Tortoiseshell cats

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lpn169, priyankashinde

Tortoiseshell cats
skittish by nature???
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MaxandAllie

Full Member

Posts: 274

Joined: 6/4/2007

Posted: 12:26:56 PM 4/9/2008

Just wondering if anybody else has a torti that is a little crazy. I'm not sure if fur color can be associated with behavior?? Nikita was my first torti and she was a DSH and she was always a little nutty. Loved to be petted endlessly but on her terms ONLY. Not a lap cat, couldn't be held and she was sure you were out to kill her every time you reached for her so she'd run and hide. Now I have my Bailey and she's a persian. Same breeder and same father as my other 2 persians. I got them all at 8 weeks old and raised them the same with tons of cuddling. Bailey is my favorite so I probably even spoil her more. But she will only sit on my lap if it's her idea, ducks out of reach every time I try to pick her up, yells at me for no reason just to make sure I am aware she's there but doen't actually want me to do anything. When my cat sitters came out last week while I was away on vacation, they barely saw more than a set of big copper colored eyes peeking out from under the furniture while the other 2 cats were all over them looking for cuddles and treats.

http://www.catster.com/cats/614585

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catlover

Senior Member

Posts: 3259

Joined: 8/24/2004

Posted: 12:49:21 PM 4/9/2008

I have always favored calicos and tortoiseshell cats. If it were up to me, that is all I would have! (of course, these other assorted colored cats we have all adopted ME!)

Yes, I have found definate personality differences, and even my vet agrees! But I think it's the personality I love as much as the colors.

With Furface, our original tortie, everything had to be her way on her schedule. If she didn't like something (or someone) she wasn't afraid to let you know! Wasn't shy and aloof like lots of cats. Would make herself right at home in the most expensive basket at a Longaberger party! Would chase any dog who dared to impose on her space. She would wake from a dead sleep when she heard a spoon against an ice cream bowl! And would park herself right beside the grill anytime we were using it-didn't matter if it was chicken, burgers, hot dogs...she KNEW she would get a taste!

Gidget, our 2nd tortie, also had some strange ways about her. I miss our torties. I only have 1 calico cat left, and I treasure her. I tell her all the time she's my favorite!

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.

Andy Rooney

rainbowzoo622

Junior Member

Posts: 68

Joined: 3/6/2008

Posted: 1:07:11 PM 4/9/2008

My vet says the same thing about tortis and calicos! I have a DSH torti and a DLH calico. I took all 6 cats to the vet together this year and made apologies ahead of time for the behavior of those two, and he said in vet school there was a running joke about the "friskiness" of tri-color female cats.
I've had them both since they were kittens, raised them the same as the rest of my cats. But they still go berserk when I trim their nails or brush them out (just spent an hour brushing out Calla's (the long hair) winter coat, and she got me good in a few places!) or heaven forbid, bathe them. They get in more cat fights, are more vocal, get into it more with the dogs. Just generally are more tempermental.
And I thought he was just discreminating against my cats colors.

MaxandAllie

Full Member

Posts: 277

Joined: 6/4/2007

Posted: 8:38:25 PM 4/9/2008

Good to hear that my girl is not the only crazy one. I thought I had heard before that tortis were a little "different" but it seems funny that color can affect personality. I have to give Bailey credit though. She does let me brush and bathe her if I can catch her first. I can also clip her nails. She is the only one of the three that will follow the vaccuum cleaner around. And she is super smart as well. I just wish somebody had told her that persians are supposed to be quiet with little polite voices. She runs around calling to me and even calls to me from the foot of the bed when I'm asleep because she thinks I might have left her. (often at 4 a.m.) I love tortis the best too.

Their faces are so unique and no two look the same! But I think it's something only torti lovers can appreciate because all my friends think my other kitties are prettier.

http://www.catster.com/cats/614585

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catlover

Senior Member

Posts: 3260

Joined: 8/24/2004

Posted: 9:53:42 PM 4/9/2008

"Their faces are so unique and no two look the same!"

I know! I think so too! But when I had 2 torties, my friends and family couldn't tell them apart! I always thought it was so obvious!
We adopted Gidget from the SPCA. I remember my BIL saying, "it's a good thing you adopted her because she's so ugly, no one else would want her!" Good thing I have a sense of humor....

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.

Andy Rooney

loveindi

New Member

Posts: 1

Joined: 4/13/2009

Posted: 12:54:30 PM 4/13/2009

yes my torti cat indi is the exact. i picked her up at a animal shelter when she was only a kitten. i didn't want a lap cat so i picked her because she looked spunky. and now all she does is run around and she's totally crazy. she swings on my blinds and does pullups on our window sils. haha. she loves to play or pick fights with the other cats or dogs. we have this little toy for her with a string and a bell on the end. if we put it high enough she will jump and get it, usually jumping a good 4 feet. she's very lovable though, when she wants to be. but everything is on her time. i love her though, she always puts a smile on my face, haha.

angelbabiescattery

New Member

Posts: 6

Joined: 12/4/2008

Posted: 12:44:35 AM 4/14/2009

Every one I know that has torties (including mine) will tell you that they are Divas. Everything is on their terms only. They will sass you and pick on the other cats in the house that have not yet learned that they are the QUEEN DIVA in the house. They will demand your attention, but only if and when they want it. I love mine to pieces and I think she loves me. Some days she acts like it LOL!

areddings

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Posts: 1

Joined: 5/7/2009

Posted: 6:58:51 PM 5/7/2009

I've had a tortoiseshell cat named Spidah (from the movie Goodfella's) Louise for going on eight years this year. She is very affectionate and is the "pack leader" (among the other two cats, one rat terrier, and one Pittorador). She has a unique 'meow' and DEMANDS my attention! I call her my little bear cat b/c she will get up on her back feet and wrap her paws around my hand and give me love bites. She's a biter, for sure. When I was 18 and at the pound, I wanted a yellow tabby mix. I saw Spidah climb up a metal cage and use her weight to shake it back and forth. So I knew she wanted me. Ever since then we are inseperable. She runs from neighbor's yards if I say her name and snap my fingers! Some of her most endearing qualities: She love bites, she drools, the tip of her tail is broken (don't know why or how) and loves me to wind her tail around my fingers, and she always knows when I need snuggling the most!

goosmom

New Member

Posts: 1

Joined: 7/13/2009

Posted: 9:18:21 PM 7/13/2009

We have a tortie - Goo is NUTS. When I first saw her online, I thought she was ugly, boy am I ever glad I went to look at her in person. She is the most adorable, loving cat ever. She is very fond of us - she loves giving kisses and is quite vocal!

Are all torties like that?

MaxandAllie

Senior Member

Posts: 662

Joined: 6/4/2007

Posted: 7:36:44 AM 7/14/2009

It's funny because since I posted this original question a year ago, I now have 2 torties and Blaze is completely different than Bailey. All torties are uniquely strange. But unlike Bailey, Blaze is quiet (except when I am serving canned food)and she loves everybody. She is just the happiest friendliest cat in the whole family. Blaze is a chocolate torti so her main color is brown instead of black. When I groom her she purrs the whole time but yowls and tries to bite me all at the same time. She is also dumb as a box of rocks where Bailey is super smart. But Blaze is just so sweet and curious. She's right in the middle of whatever is going on where Bailey likes to watch from a safe distance. LOL But they are both much stranger than the other 4 cats so they pretty much prove that torti-tude exists.

"One cat just leads to another" - Ernest Hemingway

catwoman6

New Member

Posts: 1

Joined: 7/26/2009

Posted: 2:15:15 PM 7/26/2009

I definitely can relate to the tortie cats. I just had to put my 17 year old baby down yesterday (Saturday) and I'm lost without her. She was 4 months old when I got her. She loved to be loved also but on her terms. I sat on the couch and she would put her paws on my legs and sometimes get in my lap but that didn't happen too many times. She liked to be held while you walked but you stop and she wanted down immediately. I would reach for her and she would run. Sweet, sweet little girl though.
I had a silver persian before her and she loved to be held. Completely different.
Does anyone know if the ragdolls are a mix of siamese cats?

MaxandAllie

Senior Member

Posts: 663

Joined: 6/4/2007

Posted: 10:28:04 AM 7/27/2009

Catwoman6- I am so sorry for the loss of your kitty.
I also have a Ragdoll. She's 13 weeks old and an absolute angel. She is living up to the stereotype and she purrs like crazy and turns into jello when you pick her up. They do have Siamese in their origin when the breed was created back in the 1960's which accounts for the blue eyes and color points but they do not carry any of the personality traits that are associated with Siamese and they have a softer voice.

"One cat just leads to another" - Ernest Hemingway

rainheart

New Member

Posts: 1

Joined: 12/29/2009

Posted: 12:11:48 PM 12/29/2009

I have a torte, her name is Pebbles and she is a runt. She smells but is well groomed, she is potty trained but chooses not to use the litter box. When I eat dinner, and I put her down, she jumps back up, i put her down, up, down and she dosnt stop. She Loves people though..and I love her to death. Does anybody else have this problem?

FriendlyKittie

New Member

Posts: 1

Joined: 12/30/2009

Posted: 11:41:46 PM 12/30/2009

I have been a proud owner of a tortoiseshell for about 9 years now. As a kitten, at the rescue shelter, she was the most interested in me. On the ride home, she wanted to lay between the back of my neck and the seat. I knew I made the right decision. She has always been extremely affectionate and doesn't like to be separated from me. She loved to be held and carried around. She loved to cuddle, even if you were not cuddling with her. She loved to look out various windows. She was always forgiving and loved to be treated like a princess. She would rub her scent on me all the time. If I set my clothes out, she would dominantly lay on them.

Her strangest behaviors were spazzing out and darting across the floor around company, creepy starring at guests from a distance, and a sudden twitch & run. One time, she even wiped her ass on my ex-boyfriend's chest (while he was laying down - she never liked him & it was a direct insult to him). Over the years, and a change in environment, she calmed down and remained affectionate.

The worst behavioral problem was urinating outside the litter box. I think most of it is psychological (she was diagnosed with OCD due to obsessive cleaning of her lower belly & extremities). The OCD & separation anxiety & the need to have things her way, probably equally induced the urinating outside the litter box. Most of the problem was reduced; however, it has not diminished completely yet.

Overall, she has been the best cat I've ever had. I would not trade her for anything.

scout1

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Posts: 14602

Joined: 1/30/2004

Posted: 11:15:34 PM 1/9/2010

I have had 2 torties in my life. one who has since passed and scully whom i still have. they are my absolute favorites. my first tortie, silly, was a brown tortie and scully is a black. after silly passed i tried looking for another brown one like her but i didn't find one. scully i found in our town pound and after having looked at many different torties, she was the one that i just knew was the one.

i don't find them to be crazy at all. at least mine were/are not that way. calico's i believe are and after working with cats for as many years as i have i do believe strongly that different colorations have different personalities ... for sure.

my two are very dog like but in the same respect are very cat like also. they both tend to be one person cats ... favoring me over anyone else in the house. they both loved to be cuddled, but on their terms. silly used to take walks with me and my old dog stosh and would stick close as if she were on a leash also. scully comes when called just like a dog ... matter of fact she has a better recall then any of my dogs do !! scully begs for food just like all my dogs do when we are eating dinner though she is a little more polite about it lol. silly was my first one and she had such a unique personality i wanted another cat just like her and i got that with scully. they are not entirely the same but there are definite similarities.

i can tell you that the most difficult colors to work with are the black and whites and the calicos. it must be that white gene ;) i have a black and white myself and i can tell you he is a really difficult patient. the sweet shy creature that lives with me turns into a mountain lion at the vets office !

If only I could hunt the hunter !

LUVMYCHARLIE

New Member

Posts: 1

Joined: 1/10/2010

Posted: 1:43:07 AM 1/10/2010

I HAVE HAD MY TORTIE, CHARLIE FOR 18 YRS THIS VALENTINES DAY. SHE WILL BE 19 YRS OLD IN AUGUST. SHE IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. I WENT TO A PRIVATE CAT FOUNDATION TO FIND A KITTEN. THERE WERE 250 CATS TO CHOOSE FROM. THE WAY I MET HER, WAS SHE JUMPED FROM BEHIND ME AND LANDED ON MY SHOULDER. I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING THAT LOOKED LIKE HER BEFORE. SHE HAS NO WHITE ON HER, SHE IS ALL BLK, ORANGE AND BROWN. SO SHE PICKED ME, I DIDNT PICK HER. SHE IS SO SMART, AND SO LOVING, BUT IT DEFINITELY IS ON HER OWN TERMS. SHE IS A HUNTER (HAD A BROKEN WINDOW AND SOME CRITTERS GOT IN). I HAD TO START A CHIPMUNK CEMETARY IN THE BACK YARD. SHE WALKS ON A LEASH JUST LIKE A DOG. SHE EVEN TRIES TO TURN THE DOORKNOB WITH HER PAW TO OPEN IT. MY BABY IS AN OLD GAL, BUT SHE STILL HAS ALOT OF SPUNK. SHE IS ALSO QUITE THE GYMNAST. IF YOU MAKE A CERTAIN HISSING NOISE, SHE WILL DO SUMMERSALTS. AND IF SHE IS MAD AT ME, LOOK OUT, SHE LETS ME KNOW IT. I GET YELLED AT QUITE A BIT. LOVE READING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES TORTIES, SOUNDS LIKE THEIR BREED IS ONE OF THE BEST!!!