

That means over 99.9% of all tortoiseshell cats are female. Their unwavering dedication to their family is second-to-none so tortitude may be a small price to pay for their heart-melting sincerity and uniqueness.Ī tortie cat has a 1/3000th chance of being male. Sassy or reserved, chatty or observant, these cats have personalities as varied as their coats. Fine conversationalists, torties are also not shy in letting their families know what they need.Īt the end of the day, “tortitude” may or may not be a thing for this bunch. Torties have been described as fiercely loyal to their parent, spontaneous and decisive. As a general rule, it’s best to view each cat as an individual and get to know each one personally.Įven if studies report higher levels of attitude in torties, there are many devoted tortie-loving cat parents who avidly claim these cats are truly awesome. Since tortoiseshell is not a breed, it’s hard to generalize their disposition.

There are many factors that can contribute to a cat’s personality, including their breed and upbringing, the researchers were quick to point out. But just like the torti’s coat, the feline disposition is far more complex. From the Celts to the Japanese, the tortoiseshell cat has a history as intricate as their coats! One rumor is untrue, however…some torties are in fact male.Ĭalico and tortoiseshell cats are rumored to be a bit feistier than cats of other fur colors, and some research seem to confirm this. This supposed tortitude is only one of many legends surrounding these beautiful felines. The tortie has been rumored to be the keeper of feisty “tortitude”-but is it true? We’ll let you be the judge. But it’s not just their coats that are complex. Tortoiseshells come in a fascinating mix of black hues with browns, oranges and reds sprinkled throughout.

Because the term tortoiseshell, or “tortie” as their fans affectionately dubbed them, refers to the coat, the tortoiseshell cat is not actually a breed. Found in mosaic or chimera, regular or dilute combinations, this cat is so named due to the similarity in color to a once-popular manufacturing material called tortoiseshell. The tortoiseshell cat gets its name from its complex colorations.
