykpRo0
Loved the video and her voice. Not into the bald look on a girl though.
Jay and Monkey music http://youtu.be/A2POM3ORnb4
This is a crazy awesome chick cover of ” In the air of the night”
Oops, forgot the link… http://youtu.be/3lkklZgVPVo
Hi there, I was just wondering if anyone could help me out. I’m having an issue with my baby girl Two Face. She’s been meowing a lot lately, and I’m not entirely sure why. She can’t possibly be lonely when she has her sister Batman and a new roomate (a fellow cat lover) home with her all day. When she begins to meow for no reason I usually try to give her food, a snack, some fresh water, but nothing seems to work. My mister bought her a new toy, he’s been taking her out to our balcony with him when he goes out to play little games on his phone, and he’s been showering her with all sorts of affection. Batman is the same as she’s always been, quiet and really mellow, but Two Face is just turning into a pain in the butt. At first we thought it was because we stopped allowing her to sleep in our room with us due to the fact that she was fighting with her sister over who would lay with the mister, but all she wanted to do was cry. My brother-in-law thinks it may have something to do with our new corn snakes, that she might feel scared or threatened seeing as they have all of her daddy’s attention, but that couldn’t possibly be the case could it?
I think she’s just being a tortie, Elizabeth :-). Unless you feel that her meow sounds like she’s in distress, it’s most likely just an expression of her personality. Torties tend to be more vocal than other cats.
Well, that’d make sense haha. She seems like she’s getting louder with age then. ^_^
Oops, messed up link..this one. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=341518885878513&set=a.337297056300696.84186.233372140026522&type=3&theater
Done!
Done!! 🙂
Thanks! But man, that metal kid is cute. No way Monkey’s beating her, especially since I voted for her myself. But, just to even it out I voted for everyone lol. I’d love to win the t-shirt, but those guys work their butts off, and all of the admins are people I actually talk to and like, so I’m more than happy to help. Thanks for helping too!
Hey guys….I know I’m not going to win because there’s this kid who’s beyond adorable, Heck, I even “liked” the kid myself, but Monkey’s in a contest, so go like her please everyone?
http://www.facebook.com/Heavy.Metal.Hitman?ref=ts
The godfather of Shock Rock, Alice Cooper….Billion Dollar Babies http://youtu.be/qVT3ZKSTaD8
I love Alice Cooper! Saw him live once a few years ago – fabulous show!
Glen, you can order Peacemaker online at http://www.spiritessences.com/products/Peacemaker.html. Use code CONSCIOUSCAT for a 10% discount.
Thanks 🙂
Bad mom moment. I noticed that Shanks wasn’t around this morning, and wondered why, I went looking and found him in the closet where he must have been for about 8 hours A horrible moment for me, but apparently he wasnt bothered at all. He didn’t go to the food or water bowl, he just waited and meowed in his normal way whiie I did the normal wet food thing, then immediately after he ate he went to the litterbox. He’s such a little….I WOULD say trouper, but he’s better than that, Shanks is a soldier
He probably thought it was a new adventure! Those are the moments when we age about 10 years.
If Taz gets locked in somewhere and everything is just fine, he won’t say anything for hours.
Makes him tough to find, sometimes.
Lol….I guess it’s because he a little black fellow, so hard to see in the dark, I’ll be way more careful to look for him now. But with those chocolate brown eyes. Even they don’t really glow like normal cat’s eyes either. And Glen, he never made a peep. He was apparently just chilling in there.
Jay, these guys are a brand new up and coming band. VERY good… http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/
A buddy at work has a problem with his indoor cats fighting and I thought I’d see if I could get some recommendations on sent products that might help.
I know it has been covered before.
He is a mature guy, on his own and has his own house, so the environment is calm and controlled. He likes them, takes good care of them and pays attention to them
His two are from different litters, each about 6 years old.
The size of the cats and the behavior is something like my Taz and Morgan.
The one is a 20 pound, normally laid back neutered orange male.
The other is an 8 pound spayed female (not a tortie, though she might get honorary mention).
They are from different litters but have been together a while.
Normally they get along but unlike Taz & Morgan, when they fight, they get pretty “involved”; he had to separate them yesterday.
Then later on, they settled down quite nicely together.
I have suggested giving each one treats periodically when they are together, sort of like “when we all get together, nice things happen”.
They don’t fight every day but I am looking for recommendations on something that might calm things down.
Treats for both cats when things are relaxed are definitely a good idea.
I recommend a combination of “play therapy” and Peacemaker. The outbursts are probably caused by excess energy, and structured play sessions are going to help both cats burn that off. Ten to fifteen minutes, twice a day. Tell your friend to use fishing pole type toys (one in each hand if need be to keep them playing “together” but not fighting for the toy).
If your friend is open to flower essences, I recommend Peacemaker. It can be given in their water, although I prefer to rub it on their fur twice a day.
Ingrid
Thanks. I will pass all that info on to him tomorrow.
he is afraid that the big orange guy will hurt the smaller female and wants to prevent severe conflict.
I have know him for years now, he supervises our drilling operation, with 30 years drilling experience but he likes his cats, another stereotype busted 😉
Love it. Cat guys rock! 🙂
The challenge may be to get Peacemaker in Canada, but it sounds like a great product.
LOL right? Not that many guys like cats, I’m with you, cat guys rock!
A long time back, I remember commenting about “guys being proud of their Torties, or kittens.
I made the assumption that most people that enjoyed the company of felines, was females. Wow have you guys “busted” me on that old error in judgement. It is good to hear your friend like his kittens.
You keep busting those “stereotypes” one kitten at a time. Hopefully a few more Torties. 🙂
I would think that a Tortie would be a GUYS Cat. Tought, mean and don’t take no SH*t off anyone or anything !!!!!!!!
But I am biased 🙂
Nice to see other guys in here, but Glen, Harry ,Paul and myself are definately outnumbered on here.
“I would think that a Tortie would be a GUYS Cat. Tought, mean and don’t take no SH*t off anyone or anything !!!!!!!!”
Yeah, that would be Kasey!
Flower Essences are wonderful to use for both cats and dogs as well as us humans. There is a great farm in New Hampshire, “Green Hope Farm”. You can visit the website at
http://www.greenhopeessences.com. They have a section for animal wellness but you can use any from the others areas too. I also rub essences on ‘Gemini’s’ fur and it calms her right down. She is a tortitude princess also. Good luck.
I used Green Hope Essences for a while for Allegra, Reita, it’s a wonderful line. I’ve had better success with the Spirit Essence line, though. Spirit Essences uses essences from around the world in their products, including some from Green Hope Farm.
Even thought t is dog related and not cat, Budweiser had commercial for Rescue Dogs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhWl6NsNmFI
I saw that and madly loved it!
I think I saw a Tortie commercial
A Cheetah (almost as mean as a Tortie)
http://www.thesuperbowlupdates.com/2012/cheetah-official-big-game-ad-for-hyundai-veloster-turbo/260/
Not even close.
Bernie came to my house to watch the Superbowl Commercials (No Tortie teams playing so who cares who wins).
Last night we went to a Chinese Buffet Restaurant and had Stirfry. (felt weird).
On the way home stopped at Walmart and saw some friends behind the Deli and got a collar with a bell for Frankie. He took to it real well. It was off him this morning though. We also bought a mouse that squeeks and a bird that chirps. Frankie loved them until Stir found out how much fun they are. Then she took both and would not share (typical Tortie).
It was about time Frankie found out about the Tortie Creed: All I see is mine.
Help! Ok, I got two baby torties back in July of last year, Midna and Navi, and so far they have been very spoiled and loved on, now however Navi suddenly wants nothing to do with me. It used to be that she wouldn’t go to anyone but me and now in the past two weeks shell go to everyone in the house but me. I don’t know what I did to make her mad but I’m worried our bond is suffering, what can I do? Will she forgive whatever it is I’ve done? I want my baby back in my lap 🙁
Sarah, how old are Midna and Navi now (love the names!)? If you got them as babies in July, I’m guessing they’re right around 6 or 7 months old, which, in kitten years, makes it their teenage phase. Was Navi a lap cat until about two weeks ago? Will she play with you, but just doesn’t want to cuddle?
I love thier names too! 😀 they were nine weeks old when I got them in July, thier first birthday is May 21st, and she wasn’t really a lap cat but she’d come up and love on me and sleep next to me and wouldn’t let anyone else really love on her, now she wont come near me, won’t come in my room at night and I know she misses me, when she goes up to my mom to be pet she’ll flip back – I hold her like a baby and rub her tummy and she falls asleep while I hold her – and she gets frustrated with my mom because she doesn’t hold her the way she wants to be held, I’ve thought that it could be the static in the air, I accidentally shocked her ears a few times a couple of weeks ago but have taken precautions since, or the fact I leave for the weekend for the past few weekends, my boyfriends mom is not doing well, but I make sure I tell them goodbye and living on them when I walk through the door is my first priority so they know I missed them and Midna doesn’t mind it or at least she’s not mad at me, she has been coming up to me more though and that could be making Navi mad but they’re sisters and have never really been apart. Navi will play with me still but it seems like she wants nothing else from me
It sounds like there’s been a lot of change in your life for the past few weeks, so the disruption in their routine may be what has been causing the changes in Navi. She may just be supersensitive to change. I would make sure that you play a lot with her when you are home to reinforce the bond that you two share. If you’re open to using flower essences, I recommend Spirit Essences Changing Times for both of them until things settle back into more of a routine for you.
Test? I totally missed that
Actually, you passed. Everybody else just THINKS they saw a comment from me that said “test.” 🙂
LMAO…bah, I DID see that, does that mean you’re retracting my pass?
uh uh 🙂
Ok this is just for having a little smile. You folks know me, ever so often something will strike my fancy and Ingrid did it again today.
How many of you took Ingrid’s “test”. If you did, did you pass? I just love her test, she always forgets to actually enter the “test” results. 🙂
Gosh darn it, I thought I deleted the “test” comment. Guess I flunked my own test 😉
That’s great. It gets counted as another post. 🙂
I read back aways about Shanks liking butter. Hey Lynn, just for the record, Steeler stole me whipped cream, but it was “lite”. Now she could use the butter for a little more weight.
Bernie, turns out Monkey’s the butter thief, not Shanks lol
And it actually explains quite a lot. Like why she continues to be such a chunk when she eats the same as the other two and they’re both perfectly healthy
You should TOTALY start leaving butter out..It works for me! lol
Damn, do I have to study for another Drug Test ?
Thank god it’s a weekend. And A Super Bowl weekend at that. Looking forward to good commercials. Hopefully budweiser clydesdales
Hey Ingrid,
Those gremlins didn’t take your # of posts down, did it? I mean Lynn has been trying to push those numbers for us for all she’s worth.
There is only one other comment to say and this is about this wonderful blog.
There has been great happiness found here and shared, the greatest sadness and the Torties family surrounded with love and support and also some of the worst music I have heard , but like a family, it grows on you. So if anyone asks about this blog, I think the definition should be one very large family. I know of what I speak here. I personally have come to you and been surrounded with love and support to give me strength. Not once have I ever been disappointed.
Well, the deleted comments lowered the number of posts a bit, but I have faith in all of you that you’ll bring it back up in no time!
Thanks for your beautiful words about this blog, Bernie. And LOL to the “worst music you ever heard!”
LMAO on the “Worst music” Berns, and as far as the lost posts, I’m glad because some of them were mine in melt-down mode, glad to see them gone. I pride myself on not losing it often, I would just as soon the evidence of my occasional meltdowns be gone lol;
“worst music you ever heard!” ???
I know your not talking about METAL !!!!!!
Right? That’s what I’m sayin’! lol
Bernadette you know we all are here for you. The loss of Cookie is the loss of a child to you. I am sending you hugs and let you know, I am here for you as you were for me. Day or night. I am so proud of you and the unconditional love you give to all.
Okay, guys, I think we’re back on track. I had to delete a bunch of comments that were left between 1/27 and 1/31, but I think now it’s posting in chronological order again. Fingers and paws crossed.
So, I’ve been blaming this on shanks because he’s the new guy and it wasn’t happening until he got his jumping skills…..But I just busted Monkey red handed licking my butter! Could be a big reason she’s such a chub even though she’s on a grain free diet! I guess now she is literally a “Butterball”
Poor little Shanks – the youngest always gets blamed for everything! Yup, butter supplementation would certainly explain why Monkey is not losing weight!
LMAO….I’ve known I had a “butter thief” for a while because anytime I left it out I would see “Lick marks” I just assumed it was the new kid lol
I can’t stop laughing about this, why the heck would she keep obsessively licking butter? Every time I leave it out to soften, then look at the stick there’s this cat tongue shaped Dip out of the middle of it lol
Ingrid…I can’t find the post where you said the site was having problems with chronological order, but yeah, that’s what I was trying to tell you last week, and the reason for my massive string of random posts on the same subject that should have been contained in one thread lol
I should have checked it out then. I tend to reply to comments from behind my super-secret administrator panel and not directly on the post, so until I looked at the actual post this morning, I didn’t realize what was happening!
LMAO…love the super-secret admin panel
Does that go with the Cone of Silence ?
That depends, do you own the super secret decoder ring? I comes in a box of Cap’n Crunch
There seems to be an issue with comments not showing up in chronological order. My web guy is going to look into this after the weekend. It looks like e-mail notifications are arriving in the correct order. Bear with me – he’ll get this figured out and fixed.
lol…okay, found the aformentioned post that is now currently DIRECTLY below the one I couldn’t find before lol
We all lost a cat today. RIP Cookie, and be sure you won’t be forgotten.
Oh man Rachel, you too? I’m so sorry
Lynn, I think Rachel meant that because Cookie was one of our own, we all lost a tortie today.
Der I read those as two posts. Didn’t realize both were for Cookie. I’m so sorry. But she’ll be waiting at the rainbow bridge
🙂
Lynn
So true Rachel, we all lost a wonderful Tortie today.
The world has one fewer tortie cats today. Cookie is with the angels.
I am sorry to hear that, these things are never easy.
Bernadette I am so sorry to hear this. You can be sure she is with the angels. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you. God Bless all.
My heart hurts for you.
Oh, Bernadette, I’m so sorry. I guess, just like a cat, when she pulled through this last time I stopped worrying about the future. I’m glad that, like a cat, you were able to live in the moment these past few weeks and just enjoy her presence. How are Kelly and Mewsette taking it?
So very to hear about Cookie. But you made her last days easy on her and she gave you many wonderful years. She will wait for you at the bridge along with all our others.
A wonderful Tortie (and without the attitude) All our kits will mourn her passing.
Jay
I am so very sorry for your loss Bernadette. She will be waiting for you at the bridge, young and spry and ready to play.
If you need someone to listen, let me know and I will send you my email address.
Oh! I’m so sorry Bernadette…..I know how that is, and my heart is with you
Glen, just scroll down the page until you see a white floor. That’s the video. If you can’t get there I will talk to Jay to get it to you.
The difficulty is that I scroll down and don’t see anything at all like that.
I am not familiar with facebook and I am not sure what I should be seeing but I see some information but nothing like a white floor.
ok I’ll have Jay send the video. I don’t knowhow to do that. He took the video.
Hi folks.
I am going to post a picture of Steeler on FB shortly. As most of you guys know I call her a kleptomaniac. Well just a short while ago I decided to eat something. Cheese, crackers with some whipped cream on the side for dipping. I can hear you all going ugh. But hey it is good. Anyway, I had to go get my coffee and when I returned someone was lapping up my whipped cream.
Talk about not trusting a Tortie. She has never wanted whipped cream before. She does now.
Cheese, crackers and whipped cream? Really, Bernie? It does sound like the perfect kitty snack, that’s for sure. Allegra is a little cheese addict.
Allegra should have been closer. Steeler won’t eat the cheese. Hey that was my dinner, not a kitty snack. Steeler just swiped my whipped cream. Gotta love these Torties. 🙂
Hey gang,
Jay posted a video of Steeler meowing at us. It’s how she sounds. Really different. If you would like to hear her to to http://www. facebook.com/bernie.tracy She has a very strange meow. No regular cat sound. Glen it may sound like Kasey. I am not sure.
You may have to scroll down a little, but enjoy. 🙂
I would love to hear that but am not on facebook, I’m kind of backward that way. 😉
I think Jay has my email address, perhaps if he does, he could send it to me.
I will ask him tonight. I know he knows a lot about emails. I am curious to see if Steeler sounds like Kasey. No normal cat meowing.
Thanks
Kasey does not make a “normal” cat sound.
Her vocabulary is quite extensive though, sounds including;
Maaa
A rusty swing set series of sounds
Growl
Hiss
Very loud hiss
Wail
Cougar snarl
Squeaks
Chirps
…and, the silent meow
Steeler does’t hiss. But she does a lot of chattering. I think if you typed in on the url bar you can go straight to my FB. I don’t have it locked. Give it a try.
I like the “Just try to take my Duckie” Steeler photo but I can’t see anything that looks like a video there.
She look a lot like Kasey except for the white on the jaw.
I love it!