Japanese fisherman believed that bringing a tortie onto their boat would protect them from storms and ghosts.Įven the Khmers of Southeast Asia even developed an explanation as to the origins of a tortie: they came from “the blood of a young goddess born of a lotus flower during a magical ritual”.ĭo you have a Tortie at home? Now you can get their photo printed on any custom item, like a mug or blanket! Click here for more details. In Scotland and Ireland, it’s seen as good luck when a male tortoiseshell comes into your home.

In the United States, they’re referred to as “money cats,' being that male torties and calicos are so rare. Torties - and calicos, too - are often the focus of folklore and legend.

But that’s a 1 in 3,000 occurrence – a 0.3% chance! However, due to a rare genetic mutation that results in an XXY genotype, a male tortie may be born. This fun feline genetic detail also applies to calico cats!īecause each color is carried on a different X chromosome, a cat needs two X chromosomes to be born with a calico or tortoiseshell pattern, which means they will almost always be born female. Because the genes responsible for orange and black fur color in cats are carried on the X chromosome, torties (and other multicolored kitties) are typically born female. The color of a cat’s fur is inherited from its parents, much like our human hair color. Looking for a way to tame your cat's tortitude? Be sure to provide your kitty with plenty of indoor enrichment, like food puzzles or catnip kicker toys as an outlet for all that pent up 'tude! If your tortie has a bit of ‘tude, don’t worry – you’re not crazy for thinking it! According to a study from veterinarians at the University of California, cats with calico and tortoiseshell coats tend to challenge their humans more often than other less flashy felines. Other words used to describe torties are “fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable,” according to Ingrid King, author of the Conscious Cat. Torties are known for being a bit more challenging, strong-willed, and can be possessive of their human. “Tortitude” is often affectionately applied to a cat with a tortoiseshell or calico coat that also happens to have a bit more, well, cattitude. But for those who aren’t aware, there is a bit of a myth surrounding our multicolored feline friends.

If you are the servant – er, owner – of a multicolored kitty like a calico or tortoiseshell, you might already know what “tortitude” is. There is also the 'Torbie' pattern, which is a tortoiseshell cat with tabby stripes.

Some variations of the tortoiseshell include 'dilution,' which results in softer, muted greys and creams instead of red and black. Often confused with calico cats, who are predominately white, orange and black, the Tortoiseshell pattern can be seen in Persians, Cornish Rex, and the Japanese Bobtail - just a few of the many breeds that can produce a tortoiseshell coat, both long and short-haired. Tortoiseshell actually refers to the cat’s coat color and fur pattern. Affectionately shortened to “Torties,” Tortoiseshell cats are named for their distinctive multicolored coats featuring a constellation of black, brown, amber, red, cinnamon and chocolate – and very little or no white markings. Tortoiseshell Cats Are Not Actually a Breed of Cat Ready for some fast feline facts about Tortoiseshell Cats? These notoriously feisty felines are surrounded by some pretty cool facts - and fiction - from rare genetics to a pretty metal story involving the blood of a mythical goddess.

Tortoiseshell cat vs calico