Tortoiseshell cats are elegant, graceful, and one of the rarest felines on the earth that are affectionately called “torties” by their loving guardians. These cats are called “tortoiseshell” due to their unique coat color, similar to a turtle’s shell.
Tortoiseshell cats are so endearing, magnificent, and wonderful pets that they are popular in many homes. Their captivating and distinctive coat patterns attract the attention of any visitor at first sight.
As far as the Tortoiseshell cat’s personality is concerned, many myths circulate about their behavior, nature, and temperament. In this post, we will try to figure out the truth regarding the personality of Tortoiseshell cats.
Tortoiseshell Cat Personality (Tortitude)
Like their unique coat color, Tortoiseshell cats are also known for their unique personality traits. Many people use the word “Tortitude” to describe the unique personality of Tortoiseshell cats. You can consider it a sum of Tortoiseshell and attitude.
Usually, all cats are considered aloof and independent and known for their fierceness and unpredictable nature. Though there is no scientific ground to prove this statement, Tortoiseshell is the only type of cat that seems to meet these characteristics.
Our beloved Tortoiseshell cats are known for their strong will, independent behavior, and highly opinionated and chaotic nature. In addition, these cats want everything to go the way they like and live their lives as if they are above everything; therefore, sometimes, they are called “divas of the feline world.”
Some Tortoiseshell cats (not all) seem to have a confused or split personality, which is playful and affectionate at first and becomes angry or aggressive the next moment without any apparent reason. So every Tortie’s guardian should be prepared to confront some undesirable behaviors, such as scratching, swatting, and even nipping.
Don’t be surprised if you have noticed that your vet becomes more cautious while dealing with your Tortie just because he knows how unpredictable these cats are.
In addition, Tortoiseshell cats are active, energetic, highly vocal, and curious by nature. They are also affectionate, develop a good bond with their guardians, and will meet you at the doorstep every time you come home with their tails raised (a sign of affection, love, and happiness); and follow you everywhere in the home.
In addition, torties are curious and daring enough to roam around and observe everything keenly to understand what’s happening here when guests are at home.
Despite all the above controversies, the torties have a lot of fans throughout the globe, which love their affection, friendliness, and energetic nature and ignore their Tortitude.
Is Tortitude Real?
Knowing the answer to this question is more interesting than knowing the personality traits of the torties discussed above. Surprisingly, all the above information is based on the observations of thousands of Tortoiseshell cat guardians. However, to date, scientists have not found any link between Tortitude and specific Tortoiseshell color patterns at the genetic level.
In addition, Tortoiseshell is not a distinct feline breed; they are just named based on their color pattern. So we can’t say that they have a specific set of traits. Torties are born due to genetic mutation, and cats of many breeds can give birth to Tortoiseshell kittens (e.g., American Shorthair, British Shorthair, Persian, Cornish Rex, Maine Coon, etc.). Therefore individual torties have so much variation in their behavior; it all depends on their parent’s breed and characteristics.
Furthermore, different scientific studies focused on the Tortoiseshell cat’s personality and behavior, carried out independently, concluded that it’s not only Tortoiseshell cats who are a bit more aggressive and bite, swat, hiss, chase, or scratch while interacting with humans. Instead, calico cats (which has similar coat pattern) and cats having a portion of grey or black fur also exhibit such behavior.
Conclusion
Though Tortitude may be true to some extent, that’s how nature has designed them. Tortoiseshell cats may not be suitable for everyone, but that is true of other feline breeds. In addition, your personality, house environment, and your dealing with the cat also determine the cat’s behavior. Thousands of feline lovers living happily with torties prove that these cats are worth keeping.
