Last updated November 2025
In August of 2009, I wrote a post titled Tortitude: The Unique Personality of Tortoiseshell Cats. The post describes some of the unique traits that many of these beautifully colored cats seem to share: 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.
The post still gets hundreds of views every single day, and has generated more than 14,500 comments to date. It has become more than just a source of information for cat lovers looking for more about cats with these distinct orange, tan and black colors: it has become a place for people to share stories about the torties in their lives.
As someone who has been owned by four torties at this point, not counting my first office cat at the animal hospital I managed, I’ve become somewhat of an expert on these special cats. And while Virginia, Amber, Buckley, Ruby and Allegra all had or have some degree of tortitude, their personalities were and are also very different. This appears to be true for the torties whose guardians have shared their stories here on the site as well.
What is a tortoiseshell cat?
Contrary to what some people think, tortoiseshell cats are not a breed. They are named for their distinctive coloring – a combination of patches of black, brown, amber, red, cinnamon and chocolate. The size of the patches can range from a speckled pattern to large splotches of color. Tortoiseshell cats have have very few or no white markings, as opposed to calicos, who are tri-colored cats with larger areas of white fur. Sometimes, the colors are more muted. These torties are known as dilute torties. Very dark torties with a lot of black in their fur are often affectionately called “chocolate torties.” Occasionally, the typical tortoiseshell colors are also seen in a tabby (striped) pattern; these cats are referred to as “torbies.” Tortoiseshell is not a breed, the distinct markings appear in many different breeds.
The unique genetics of tortoiseshell cats
In addition to their unique personalities, torties also have unique genetics. A cat’s main color is determined by a primary coat color gene. The tortoiseshell pattern is determined by two co-dominant genes, in other words, two genes that are expressed at the same time and affect each other. In a bi-colored tortie, these two genes comingle to produce the characteristic brindled tortoiseshell pattern. In dilute torties, these genes are modified by a recessive gene, which results in softer coat colors. Black becomes grey, orange becomes cream.
The vast majority of tortoiseshell cats are female, because two X chromosomes are required to produce black, gold and orange coloring. Male cats only have one X and one Y chromosome, so technically it’s genetically almost impossible for a male to inherit the tortoiseshell coloring. A male tortoiseshell has an extra X chromosome, making it an XXY. According to a study by the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri, only 1 in 3000 tortoiseshell cats is male.
A tortoiseshell cat may have a distinct tabby pattern on one of its colors. This pattern is driven by yet another gene. Tabby cats, also referred to as tiger cats, are cats with a coat featuring a pattern of distinctive stripes, lines, dots or swirling patterns. These cats are known as torbies, and, like all tortoiseshell cats, are predominantly female.
Tortoiseshell Cat Folklore
Tortoiseshell cats have a mythical folklore in many cultures, much of it centered around the rare male tortoiseshell. The Celts considered it a good omen if a male tortoiseshell stayed in their home. English folklore has it that warts could be healed if rubbed by the tail of a male tortoiseshell’s tail during the month of May. Japanese fishermen believed that male tortoiseshells protected their ships from storms and ghosts. A Khmer legend in South East Asia has it that the first tortoiseshell arose from the menstrual blood of a goddess born of a lotus flower.
Torties are thought to bring good luck in many cultures. They are sometimes referred to as the money cat.
Tortoiseshell cats were believed to have psychic abilities and see into the future. It is said that those who dream of a tortoiseshell cat will be lucky in love.
Are tortoiseshell cats really different from other cats?
Speaking from personal experience, it appears that no two tortoiseshell cats display the exact same amount of tortitude. Virginia had definitely read the book on tortitude. The first time I met her, during my interview for the hospital manager position, she greeted me by walking over to me, looking up at me, and then digging her claws into my legs to use them as a scratching post. Amber was the “anti-tortie” – she was a gentle, calm, almost shy cat, but she was a bit headstrong. Buckley’s tortitude manifested in her exuberance. She loved everything and everybody. Allegra is highly sensitive to the world around her, and often quick to react to something that she perceives as a threat. Ruby is the most high-spirited cat I’ve ever had. Of all my cats, she is the one with the highest dose of tortitude.
The experts weigh in on tortitude
I decided to check with some other experts to get their thoughts on tortitude. “I often tell clients that torties are the redheads of the cat world,” says feline veterinarian Dr. Fern Slack, who owns Uniquely Cats Veterinary Center in Boulder, CO. “They are beautiful, but short-tempered and quick to wrath. Of course they are not all like that, any more than every redhead is – but I always approach a tortie with a tad more circumspection than any other coat color.” While Dr. Slack takes a cautious approach to her tortie patients, she adds “I’ve always thought that the price you pay in tortitude, you get back tenfold in love.”
“There is no evidence that there is a link between color gene and personality,” says the late Dr. Elizabeth Colleran, a former president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and former owner of two cat hospitals. “It is true though, that almost all tortoiseshell cats are females, and some people perceive females as being more headstrong than male cats. However, the real determination of personality is naturally a combination of genetics and environment.”
Jackson Galaxy has worked with his share of tortoiseshell cats in his decades of helping cats with behavioral challenges. “In my experience, tortitude is a very real thing,” says Jackson. “And now that there is a a study correlating coat pattern with behavior, our characterizations have been validated. Of course, anyone who knows me, knows I try not to talk about cats in generalities.” Jackson feels that torties and calicos are more energetically sensitive. “I think that’s part of the reason why their personalities are always on full display,” he says. “I’ve always said that cats are energetic sponges. Torties, however, just seem to soak up more, which is why they’ve got so much to say.”
Tortoiseshell cats are special
Those of us who love torties embrace their unique personalities. It is important to remember that every cat, regardless of coat color, is an individual. Not every tortie will exhibit the traits attributed to these beautifully colored cats, but the majority seem to live up to their reputation. As far as I’m concerned, tortitude is real. And while torties may, at times, seem like they have split personalities, going from purring away in your lap to suddenly racing around the house like a crazy kitten, those of us who love them wouldn’t want them any other way.
I have a tortoiseshell cat, I named her Rose because of the cinnamon color streaks that run from her eyes. I never knew when I got her just how much she would mean to me. But I knew the moment I met her I knew she was going to be with me for the rest of her life. She is now 12 years old and the joy of my life. We’ve been through many ups and downs together she’s always been by my side. She tells me all about her day and I tell her about my day everyday. She’s very emotional and we have lots of great conversations. I call her love ninja because she’s so sneaky but she also likes to be firm. She likes to think most the time that she’s my mother than other times that she’s still a baby kitten. She’s so cute and adorable and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Rose sounds wonderful, Adrienne!
I was chosen by a tortie 5 years ago by a little kitten. I named her Arya after GOT. Name totally suits her. She’s a thief of anything shiny speaks her cat mind. Has a big attitude and usually gets whatever she wants. Lol bi love this cat she’s very protective and possessive of me. Been through hell with me. I can honestly say she is the best cat I have ever known and definitely the most intelligent cat
We have two Torties. Charlie B. is a dilute and Paisley is a standard. I adopted Paisley (who is 4) and she owns me. My husband says that she is my familiar. She sleeps only on my side of the bed and my lap is her bed of choice during TV time.
Charlie B. is a kitten. She is about 8 months old and is full of it. She talks a lot, gets into everything and anything that can be thrown is a toy. She falls asleep wherever she can balance herself (my shoulder, laundry baskets, across my face at night).
Both of my cats trill. Paisley does almost exclusively. I don’t think Paisley full-on meowed until she was over a year old and she still doesn’t very often. Since we got Charlie at 4 months old, I think she does it because Paisley does. The shelter where we got them said that Paisley’s mama probably talked to her kitties that way so that’s how she learned to communicate. It’s super cute!
They both sound adorable, Amy, and I think Paisley is a great name for a tortie!
Love my torte ‘Gerdie’. She’s beautiful, is a hunter, always lets me know exactly what she wants and when I walk my 2 dogs around the block each day she comes with us. She has long bushy tail which is always down and almost touching the ground. Now her brother – a ginger – has a tail which is always up – like a little flag pole with just a little curl at the tip.
Before I had these two cats I’d never noticed that not all cats hold their tails in about the same way/position. Anyone know anything about cat tail positions?
Cats communicate with their tails, and different positions indicate different moods, ranging from happy to aggressive. This article has a chart that explains some of the positions: https://ingridking.com/2012/03/19/feline-body-language/
We are about to rescue a “tortie” and after reading this I was wondering if we should be weary about the fact that we have an older black cat who just lost her partner of 7 years (laid back Maine Coon) and we also have an almost 2 year old child. Should we be concerned?? Any feedback would be appreciated
It really depends on the personality of the tortie you’re about to adopt, JJ. Your best bet is to introduce your new tortie slowly and gradually to your resident cat, here’s how: https://ingridking.com/2011/08/15/cat-to-cat-introductions/ I wouldn’t leave your 2-year-old unsupervised with either of the cats. This is a good article about cats and children: http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/cats-and-children-10-things-every-parent-should-know/
I hope these articles help!
Awesome Ingrid. Thank you for all the helpful information!
Well I rescued a tortie a few years back and I was so afraid incase my black cat didnt accept her. Coco (my black kitty) is soooo possessive over me. Sleeps with me, follows me everywhere, basically owns me lol But after a month or so of having my tortie fifi, the two of them became friends! Coco still rules the roost but it works!
I recently adopted a tortie from the local humane society. I’ve named her Luna. She had been there for several months, they were more than hesitant to take her out of her enclosure for me to visit, and she bit me with little warning about 20 minutes into my visit with her in her enclosure. She would only leave the enclosure is the safety of a small fish-shaped cat house. Never one to shy from a challenge, I took her with me that day. They said some type of cat house was a must.
She lives in my penthouse office suites, where I spend about 15 hours a day/6 days a week. She very much interacts on her terms. She will sit right next to me on my desk while I am working, she will sit on the back of my reading chair while I am reading – however, she doesn’t want to be held. I can relate to Sal’s comment about no absentminded petting.
She is curious of visitors and usually quite cordial, but will run and hide under the armoire when the stimulation becomes too much. She greets me at the door each morning with a hello in her slight voice and will follow me like a puppy for the first few minutes each day.
She’s never once stepped foot in the cathouse I bought her that first day, preferring a sunny spot in the wingback or stretched out on the carpet.
I’m very grateful to have found her, tortitude and all.
I just read your article and had to laugh at how spot on it is! I had no idea the personality traits weds so consistent in this breed. My husband and I adopted 2 kittens from the humane society 13 years ago, one was a little tortie with the greenest eyes I have ever seen. She was in an enclosure with her littermate- a big black bruiser boy twice her size- with her in the corner looking cowed. I picked her on the spot. Boy was I fooled- Willow is still on the small side but rules us all, including Taz, the orange and white boy kitty we adopted with her. He’s over twice her size but bows to her tortitude. She bathes him and keeps his ears clean- he was pyrone to ear infections but once she started cleaning them they stopped! She’s a bit of a priss and no female has left our house without her attempting to give their hair a bath.She talks all the time, including announcing herself before she jumps or pounces- it is impossible for her to sneak up on anything or one, she always gives herself away. She adores belly rubs and chin scratches, especially, although if she gets overstimulated she will nip. No one is allowed to read in our house without her ending up in the middle of the paper, book, magazine, etc. And if you try to work on the computer she appears instantly to get between the keyboard and screen. She also loves to nest on shelves. I keep waiting for her energy or jumping distance to wane with age but she shows no sign of slowing down yet. We absolutely adore both of our cats, but I think we will always have a tortie in our home.
Willow definitely sounds like she’s got the book on tortitude memorized, Rachel!
Years ago I was shopping in the garden center of a local Lowes Home Improvement store. I heard pitiful cries and a small dark creature darting around some pallets.
I quickly swooped down and caught a tiny kitten. The kitten cried and tried to escape. I was told by a store clerk that two kittens had been rescued the prior week.
I took the kitten to the veteratian the next day. She weighed slightly over one pound.
He said he thought she was about six weeks old.
I named her Lola. She is a beautiful chocolate tortoiseshell.
I was concerned that she would be wild and not bond with me . I Encouraged her to sleep with me. She has definitely bonded.
She likes to be petted when she is tired. Otherwise, if I pet her more than once or twice, she will bite. Not hard enough to draw blood but enough to let me know to stop.
She seldom meows, instead she will scratch at my bedroom door to be let in or out. When she is hungry, she jumps up on my chair and puts her paw on my shoulder.
She hides when I have visitors. Her favorite place to hide is the large drawer in my desk.
Lola is a lucky girl that you rescued her!
Oh,what a pretty girl,who found a forever home. I love happy endings!!!
My tortie is called Sacha she is 12 and a half years old ,is very vocal loves a fuss and purrs a lot and at times darts around the house ,she loves catnip sprayed onto her cardboard scratch box ,she is a chocolate tortoieshell does not like strangers
I’m partial to chocolate torties, Sarah, since Allegra is one, too. 🙂
My little tortie is called Fifi and she is the cutest little creature. I have had her from she was a few weeks old as she was found under a shed 🙁 She is very shy and timid with most people except me. She is also very possessive over her mama and anytime I have visitors at home she will sit and stare very intimidatingly at my visitors as if to say “leave now” haha She can be very vocal with me especially late at night when I am trying to sleep… But I am totally in love with my adorable little girl 🙂
Fifi sounds adorable, Jill!
So happy to find your site.
I recently was adopted by a feral (maybe stray) “chocolate tortie” Thank you for helping me identify her coloring and the fact that she is probably a female as I thought she was male (don’t know why).
I have never cared for a cat and recently lost my female German Shepherd so was opposed to getting attached to another animal.
Right now, she is very stand offish and runs and hides whenever I open the door. Also, she is hard to get a glimpse of because she sneaks onto my patio to eat and sleep (one day I found her sleeping in a shelf I had covered up for the winter so I made a cozy bed for her in there).
I believe she is an older cat. I’m guessing 6-8 years old.
She has been coming and going for about 2 weeks now.
I wake up early (about 4am) and yesterday when I woke up, I heard her little meow outside my door. So I looked out the curtain and she was just sitting there looking up at me. So I put a little food in a dish and slowly/quietly sat it outside the door. She sat there and ate every bit then spent some time cleaning herself then disappeared again.
This morning when I woke up (about 4am), I didn’t hear her little meow after I went through my morning routine so I looked out my curtain and there she was, just sitting there looking up at me!
So it took her 1 day to figure out that breakfast is a 4am or whenever she hears me moving around inside…haha. Her bed is under my patio right against my living room wall so that’s the only way that I know she is sleeping in her bed (because she obviously hears me when I get up).
Anyway, so I guess I’ve been adopted so I figure it’s time to name her.
I have been torn between Kit Kat (chocolate tortie), and B&B (because I am her Bed and Breakfast).
I was kind of leaning toward Kit Kat because I can still call her Kitty which may be the only name she has ever known.
In the end, I decided on Kit Kat BNB….”Kitty BB” for short.
I hope I can gain her trust but if not, that’s ok. At least I know she is feed well and has a nice place to sleep.
Thanks again for your site that let me know that it’s ok for her to stay wild if that’s what she “is”.
It sounds to me like you’re making great strides in getting Kit Kat to trust you, Sue. It can take time for feral cats to start trusting humans, and some never will completely, but I have a feeling it won’t be long before she’ll come inside.
Sue, you are doing great with Kit Kat. I have taken in 2 very feral cats and a few outdoor barn cats. A wonderful feeling when you see them every day waiting for food or attention. Like Ingrid said, it’s just a matter of time before she becomes an indoor kitty.
I am lucky to have a feral tortie who decided I was worth adopting. After 2 years of feeding her outside my door, she allowed me to pet her. Within a year, she decided to come into my house to sit with me. Now she practically lives with my husband and I. She even uses a litterbox. Georgia is a real peach and we adore her:)
Thank you so much for all of the encouragement! I know she is very sweet and wants so much to be wanted but is so scared.
I know she has had a rough life so I am going to give her all the time and space she needs.
I also know she is very smart. The other day I seen her laying up high on a tall shelf I have outside. So cold! So I put a nice cushion covered with a fluffy towel up there and the next day I found her all snuggled in and sleeping on it. Somehow she knows I put it there just for her.
She still sleeping in her small covered shelf/bed at night.
As each day goes by, I see her staying close to her new home more and more. Now when I walk by she perks up and looks at me but doesn’t run! I think that’s a major accomplishment!!
But I think the fresh fish treats I made for her may be helping too…haha. I am not above bribery!
Thanks again for your wonderful stories! It gives me hope that she will may even want to play one day. I would love to see her enjoy her life instead of living in fear.
ps…I love that…Georgia “peach” :). Too cute!
my little Annie does not like to be picked up. I have tried to have her sit on my lap, but she jumps off. Annie will snuggle against me in bed for a while but when she has her fill of petting she will jump off and sleep In the hall. she always likes to nudge or sit on my feet. Whenever I sit down she is right there to be petted. this is the first time I’ve ever had a cat that did not sit on my lap to be groomed. sometimes I think she doesn’t like me, but her loud purr proves me wrong.
Jeanne I presently have 7 cats. Each is different but all love me. My 2 Torties love to get on my lap but the others come and go. My Tuxie Frankie rarely will and my former feral house panther Eclipse never does. But all show off for me and love attention. Be glad Annie snuggles with you as that is her way. You have been picked by her to be Family.
…my wife & i have a tortie named by the adult kids as tiger. see adopted me as her master. a very distant cat to everyone but me, and sometimes i have doubts about me being her master cuz out of the blue she’ll attack me too…lol. if you walk down the hall, she will hollar for me to fill her half empty bowl of food, then sniff it and continue on her way. weirdest cat, but we love her…never a dull moment with her around. tortitude describes her to a ‘t”.
i have a tortie cat, she is the best, most beautiful, most sweetest cat you will ever meet, ive had her since i was 9 im now 16 and i know its weird how im only 16 writing a comment but i was so intrigged
with my tortie (her names montana) with all the markings, i knew she was something
special. when I first got her i adopted her along with her brother who soon passed away with having a heart attack. he
was 11 months old. beautiful cat, montana and him were so close it always warmed my heart. for a year straight Montana slept with me. shes the reason i love cats so much. she never hissed, bite, scratch, anything you can think of she never done anything harmful
at all to me, all she does is love me and i love her so much back. she is everything you want in a cat. everything. she does not have one flaw. whats weird is that she was the smallest of the litter. all her brothers and sisters were grey with white and here’s Montana with a tortie coating. when i got Montana she was pretty old. she was about 4 or 5 months maybe 3 but she was not a baby kitten. anyways i didnt know there
was such a thing as tortidue or whatever because my baby montana sure as heck doesnt have that. now she is only like that with me, my sister, and my mom. with strangers she is such a scaredy cat she is SO terrifed of strangers. i dont know why. i dont know if i mentioned this but she and the mom with the litter was found in bushes so maybe thats why shes such a scaredy cat? it honestly took me another 3/4 months for her to open and to trust me, again i was so young so i was rough so i dont blame her taking awhile for her to trust me. anyways like i said my baby Montana is definitely an angel from above. she does have teritoral tendinces which i find adorable she literally chased another cat out of our back yard, that happened once. by the way I apologize for my comment i guess to me all over the place with grammer erros. but anyways im upset that I may not find another cat like montana, i keep saying this but its true. she is calm, gentle, loving, sweet, laidback, trustworthy, everything you want. i honestly dont know how i got so lucky. i love her with all of my heart and i cant imagine my life without her.
as i wrote that and this she is laying next to me, oh and she does not have weird mood swings at all, shes only the same thing which is calm and sweet etc, shes been like that for as long as i could remember. by the way i have no idea what breed the father was. her mother was grey and white kinda like the fur of a main coon (i dont know if I spelled that right) her tail was very fluffy, soft, so weird montana was a shorthair so i dont know where she got her coating?
Montana sounds like a very special girl, Kaley. This site has an in depth explanation of how cats get their colors and patterns: http://messybeast.com/colour-charts.htm
We found our tortoise cat “Sookie” in our yard surrounded by pigeons one day. She was so tiny, could fit in one hand. We believe she is the result of the feral cats in our neighborhood. I took her to the vet to be checked out, and the vet asked if I ever had a tortoise cat before, they are known to be very different she said, feisty and a bit crazy at times. Sookie is now 2 1/2 years old, and my husband, who prefers a dog, says that Sookie is as good as a dog. Sookie greets us at the door and then runs wild through the house because she is so happy. Sookie feels that I am her Mama, as I was the first person to pick her up and love her, and she was so young, maybe 2-3 weeks old only. So she definitely prefers me over my husband, will only let ME pick her up, and gives me “love bites” (I think) a little too much. But my big problem is this; all of a sudden, without warning, she will start hissing and growling at me (only me). It gets so bad I will carry an empty wrapping paper roll to bat her away from me in fear that she will attack me. Friends tell me that it is because of her background, that she was born from feral cats. But I have had her since shortly after she was born, when I found her. PLEASE help me! I love Sookie so much, but I can’t tolerate her “bad moods”. What is wrong with her???
If you haven’t already done so, take Sookie to your vet for a thorough exam, Heather. Sometimes, sudden changes in behavior can indicate a health issue. What you’re describing sounds like redirected aggression, here’s more information: https://ingridking.com/2012/03/12/redirected-aggression-when-good-cats-attack/ I don’t think it has anything to do with her feral background.
And using the roll will reinforce distance between you two vet first and then maybe environmental changes. I agree that this is redirected frustrations over health, or social change.
I agree with the other commentators. I had a Siamese who was very loving and affectionate but would have sudden bursts of anger and would attack me while I was petting her. Turned out that she had an abscessed tooth and when I inadvertently touched her face a certain way, I would hurt her. Poor thing 🙁 Get your girl checked out.
very nice !! just had a peekaboo under tortie. though i would relate something to you and readers. at my last residence (flat) i befriended a young tortie and she became my bud, and had many a treat @ my place, and she visited me regularly. when I had to move she was very explorative among my packed boxes and sensed “changes”; one day after perspiring heavily doing some packing, & throwing my smelly shirt on the floor to shower I was quite moved to see this little feline virtually bathe herself in my shirt and roll, slide and litterally ïdentify” herself with my shirt and odours. not sure what to make of it, but as i said I was moved and touched by her doings.It was hard to leave her, and i still go back to visit her. I told her owner if i was a thief, she would lose one cat. My episode with “Avery” impressed me with the Tortie!! At my study she would climb up and nudge my face with hers as I leaned over my book. Very affectionate. A good friend. 🙂 Rgds Ingy to you. Greg.
Your little friend sounds like a sweetheart, Gregory.
One more unusual thing I’ve noticed about my tortie, and it’s what made me want to research her genetics: her tail is unusually expressive and flexible, almost like a monkey’s.
After 50 years of constant cat ownership, I went to the humane society for another. I was greeted by a tortie sticking both front paws out of the cage as if to beckon me over, and since she picked me, I adopted her. I renamed her Hula. The pound had named her Bonkers, and I soon saw why. I had to go back and get another kitten for her to play with because she needed so much attention! Now Hula and my tabby Princess Di groom each other and play all the time, even now that they’re adults.
Hula does things I’ve never seen a cat do. She chases dogs away from our property! She uses her paws to point at things or request things. She has woken me up by: sitting upright on my chest while purring, looking intently at me because she doesn’t like the chunks in her Walmart brand cat food; by putting her paw on my nose while I’m asleep (not batting or scratching, just a gentle “tap” to the tip of my nose.
She hates being picked up but barely leaves my side when I’m alone. She’s a talker, greeting me and having conversations with melodious meows.
She’s the best, most interesting pet I’ve ever had, and I’m sad she came spayed. I appreciate her constantly.
Hula sounds wonderful, Lissa.
Love the insight provided on this site. We had our beautiful 3 year old ‘Julie’ taken from us this past week when she was hit by a careless driver. She passed away in our caress within minutes of being struck 🙁
Her personality fits so well with your descriptions. As an adult male I never thought a cat could affect me in such a way. She was both independent and loving, giving more than she took, as you noted.
As my wise beyond his years 23 year old son said (Julie was his prior to him moving away), for every door that closes on one animal, a window opens for another. I am definitely going to seek out another just like her, as I will never forget those precious yellow eyes during the day, and her intelligent black eyes by night.
I’m so sorry about Julie, Randy. I hope another tortie will find her way into your heart and home to help ease the pain of having lost Julie so suddenly.
Sorry for your loss, I hope your next cat is kept indoors to prevent another tragedy.
Hey, Randy – while there’ll b no replacement, there is something u can do about ur loss: go get another torty, fro an animal shelter, + enjoy tht kitty(or 2 – littrmates), & w/ full intention of thus sending ur love -> Julie… consider tht Julie is now in a diff dimension, still aware of u/urs, still loving u/urs, + tht she enjoys divine thrill out of so affecting u/urs tht u chose 2 grow u/urs experience w/ Julie further on into th universe. ‘Tis th season of lights we can see in their eyes.
What a beautiful comment.We carry our pets memories in our hearts where they will live forever
Funny…I have a tortitude cat by the name of Ducky (in reality Ducky has me). She is a funny cat, I work at a boarding school where she and my other cat (Black-Spartacus) are followed around. Ducky will go to class with some kids. She follows me all over campus when I am on my rounds. She taught Spartacus how to hunt. My boss and Ducky got into a power-struggle over being let out. She loves to hide the Christmas decorations. If you are reading and she wants attention-she will get between you and the book. She talks all the time has figured out how to open doors and taught that to Spartacus. If the door is locked she stands on her hind legs and puts her front paws on the lock. If you are sick she will sit on top of you and purr…she also enjoys sticking her paw in your mouth at 4 in the morning because (in my thoughts) she finds it funny when I wake up sputtering on cat hair.
This is the first time reading that Torti cats existed and had unique personalities. Ducky is very animated and she will hold a grudge, where Spartacus loves humans like a dog and is too laid back to hold one. Both Ducky and Spartacus were born in May (4 yrs old) But I get them two months apart from two different shelters. My house turned into WWE wrestling for several weeks. Now Ducky sticks up for Spartacus who gets bullied by the dogs on campus.
The cats are super odd but so loving when they want to be.
Amber
Ducky sure sounds like she’s read the book on tortitude, Amber! I’m still laughing at her sticking her paw in your mouth at 4am!
Our family adooted our first tortie today. When we walked into the shelter, she immediately started meowing and rubbing up against the front of her cage. We took her out and she warmed up to our two young boys right away. I asked our 6 year old if he wanted to see any other cats he said “No mommy. She’s the one for us.” We’re all looking forward to a great life with our sweet Molly.
Sounds like Molly picked you! Congratulations on your new family member.
I have enjoyed reading about Torties here. We just adopted a 8wk old and her name is Molly. She is by far the sweetest kitten ever. Excited to see how our life goes forward.
Cool Mzzterry: You will want to cuddle her 99% of the time, and brain her that last percent. I have had many, many cats over my life. This little torti is one impetuous munchkin. Whatever you get into, she will want to get into. She will be in the way every hour she is awake, wanting love and attention. And you will willingly give it because of her sweet disposition. I have three cats all together, and she has brought the other two together, and they love her, you can see it. She plays so gently with my wife, and myself, and the other cats, it is marvelous. May she live her fullest of years. Enjoy!
Our tortie is now 16 years old. Her name is Reeses and she has as much of a tortitude today as she did as a kitten. When she is not asleep, she meow’s and purrs like crazy. Oh, and talk about crazy! When she gets in her moods, she growls like a wild animal, runs through the house and jumps up, bouncing off the wall with her paws. When her eyes get really big, watch out, she will attack
I love that Reeses still has plenty of tortitude at her age, Bonnie.
I have a tortie named Calypso, I was her human the first day she saw me. I was at a local pet store buying bird food; she was up for adoption and roaming around the store. As I saw her hiding from other customers she decided to run up to me talking the whole time, and purring almost uncontrollably. I have had her almost 2 years and she still greets me at the door every day after work with lots of talking, purring, headbutts, and requests for belly rubs. Don’t get me wrong she can be a little sassy pants when she wants to be, but she’s more about the love :o)
Calypso clearly picked you, Lindsay. 🙂
At my house, we have two torties named Lulu and Pink. My mother adopted Lulu for me when I was in second grade, and Lulu was just a kitten. Pink is a much newer addition to our family, as we adopted her from a shelter about a year ago as an adult cat. These cats… could NOT be more different.
Lulu is incredibly gentle and sweet, her purr so soft you can barely hear it. However, her meow is a whole other story. She’s very vocal and isn’t afraid to call me out if I’ve forgotten to pay attention to her. I think one of my favorite things about her (there’s so many!) is how she always acts so superior all the time. She owns me and she knows it.
Aaand then there’s Pink. I love her, I really do, but she’s probably the most ill-mannered cat I’ve ever met. She was so sweet when we met her at the shelter, but when we brought her home, she began to be very mean. She doesn’t like it when you try to pet her, batting your hand away or even biting you. She growls and hisses a lot. She also can never seem to get along with Lulu, even though they’ve lived with each other for quite some time now. And don’t even try to pick her up. Not if you value your life, anyway.
However, Pink does have some redeeming qualities. Every once in a blue moon, she’ll be super-sugar-sweet and sit down on your lap and give you all the head nudges. She’ll even lick you. Which I find to be beyond strange, as I’ve never encountered a cat who likes to lick her humans before.
Both of them are fairly possessive of their humans, getting jealous of each other when one is getting more affection than the other, and even getting jealous of the stray cats who stop by our yard that we can’t help but love. And for some unknown reason, they both adore my dad even though he isn’t too keen on cats in the household.
Needless to say, I absolutely love both of them. Even if Pink is a bit of a brat.
I love that you’re accepting Pink for who she is, Olivia. It does sound like she’s exhibiting petting aggression, this article may help: https://ingridking.com/2012/02/08/petting-aggression-in-cats-biting-the-hand-that-loves/
I have a cute lil torty! Her name is jade.. she is a little holy terror. Running all around the house and bites when she plays. My legs, hands and feet were the scratching post for awhile. Its gotten lots calmer now that she is getting older. I got jade at 8 weeks old. I have been reading up on tortoise shells. Fits description to a t! She is getting vocal now. But her and my favorite bonding moment is when she is ready for a nap. She lays up on my neck and kneads and nurses on my one particular sleep shirt. The only one she will nurse on. Its so cute. Jade is by far the greatest cat I have ever had.
Jade sounds wonderful, Cindy.
Cindy, Jade sounds wonderful and like a typical Tortie – “a little holy terror”. Full of energy and looking for a way to show how much she loves you. Ingrid wrote an article on playing with your hands – “Play Aggression in Cats: Biting the Hand that Teases”
https://ingridking.com/2012/02/23/play-aggression-in-cats-biting-the-hand-that-teases/
Hope this helps on training her.
Love reading about other people currently being owned by a tortie. Before we got our (now 1 year old) girl, I honestly wouldn’t have believed this whole “tortitude” thing. But man is it accurate!
Our resident tortie likes to play fetch (by ‘likes’ I mean she will demand it of you at any hour of the day, and you WILL play, or you will never know peace again), she loves having lengthy belly rubs which is something I’ve never found with a cat before and she possessively keeps an eye on your whereabouts throughout the day. We are not allowed to pick her up at all. Doesn’t matter how much she loves you (or tolerates, we’re not sure yet which it is), picking up is a no go. If we ever HAVE to move her, we prepare ourselves to be shunned for a little while.
We learnt very quickly that affection, pats and belly rubs are always very much on her terms. She will not allow herself to be patted if she doesn’t want to be, there’s no point trying, it just won’t happen. When she does want to be affectionate though? Get ready, because she will be all over you. Which is an honour to be sure.
She’s a gorgeous and very unusual cat, we see so many traits that we haven’t seen in any other cat before. She’s extremely loving in her own unique way, as long as you respect her moods and boundaries.
Your tortie has definitely read the book on tortitude, Tara! 🙂
Callie Loves a good belly rub as well. Strange? But she loves to be picked up, as well, and it takes a while to get her to have enough fetch, and the toy goes into our hands. All around good temperament here.
I am owned bt a torbie and love it.
I’m glad you recognize that you are owned by your torbie, and not the other way around, Wolfie! 😉
Hi! We are adopting a lynx point munchkin male kitten and a tortie bobtail kitten next week. I have owned one medium haired small white cat before named Ellie who I absolutely adored. She was the friendliest, sweetest, smartest cat I ever met. She has passed on now and my 4yr old daughter has been dying for a pet. The little tortie girl seemed friendly and playful when we met her but I have to admit we didn’t do our research before and I am little nervous now! She will be 10weeks when we bring her home. I love animals and we are very excited but I’m a little concerned the tortie will not be a good match for my daughter. Our daughter is very animal friendly and gentle- she is used to being around pets. However I’m nervous the tortie will have too much of a “tude” and end up scratching and scaring her. Any experience with torties and younger kids? We aren’t ones to re-home animals and want to make sure this will be a good match for everyone (including the little tortie)! They sound very entertaining and fun and I know each kitty is different!
Every tortie is an individual, and while torties share common traits, there are plenty of torties that come in on the low end of the tortitude spectrum, Sara. Since you’re adopting the two kittens together, they will have plenty of opportunity to play with each other and discharge their energy that way. Make sure you provide plenty of environmental enrichment and stimulation for the kittens, in addition to you and your daughter spending time with them. Here’s a good article on cats and children: http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/cats-and-children-10-things-every-parent-should-know/ I hope this helps!
Thank you for the reply Ingrid! Yes, this does help and gives me some confidence moving forward. We are all very excited for our new additions. We will prepare our home the best we can and if our tortie does end up with a tortitude to the extreme we will appreciate her for what she is!
Sara, if I may interject
Callie our tortie displays that playful tide and I always expect her to explode into tortiedemon kitty
She has never changed in two months
Never bites hard, mischievous, very much, unpredictable definitely but 100% loveable
Dano- Thanks for the comment! This is reassuring. We can certainly deal with playful and mischievous and even welcome it! My main concern is I don’t want my daughter scared of the kitty or vice versa. I am sure this will be a positive experience. PS- We are naming the male munchkin kitten Tarzan and the female tortie bobtail Jane. 🙂 I think her little bobtail gives her even more a wild-girl look!
Love my tortoise shell cat -Koshka. She has the princess tortitude that I love. She rarely gives a real meow, mainly squeeks and chirps which indears her to my heart. She is a rescue and for the life of me I can’t believe someone could give such a beautiful cat away. #lovemytortie
#loveyourhashtag 🙂
Hi everyone. I have 3 different breeds of cats. Kitty, who is 13 years old and is a Tabby. Kaysar, the only boy cat who is mix breed of Siamese/Persian. He is 10 years old and there is Lucy, the torti who is 3 years old. Me and my hubby were not expecting to have a third cat because the other two have been a handful themselves but we went into our local pet store and they were adopting kittens away. I couldn’t help but go over and play with them. I saw tiny Lucy, 5 weeks old, asleep in a blanket away from the other kittens and thought she was so adorable. I went over to her and softly petted her head and she woke up and looked at me with those big bright yellow eyes and was so shy she hide under the cover. One of the adoption workers told me she is very shy and doesn’t see her being adopted. I asked if I can hold her and she said sure. I picked her up in the blanket and cuddled her in my arms like a baby and she poked her head out to look at me and began to purr and play with my fingers a bit. I went home that day with Lucy. She won over my heart. She also won over my other two cats hearts too because they would bath her, sleep and eat together. I learned that Lucy and her siblings were dumped in a dumpster by a park by previous owners and Lucy was the only one who survived the rescue. She is very royal with me but is scared of everyone else including sometimes my husband and family members who have been around her since a kitten. But when its just me and my two other cats around she is very playful, lovable, silly, and rebellious with us. She is a picky eater I’ve noticed over the years. I just love her so much.
What a wonderful adoption story, Jennifer. Lucy sounds like a very special little girl.
A wondeful story how a little Tortie picked her human.
Such a great feeling to save a kitten and have them get their forever home.
Lucky Lucy.
Just adopted a tortie at 8 weeks and she and my 3 yr old Russian blue are not doing well…Tortie Kahlua is taking over everywhere. Sassys nose is out of joint and will play with Kahlua but seems always annoyed….will this ever get better. What can I do to get Sassy happy again
I have tortie Callie, and two other cats with the most diverse personalities you could imagine. Though none of the other two were the only child. In other words, no other cats. That makes a whole lot of difference to any cat, with another cat (especially a tortie) coming to stay. Each, in my case, found their own place in this arrangement. Treat each equally for affection, and slightly favor the blue until they adjust. Watching Jackson Galaxy deal with cats and their tudes, helped me to work within each cats makeup. Hoping to hear good news soon.
Katie, a Tortie seams to naturally think it is the “Head Cat”. Even a young one has that attitude. But as Dano said, treat them both fairly and let Sassy know she has not been left out. I know kittens are fun to play with and Sassy will adjust.
I have a 1 year old female tortie, Sage, who has Tortitude in spades some days! My older bengal boy Xander sniffed her when I brought her home and wandered off. Hes put up with her demanding presence from day dot, without attacking her once. She’s highly affectionate when she chooses, never attacks ones hands when offered a belly rub (in fact she’ll have a nap whilst you do so) and occasionally thinks my face is a wonderful place to sleep. But if shes hungry, or thirsty, wants to go outside or thinks you should just give her some attention shes very very vocal about it. She gives great death stares to people she doesnt know too.
A few nights ago coming home from work the feral dairy cats kittens were in the driveway. Knowing my landlord has been looking for them to get rid of them I scooped up the two I could get hold of and brought them home to rear and rehome.
Sage has since paced the house growling, hissing and being completely antisocial until I’m asleep then she gets on my pillow and purrs her heart out. Dreaming I’m sure about disposing of the kittens and possibly me!
Sage sounds like she’s all tortie, Jo – and she clearly wants nothing to do with those kittens!
A great sweet, feisty, heart-melting, and totally understandable, speech, from another fellow tortie owner.
Hi from New Zealand. My sister has a tortie called Tallulah though I always refer to her as Madam Tallulah because the name seems more appropriate. Tallulah is a cat with attitude and generally does as she pleases. She has many distinctive traits. She loves her comfort. Rather than just sit on the couch she prefers to sit on a cushion on the couch. She always lies next to the heater or fire as close as she can and she now has a bed in the hot water cupboard as she chose to start sleeping in there. She is a very picky eater – usually giving her food a few licks and then preferring to graze cat bickies the rest of the time. She is very sociable and has to be the centre of attention. She can be extremely affectionate to her owners but will hiss and nip anyone who she feels has overstepped her boundaries. She flatly refuses to use the cat door and prefers to jump through the window. Though she has now taken to banging on the front door to be let in! I am not joking about that either, I have witnessed it myself numerous times. Tallulah is a very ‘in-your-face’ cat. She will rub on you and head-butt you and will happily walk all over you until she gets your attention and a pat. Though once she has had enough she will bite or hiss at you if she wants. Whenever I touch or pat her she gets what I call ‘bitey-tail’. This is where her tail begins to move. As the movement becomes faster and more ‘thud-like’ that is a sign that she is annoyed and you better stop or suffer the consequences. Tallulah is about 6 years old and about 5 kilos. So she is a petite little thing but with a huge attitude. She is bossy, volatile, neurotic, sometimes feral and slightly crazy, unpredictable, attention-seeking, difficult, loving, funny, naughty and not your typical cat. Though, as I now know, Tallulah is a typical tortie and that unique attitude she has is just a little too much ‘tortitude’. Thanks for that.
I think Madam Tallulah is a great name for a tortie, Anthony.
I am a first-time cat owner. Annie Thorisdottir came into my life shortly after I bought my very first house. A coworker found her in the bushes at work and brought her in. She immediately felt compelled to come to me. She showed so much affection that I had to save her from being sent to the humane society. And that’s how she came into my life. I took her home and had her fixed that weekend. I found out that she is known as a tortoiseshell cat and have gotten over my disappointment that only 1/3000 torties can be male haha. Regardless, she is very much as you described in this article; super affectionate, contains a non-stop purring motor, greets me at the door, runs away from me with the slightest movement, playful, and smart. She might’ve been trained before I found her because it took no effort to get her to use the litter box. She also beginning to understand what “no claws” and “no bites” and “NO” means. She is beginning to keep her claws in when she plays with my hands. Also, she let’s me inspect her teeth now (so I can brush them in the future). She is definitely kneading a place in my heart. Here, I thought I was a dog person, but Annie Thorisdottir has definitely opened my eyes and heart to her species.
The article and comments were helpful for first-time cat owner like myself. Thanks!
What a great name, Ricky! And I love that you’re planning to brush her teeth. You’re going to be a great first time cat guardian (you’ll eventually realize that nobody owns a cat 😉 !
Hi Ricky, A first time cat owner. Now I can relate to that. Then you found Ingrid’s site here. Well I also was a first time cat owner a few years back. I rescued this cat and had no clue why she looked so different. So my vet said she was a tortoiseshell. I knew nothing about that. So I started a google search and found this site. I am grateful I did. I gathered some truly very good friends here. So much is shared here. Laugher at the antics of our little ones, happiness, and yes terrible sadness when one crosses the bridge. My Steeler had Tortitude on a scale that I learned was major Tortitude. She would shred anyone who reached for her. There were 3 others like her. 1 Stirfry, Jay Davenports, Tortie was the Top Tortie, She could make grown men shiver. then we had Kasey, Glen Bowley’s rescued Tortie,who could take down a grizzly bear if she had to. Those 3 have crossed the rainbow bridge. Then we have Brooke, Harry Shubin’s Tortie. Brooke rules the roost of many fur siblings. She takes no gaff. Now you have to understand these Torties are not the norm, I don’t think so anyway. They were the exceptions, but they gave us all on her a lot to talk about. Your little one will most likely be a surprise at times and never a disappoint. You are now hooked into the world of Torties. You are right about the Males being sterile. Jay Davenport has a rare male tortie, named Diver. He is the most loving, gentle tortie ever. I now have 2 more Torties and they are what I could easily call ‘normal’ if there is a normal for Torties. However, there are times when the Tortitude comes to the surface but it is controlled.
I learned all about Torties from this site. I am sure you will find the folks here are not just Tortie folks, but we have other cats as well. We just happen to love the little ones. Torties are a special kind of cat though.
Awwwwww happy weepy eyes. NICE! Keep em coming
I adopted a tiny tourtie in July. Her name is Tiny Dancer. We had to put our 15 yr old cat to sleep 3 yrs ago. My husband said no more cats. Well when I saw this beautiful little fuzz ball I could not help myself. We both love her. We laugh at her all day long. The last thing at night in bed she makes us laugh. She has the softest silky long coat. I could pet her all day but oh no! She has the attitude! She will let you pet her for a few seconds and then she will shred you! When we come home from work she runs to greet us. Let’s us pet her and she purrs and at the blink of an eye she is chewing you up. She jumps threw the air to attack. She hides around corners waiting to jump on you. She grabs your ankles when you walk up stairs. Every night around 2 am she snuggles up on my neck and gives me a massage and lots of purring! She really is special!
Tiny Dancer sounds wonderful, Jill!
Welcome Jill. Your Tiny Dancer sounds like a delight. The antics she is pulling are not uncommon in a Tortie. They have a tendency to set the guidelines for you. She sounds like she is enjoying having you as her human. Over time she will stop with so many sneak attacks, but don’t bet the farm that she will change a whole lot more.
My jade does the same thing! She flies thru the air to attack… she hangs onto my socks or slippers with her sharp lil kitten claws as I walk to anywhere in the house. She just clings on being dragged from room to room. Lol its so cute.. this morning when my hubby left for work, she stood at the door and meowed! First time she did this. She certainly is a bully when it comes to my other cats I have. Lil tt is 11 yrs old, and spooky is 8. They are very calm and chill cats, and try to get away from jade when she chases them around the house.. jade is a piggy! She eats anything and everything as far as human food is concerned. As I am typing this msg up jade has decided that it us her naptime. She has nuzzled up under my robe and is nursing and kneading on my shirt by my neck. She certainly is the cutest. Oh, and very smart! We did not expect to have 3 cats in our tiny little apartmnt but when my sons cat thira had kittens I couldnt resist. But , jade was born all white, and as each week passed her colors would change. White with grey face and ears, to dark grey n black, and now she is the typical tortoise shell colored cat. Everyone’s stories and post of their cats are awesome. I love reading of how much alike jade is to all the other torties:-)
I’ll just put my thoughts in for the tortietude idea. I had never heard of it before but it sounds a little odd, all the torties I’ve met are very sweet and relaxed. My own cat is a gray muted tortie, Lilly, and she is the most calm cat I’ve had. The only thing you could consider as “tortietude” is the glares she can give off. Her brother (a smoky grey cat) is much more spastic then her even as they turn 4. Considering how my family has two dogs and my cats are indifferent towards them though I’d say in general our cats are relaxed.
Hey Anna. You are so right on. My wife and I got a tortie about a month and a half ago. Sweetest, gentlest, little girl that could ever be imagined. Never bites. Lies on her tummy, and lets you do what you want, patting, rubbing. She has this scary stare though, that makes you feel she’s ready to attack. But never does. The most mischievous little one, I’ve ever had. Gets into everything (I mean EVERYTHING). Double pawed front and rear, with brown eyes, to die for. Thanks for posting!
Your tortie sounds wonderful, Dano – mischief and sweetness, what a wonderful combination.
All torties, just like cats of other colors, are individuals, Anna, as yours demonstrates – although she does have the tortie glare 🙂
Anna, most Torties (especially the dilute one) have a fun playful attitude and talk a lot. But there are a few of us on here that found this blog to find out what was wrong with our cats. I had a special Tortie and her name was Stirfry. She could go from calm to killer in milliseconds. I was told by my Vet that the reason was “she was a Tortie and had Tortitude”. Not knowing what he was talking about, I went to Google and typed Tortitude and found Ingrid. I found out then that a few Torties have it to the extreme. I went to a book signing and met Ingrid, Bernadette, Bernie and Harry. Found out that Stirfry wasn’t alone. Steeler, Kasey and Brooke were her warrior sisters. Fortunately I had the pleasure of meeting Brooke and Steeler. Unfortunately Kasey was in Canada and I don’t have a passport so could not visit. Now Steeler, Kasey and Stir are guarding the Rainbow Bridge. Brooke is going strong.
Hello Ingrid, I have a question for you. I’m currently fostering a litter of four kittens for my county pound. Two are tuxedo boys, one is a bridle tortie, but the last is a mystery to me. She looks tortie, mostly black with a tiny bit of orange, but she has white paws. The vet says she’s not considered calico because there’s not enough white and too much black. But can she be a tortie if she has white paws?
If she has the tortie pattern and just some white, she would be considered a tortie with white. Your vet is right, from your description, she does not sound like a calico. Post her photo on our Facebook page if you’d like!
Just wanted to add my two cents worth, as I’ve recently discovered what a true character our tortoiseshell cat is. From the get-go, let me admit that I’ve never really been a cat person, but somehow I am now that our cat Tsuki has adopted me! Our family had only a single pet, an older black cat named Binx, but he was mostly my wife’s cat. Our two sons kept asking for their own pets, so we got two tortie sisters from a shelter last Christmas for them. Tsuki’s sister, Cinder, sadly vanished a couple months ago, and we’ve now adopted an indoor cat only policy. Now as I’ve said earlier, for whatever reason, Tsuki has decided to adopt me. I simply belong to her in her mind, it seems. I think she’s hilarious how vocal she is. She will talk to me and answer if spoken to. My wife gets annoyed at how loud she is but I find it funny, lol. She loves to jump on my lap at every opportunity, and usually isn’t content to curl up right away, she’d rather walk up my chest to get right in my face and demand attention. She has no regard for what program I may be trying to watch, she’s more important, dangit, and she’ll make sure I know. She can purr for hours it seems, and not dainty and faint, but like a buzzsaw! She’s just shy of a year old now, so she’s still quite young, and she tears around the house playing with any old thing she can find. She thought it a great idea to pull a potato out of the bag, and attack it on the kitchen floor like it was a fat chipmunk. Which leads me to remark on what good hunters she and her sister were before Cinder vanished, and we brought Tsuki indoors. We live in the desert, and there are alot of coyotes here, hope that wasn’t Cinder’s demise. 🙁 Anyways, this was a good read, and I enjoyed reading other people’s comments on these unique animals.
I love that Tsuki turned you into a cat person, Bryan. I’m so sorry about Cinder. I’m glad you’re keeping Tsuki indoors now.
i never considered myself a cat person, until Aug 2014. (i was suffering a deep bout of depression.) when the momma cat from no 3 the avenue brought her only kitten to my back door no 3 the crescent and left her there, and what i didnt know at the time was momma was watching my reactions from my neighbours back wall which is out of my view but momma could see from an angle the reception her baby would receive. i called my 19 year old son from upstairs to see the kitten and he played with her and she (her name is pusspuss) followed him indoors and went off for a sleep for herself, pusspuss is a beautiful tortie with a split cream nose with freckles. i knew nothing about cats so i rang my daughter as she has cats and knows them very well and she straight away supplied food and a cat litter box. And pusspuss has been living here ever since. pusspuss has no love of her mother and will send her on if she enters the back yard. so when she was showing signs of becoming a mother herself mid way through oct i was worried about her reaction to her having her own litter. Well no worrys there. as last weekend pusspuss gave birth by c/section to 4 little kittens. 2 of her kittens were born dead and 2 survivors. she is a very loving & caring mother. and iam looking forward to watching all 3 having fun i just love her and her new arrivals. by the way her 2 kittens are orange in colour with white stripes as it was halloween 1 has been called zippy and the other pumpkin.
I’m glad Pusspuss is well taken care of now, Ann. I hope you’ll consider getting her spayed once she has nursed her kittens.
I live in the desert too, and about a month ago I rescued a starving tortie cat. Was Cinder a dilute torte (pale gray/orange/cream)?
Hello Cora! Was hoping to hear more about your rescued tortie. Seems I perked up to read about yours, and it ended. Thought I had missed the rest. Please go on if you have anything else to add. Love to see a picture of her unique colors.
Oh, I was just replying to Bryan in hopes maybe I’d found his lost cat and by some miracle could connect.
My tortie, Callie, is around 5 years old and we’ve had her since she was a kitten. At first, we had another #1 cat, who required more attention since she was 20 and sickly, and after she died about 3 years ago Callie was obviously pleased to be bumped up to #1 status. As she has aged some, she’s definitely calmer in generally, as opposed to her climbing up curtains, etc., when she was younger.
She and I have a bond, and we love lap time. She will follow me around closely in the mornings until I’m ready to sit down, and she jumps right up. Our favorite time is nap time!
But my problem is this – she can go from being extremely loving with me, purring, maybe even sleeping, but if I start talking to someone on the phone she quickly goes to attack mode! It took me a while to figure out what triggers the attacks – they sometimes occur even when I talk to my husband if she’s in my lap. It’s just the 2 of us, so we’re a relatively quiet household.
I’ve learned to watch for signs if the phone rings or a conversation is going on – wagging tail, concerned eyes, agitation. I will then pick her up and put her off my lap, and have resorted to shutting myself in another room to continue my conversation! Often by the time I try to put her down she’s already ready and claws and bites my arms. Sometimes she goes for my legs and feet when she’s put down.
After she does something like this I try to ignore her, and maybe shut her or myself in another room for a while. The few times she hasn’t attacked I try to love on her and compliment her after getting off the phone. I also have tried to scratch and rub her gently while I’m talking – it may work for a couple of minutes, but usually not long enough.
I feel this is obviously jealousy for the one she loves – I know there’s a fine line between love and hate! But I’m really afraid that when she goes for my face it could be serious. Can anyone help? Does anyone else’s tortie do this? Thanks
It sure sounds like jealousy to me, Peggy, but I’ve never heard of a cat expressing her displeasure with her guardian being on the phone in quite this way – that’s quite extreme as far as behavior goes! It’s definitely not a tortie trait. My best advice for you for now is for you to shut yourself into another room as soon as you answer the phone (or even before) to avoid getting hurt, although that won’t address her becoming aggressive when you talk to your husband. You can try counter-conditioning to gradually get her used to you being on the phone, or talking with your husband, without her feeling threatened, but that’s going to take a lot of patience and being very consistent so you don’t inadvertently reward the undesirable behavior. I would discuss this behavior with your vet if you haven’t already done so, and/or consider working with a feline behaviorist.
Remember this, Peggy: u’r bigger than she is!
I definitely find this to be true! of the 3 kittens I rescued this summer, my dilute tortie Petra is the one with the most attitude. She is not as brave as her siblings, but she likes to play more than the others (and she is the only one that gives me little scratches all over my hands and wrists when she plays.) She is also very vocal whether she is purring loudly, hissing at my dogs or greeting me when I walk in the room. I was just googling to figure out what to call her coloring when I came across this article and it fits her perfectly!
Petra does sound like she’s all tortie, Agatha. 🙂
My little lady came to me two years ago. her name is Annie (little orphan Annie)
my neighbor met me at my door when I returned from vacation and told me he had been feeding my cat while I was away. I had already opened my front door and Annie walked in. I told him I didn’t have a cat and he said “I think you do now!” She is very loving and we think she may have been left when a family moved away because she was not afraid of humans at all and went right upstairs and stayed under the bed for a short time then just started to examine the rest of the house on her own. My previous cat Fergie was with me for 17 years and I swore I would never get another cat because when she passed on I was upset for a long time and didn’t want to have to go through
the loss of another pet like Fergie ever again.
Annie changed my mind. she is very affectionate, but is not a lap cat. she likes to cuddle next to me so she can get petted, or right near my feet, but she is not a lap cat like Fergie. I don’t know if this is normal or not but I love to hear her talk and purr. when she has enough petting she just gets up and walks away. We are into a routine now (two years) and I know it is just her way and I’m her friend even if she wont sit on my lap.
I’m so glad Annie found you, Jeanne. Not all cats will be lap cats, and I love that you’re accepting Annie for who she is.
I found your page when searching if torties had attitude lol. 3 months ago I had to say goodbye to my dilute tortie of 13 years. She was the most special cat and it was so hard losing her. My husband jokes she wasn’t even a real cat but a house elf. We had a very strong bond. Anyway I adopted another dilute tortie (torbie?) With more tiger patterns with the light gray and orange colorings from an animal shelter. She is a year or so old and full of life she likes to nuzzle and cuddle but also has some sass. Then a WEEK later a friend had kittens she needed to adopt out and I saw this dark black, brown and orange baby and knew she needed to join us. She’s just a little baby and so open to everything and everyone. I thought she was calico until I investigated and found she can’t be without white 🙂 I think I am drawn to torties without even knowing it !
I’m sorry about your little house elf, Kristi, but I’m glad you now have not just one, but two new torties in your life. From your description, your one-year-old does sound like a torbie.
Kristi, drawn to Torties. Yes, that is what can and does happen. They are the most unusual and unpredictable cats to have. I have 2 now. I had 1 before name Steeler. Wow what a Tortie. I rescued her after she was tossed away. She became so much more than “just a Tortie”. She taught me what a Tortie can be like. She showed compassion to the sick. Then she showed she was full of Tortitude at a blink of an eye.She did not let anyone touch her except me and later Jay Davenport, who cheated and gave her nip so she was high. She was known to be a cat to be respected at a distance. Now all torties are not as extreme as she was. I now have 2 Torties who have some tortitude. For the most part they are just curious girls, but they can get their danders up quickly. I have a preference to Torties, but I have to admit, I have come to love them all. It seems that after Steeler, I learned a lot about how these little fur balls can give life a whole new meaning. Enjoy you little one, she sounds precious. Thanks for saving those kittens.
Nip is purrfectly acceptable to tame a Tortie. Kept me from getting my hand shredded as Steeler was prone to do.
Catnip may work to calm some cats, but it can also make cats more aggressive. I generally don’t recommend it as a behavior modification tool for that reason.
My fiancé and I just got our first kitty in June, and she’s definitely got a whole lot of tortitude and is a master of that tortie stink eye!
Her name is Ophelia, and I think she’s a dilluted tortie.
She has the bright green eyes, all the patchy orange and amber coloring, but all the spots that would be black or chocolate, are a light silky grey. She’s very beautiful.
We got her from someone who had previously rescued her from a shelter, but they said they hated her personality and how hyper she was, so they almost released her outside without a care!
Luckily we love her neurotic behavior and wouldn’t change it for the world.
Plus, the constant chattering is just so adorable and entertains me because I tend to talk back lol! And who doesn’t get a good laugh out of watching a kitten bolt back and forth around a room?
Ophelia’s one year birthday is actually coming up soon in November, I plan on making her some catnip cat cookies as a special treat:)
I love reading about all of your torties crazy antics! I’m sure plenty of us have similar ones!
Ophelia sounds beautiful, Ashley. Feel free to post her photo on our Facebook page, we’d love to see her!
We have got a dog I mean a tortie called Tiger about 12 years old, she runs the house, insists she is the top cat and has been known to chase dogs off the property..she also sits and watches the dog next door at a safe distance when he barks at her she sneaks off laughing at him being told off by his family, she really is something..came off a farm, so is one tough old girl.
Sounds like Tiger has tortitude and then some, Delia!
She sure is and coming up 14 and as tough as ever, Ingrid.
Hi!! I’m from Argentina. I loved your post.
With my girlfriend we have a tortie called Petrova. She is one and a half years old and is the craziest thing you’ll ever see.
She is the most human-loving cat… it’s incredible. The moment she meets a stranger she will go meet him/her and two seconds later be rubbing against them and even kissing them!! She kisses us a lot.
She loves it madly when you pet her… she’ll start purring like an engine and won’t allow you even one spare hand. She especially enjoys caresses in her belly; she’ll lay on her back like a dog and look at you eagerly.
She also talks non-stop, always tries to communicate and when you answer her she answers back.
Of course, when she feels like playing there’s no stopping her; anything and everything is a toy… including us humans.
She really is the sweetest cat… and a bit neurotic as well 🙂
Sweet and a bit neurotic – what a purrfect description of a tortie, Fede!
Hi, my best friend Sara and her orange tabby stayed with me for a few weeks. She said she thought her cat Rose was pregnant, and it soon became obvious that she was. She stayed with me her whole pregnancy and had the kittens the day after they moved back home. Sara sent me pictures and told me that I cold pick one if I wanted. They were all orange except for one little runty black one. I chose her and said her name would be Jackie. Its been 7 weeks now and it’s become obvious that Miss Jackie is a chocolate tortie. Sara said she is much more outspoken than the others and playful but she is the most attached to her mama and the last one to be weaned. I’ve had cats before but they were indoor outdoor cats. Jackie would need to be indoor only. Is there anything I should know, any tips to better prepare me for my new Tortie girl? Thanks
Chocolate torties are the best! I’m glad you’re planning on keeping your new baby indoors. Here are some tips on keeping indoor cats happy: https://ingridking.com/2014/11/12/keep-indoor-cat-happy/
We had a tortie show up in October 2004…obviously had been someone’s cat because she was declawed on all fours, had been spayed, but was wearing no collar. We had her checked for a micro chip, and she had none. She hung around for a few days and we took her in because obviously winter was coming and she had no means to protect herself from predators or to aid in catching prey since she had been declawed. I named her “Trixie” (think trick-or-treat) due to her black and orange coloration and the fact she showed up during the month of Halloween. She has been with us ever since, and she definitely has tortitude!
She is a dainty little cat but big on personality…she was recently sick and got down to 5.9 pounds but I am happy to report that she is now up to 7.6 and doing great after a course of antibiotics and a steroid. We just got her weaned completely off the steroid this past Sunday and she seems to be doing great for a cat that is somewhere between 12-13 years old. We think she was right around a year old when she first came to us.
She is definitely a unique cat… She is a big time hisser and man can she ever bite since that is her only means of attack…but she doesn’t do this unless provoked, or sometimes she gives “love bites” that wind up hurting a little…LOL We call her the world’s only beatboxing cat…she goes down in the basement and pummels boxes with her little paws, so you just hear “boom, boom, boom” and about the time you think “What is that sound,” you realize what it is… We have several nicknames for her besides “beatboxer”… She is our little “bag lady” because of her obsession with looking in bags, and even licking them… And, we call her the “Hello Kitty Welcome Wagon” because no matter where she is in the house, when someone comes through the front door, she is there for a full-on meet and greet! I also call her “K-Diddy”… It went from kitty, to kitty-diddy, to that…LOL However, you can say, “Teakettle”! and she will come because she thinks you are talking to her… Mind you, she even answers to “Cookie Dough”! My daughter tried calling her that and she came running!!! We must have the silliest cat ever…
She is very feminine and prissy, and always stands with front legs crossed, like a supermodel…such a diva! LOL They are also crossed whenever she’s laying down. So cute! She is very soft spoken and you barely hear her meow or purrrr… You have to actually put your fingers against her throat to know if she is purring because it is too soft to the naked ear. However, in the mornings when she is in the basement and wanting to get up to her food dish that is in the kitchen (also has dry food in the basement but of course wouldn’t be caught dead eating that!), we swear she has a PA system down there that she uses to let us know, “I’m awake, and I want to come upstairs for my canned food”!! LOL It is SO loud…it’s hard to believe that sound comes out of that petite little body! A friend was once over and heard her… I said it was just the cat, and she said, “It sounds like a CHILD”! And, it almost does sound like a baby or small child crying!
She has this funny habit of wanting you to hang your arm over the side of the couch to where she is on the floor, and then she will lay down on her side, grab your hand with both her paws, and rest her face in your hand… And then you’re not allowed to move after that until she says so!!! So funny…
If she wants something and you’re not paying attention, she comes over and stares you down for awhile…like she is telepathically trying to plant what she wants in your brain… If you don’t respond, then she stands up and taps ever so lightly at your elbow…and just keeps doing that until you get annoyed and get her what she wants…LOL A lot of times she just wants you to put your hand down so it can be her chin rest, as mentioned in the last paragraph! Silly, silly cat…
She doesn’t really relish being picked up and held…and she isn’t a lap kitty… However, she does like to use you as a foot bridge to cross over when getting to her “blankie bed” on the opposite end of the couch. She could just as easily jump up on that end and go to her blanket without interaction with the human sitting there, but it is more fun to put the human in their place and show them who’s boss by traipsing across their lap, hesitating for a moment for the obligatory petting, and then move along as she sees fit… LOL Seriously, what do you do with a cat like that? I tell her she is so spoiled rotten, she stinks.
We recently had a carpet layer in the house and he was laying on the floor working, and she started licking his ear…LOL Most cats are shy or scared and run and hide if a stranger is around. Not this girl..she is bold…brazen even!
Looks-wise, she is a pretty even mix of black and orange. She is long-haired. Three out of four feet are yellow, and one is black, but all four have just the tiniest touch of white on the toes, which looks like her paws have become threadbare, like the color has worn off just on the edge and the white stuffing underneath is showing through…LOL She also has a tiny white star on her throat. That is all the white though, which is hardly any. Her face is mostly dark, and her eyes are also dark, so when you look at her it is hard to discern a face…it is almost like looking at a faceless cat since it’s all dark looking…LOL She has one tuft of orange on one side by her cheek and the other is black. Her chin is yellow, and then her back and legs are a real even mixture of black and orange, with just these little yellow “socks” on the three feet, the one all black (hind) foot, and that little touch of threadbare white…LOL Her ears and top of her head are black, but she has one little pea-sized orange perfectly round spot on the top of her head… We say that is where someone spilled a drop of bleach…took the color out! LOL
Her belly is mostly yellow but right now it’s all shaved since she was sick and had an ultrasound…we are wondering if her fur is ever going to grow back in! She loves her belly rubbed, but it feels so odd because her bare skin is out of this world soft…LOL I am allergic to cats but strangely not too bad to her… If I pet her and then rub my eyes or something, I will have trouble, but otherwise, she seems to be pretty hypoallergenic which is surprising since she has long hair… But, it doesn’t really seem to shed much. I wonder if other people have much allergy problem with torties…
Daily she is “attacked” by inanimate things such as the stairs…she cannot walk by without this happening… She falls down on the floor in front of the bottom step, rolls, flips, grabs onto the step the best she can (without claws) and she does her best to give it what for…LOL Then she jumps up and looks all wild-eyed and crazy…and in the next instant she is attacked again…this time by her evil tail with the mind of its own…LOL This happens at least 2-3 times a day!
She has acute hearing because if you pop the top on the cat food can, she is there in a flash…or even touch the treat bag…look out! More and more things these days are coming in pop top cans like soup, etc…so many times she comes running only to find out it’s a can of soup…ha She is very adamant about her food dish…even if there is food but she can see the bottom of the dish shining through at all, she believes it is time to open another can…LOL
She has one heck of a nose on her too…anytime we cook any meat her nose is straight up in the air sniffing and you can tell it is wildly tantalizing her. This is especially true when cooking any type of chicken…LOL She has funny little eating habits…she licks all the gravy off the cat food first, and then comes back later to eat the chunks… We tried one of those “fountain” water dishes that has the water running in it all the time so it stays clean/fresh… Well, she couldn’t figure out how to get a drink without getting her head wet…stuck her head right in the middle instead of to one side or the other where she could avoid the trickle of water… She couldn’t figure it out so we had to go back to a regular water dish! LOL
She likes to sleep on several blankets that are folded and stacked on top of each other…I call her “princess and the pea.” LOL I don’t know what we’d do without her…the loveseat would fly away if we didn’t have her to hold it down!
Such a funny cat…it’s been 11 years since she came into our lives and home. Our little old girl that looks not much bigger than the largest kitten you can imagine is now a senior citizen but still seems young at heart…hope we will have several more years to come with her… It was a close call with her being sick recently. We thought we were going to lose her but she seems to have made a full recovery and acts healthy and like her old self again. She is the queen and we are her human minions…of course she knows it, and so do we! We also lovingly call her “Trixie-nator” (think Terminator movies) because you don’t mess with her unless you want to be punctured by those sharp little teeth and/or cussed (hissed) out. She will tell you off without hesitation…LOL Yet, my 10 year old daughter calls her “Baby” and “Kitten” which is funny since the cat is older than she is…LOL
Thank you for sharing Trixie and some of her adorable antics with us, Deanna!
too cute <3
A friend of mine had a mama cat that had her litter of kittens 2 weeks early and all the kittens died… two weeks after that she had one more little runty tortie. We called her the “miracle cat” (for a while). little did we know that she was the spawn of Satin himself… wildly unpredictable, ferocious to ALL other animals, and very overly protective of me. I think she would take on a grizzly bear if confronted.. I would put MY money on her. She does not take kindly to teasing (ask three of my friends who had to have gauze applied.. they just don’t listen). She has loads of personality and loves to play fetch with toy mice. She can also give a good “evil eye”. We call it the “Tortie Stink-eye”. Oh, and don’t wrestle in the house because she will jump on the back of whoever she thinks is the aggressor and scratch them up something terrible!
Your description of your little tortie made me smile – she sure seems to have tortitude in spades! And oh, the tortie stink eye – I know it well!
Kevin, Hi. Welcome to the land of Torties. I have read about your “normal” (tongue in cheek) Tortie. You have what many of us have had. There have been some Torties on this site that would make grown men and women cringe. Then there are gentle Torties, I can’t say I have had much experience with the gentler ones. We had Torties that we were in awe of. Jay Davenport had Stirfry. Now that Tortie would make the moon come up with her Tortitude. She was a one man Tortie and she loved Jay. Jay had other kittens but all gave her a very wide berth. She ruled. Then there was Kasey, Glen Bowen rescued her from a plant he would inspect. Kasey loved Glen with a passion but she could take a grizzly bear down. Then I had Steeler. Steeler was the epitome of beauty in a Tortie. She would draw you in and wam, she would have you for lunch. She did not play nice. But she loved me and that was all that mattered. On one occasion my son Eric, who was with the Fed DOJ brought his team to my home so they could meet Steeler. He warned the agents not to touch the cat. Well you know where this is going. One of the agents looked at that sweet face and did not heed the warning. Bandages and alcohol were needed. A Fed Agent had been attacked and lost. These Torties have crossed the rainbow bridge and so far we have not seen or heard of any to compare them to. You may come very close as this little one grows and stays with the Tortitude. Stirfry, Kasey and Steeler grew to be older cats and they kept their Tortitude in spades. Many say if you look up the definition of Tortitude you will see a pic of Stirfry. She topped all. I now have 2 Torties and for the most part they have Tortitude, but nothing that compares to the 3 top torties. I hope you have your little one for a very long time. Bandaids and alcohol are to be staples in your first aid kit.
I want to be very clear that Bernie is joking about the federal agent 🙂 – to clarify her comment, her late son, who was one, once brought some coworkers to meet her tortie, and they did not heed the request to not try to pet her. It did not go well…
I rescued a Tortie from a shelter a few months ago and my house has never been the same! I always had tabby’s before and they were shy, timid, rarely made an appearance. But not Lily! She’s always by my side, loves to play, give kisses and head butts. She’s also not afraid of my dog (a greyhound rescue). Although the dog doesn’t know how to take her, always keeps an eye on her lol It was the best decision to take her home. She was slated for euthanasia because everyone thought she was too high spirited. They all passed up on a great cat. And I’m glad they did or I wouldn’t have my little buddy!
I’m so glad you rescued Lily! She sure sounds like she’s all tortie. 🙂
Tortoiseshell cats are the best.
They are!
We have a very tortitudinal tortie. Fiercely independent, totally unpredictable, the mother of all hissers, a powerfully built and magnificent fly catcher with the grace and balance of a ballerina. She loves to play and is loyal to a fault. She will bite the he…double hocky sticks our of you until you learn precisely how to handle her. Assessing her tortitude accurately is essential before attempting to pet her as absent minded petting is not tolerated. Taking her to the vet is an exercise in survival, it takes three assistants to hold her down while the doctor gives her a shot amidst screams heard only in alternative realities. Oh did I say she likes to watch movies too at 7:oo PM sharp or else?
She sounds like she’s got tortitude and then some, Sal!
Hey Sal, welcome. That sounds about right to me. Jay Davenport had Stirfry, one great Tortie whose pic should be under the definition of Tortitude. I had a great Tortie, Steeler. She too, was full of Tortitude and took no prisoners. Glen Bowley, had Kasey, who like Stirfry, Steeler was a Great Tortie. She also ran the house and all within.
What is the name of your Tortie? Do you have a fb page with her pic on it? She sounds like she would have fit right in with these Torties. Now there a number of Torties on this site who are like most kittens. Then we had those soul kittens that all came to know and love.
Have been feeding a feral torbi for almost a year now, recently caught her after taking care of her and her last litter. (my mom has a calico girl of hers). Got her spayed and after bring her back to the woods where i feed her, she wouldnt leave the carrier and now stays inside with me. Named her Jessicat. Now just got to get her used to two tabbys i rescued as ferals back in 2011.(vet says jessi is 1 year old where my tabbies are 4.)
Well played, Jessicat, well played. 🙂 Introduce her very slowly and gradually to your two tabbies, James. You probably already know how to do this. Here’s more information should you need it: https://ingridking.com/2011/08/15/cat-to-cat-introductions/
I rescued a baby tortie from a litter out of a feral momma cat in 2008. She actually rescued me..I have 5 other cats,all spayed or neutered, one is a flame red close to long haired male, one is a female Siamese/dilute calico mix, one is a hefty black shorthair male,the brother to the tortie from a different litter 6 months prior, one is a male seal point Siamese that has a white blaze on the bridge of his nose and white mittens on his front paws , and white socks on his back paws..really sweet!!..and one more teeny tiny dwarf black cat with a white tip on the end of her tail..her front feet pads are the size of a DIME !!!! My tortie’s name was Lucy..and she was the boss lady of the group!! ..she slept under my chin on my upper chest area as often as she could, no matter how uncomfortable it made me..!she would let it be known to the others that I belonged to her!!..very possessive, loving..well on September 19, 2015 , it was discovered by Lucy’s vet , she had a mass in her abdomen the size of a lemon, and things turned out she was euthanized and went on to be with our other fur babies that had previously passed away…I was honored to have known and loved my sweet Lucy for only 8 short years..We all miss her so..little Rickey, odie, bebe-cat, beetay, and Tom Dooley,aka..dooboy..only I must say , the other cats do seem to be less skittish since she passed..not as much cat screaming or hissing since she has been gone..one of a kind ..my little Lucy!!
I’m so sorry about Lucy, Mitzi. She sure sounds like she was all tortie!
This site answered a lot of my questions about my tortie. I have 2 cats, a tortie named Anabel and a white and orange tabby named Jethro. I feel like they are 2 different species. Anabel fits your description of a tortie to a tee. Some people would have thrown in the towel and given her up if they had to put up with her antics but I love her too much for that. She is 3 yrs old now and has calmed down a bit but she is definitely a “Diva”. I’d love to find an active forum on torties if you know of one.
I’m glad you didn’t give up on your “diva,” Pauline.