Tortitude: The Unique Tortoiseshell Cat Personality

Many cat lovers and vets often link a cat’s personality to its fur color. People commonly believe orange male cats are very friendly, while tortoiseshell cats are thought to be quite different.

People call tortoiseshell cats’ supposed difficult personality “tortitude.” Because this belief is so common, many people judge these cats before getting to know them. Let’s look at what “tortitude” means, if it’s true, why people think this way about tortoiseshell cats, and what shapes a cat’s personality besides their color.

What Is Tortitude?

Many people think cats are less loving and harder to predict than dogs, but studies show this isn’t true. Tortoiseshell cats, however, often act this way. These cats usually don’t like living with other pets and can quickly switch from being friendly to angry.

People call tortoiseshell cats “divas” because they’re stubborn and can get angry easily. Even vets are more careful when handling these cats because they never know how the cats might react.

Tortoiseshell cats often have strong personalities. They tend to be independent and may keep their distance, but when they do interact, they can be quite feisty. These cats are usually bold, active, and vocal. Their owners often put up with some bad behavior, such as hitting, scratching, or gentle biting.

Despite these challenges, many cat lovers adore tortoiseshell cats and their distinct character. They enjoy their unique traits, accept their attitude, and cherish the loving moments when their cats choose to show affection.

Is Tortitude Real?

Before judging cats based on their color, let’s look at what research tells us about tortoiseshell cats’ personalities.

A 2016 study at UC Davis vet school looked at how cat colors might relate to personality. They asked 1,200 cat owners about their cats’ behavior and personalities without telling them the study’s purpose.

The study found that tortoiseshell and calico cats did show more aggressive behaviors than other cats, like hissing, scratching, biting, and chasing people. Gray-and-white and black-and-white cats also showed these behaviors more often.

Keep in mind that this study only looked at what owners reported about their cats. We should consider whether owners might have been influenced by common beliefs about tortoiseshell cats’ attitudes.

While no one has found a genetic connection between tortoiseshell coloring and personality yet, both this study and experienced cat handlers suggest there might be some truth to the idea of “tortitude.

What Causes Tortitude?

Most tortoiseshell cats are female because of their genes. This might explain their famous attitude, known as “tortitude,” since female cats are often seen as more independent than male cats.

The genes that create tortoiseshell coloring are found on the X chromosome. Female cats have two X chromosomes (XX), while males have one X and one Y (XY). This means females can have both orange and black fur colors, while males usually can’t. During development, these colors appear randomly across the cat’s fur.

Calico cats are similar but have white patches along with orange and black. The rare male tortoiseshell or calico cat exists only because of an unusual genetic change.

Since people often think female cats are less affectionate, and almost all tortoiseshell cats are female, this might explain why tortoiseshells are known for their strong personalities.

What Other Factors Influence a Tortoiseshell Cat’s Personality?

A tortoiseshell cat’s fur color might affect their behavior, but other things matter more. These factors affect all cats, not just torties, and scientists have studied them more thoroughly.

Genetics

Cats get some of their personality from their parents, like people do. Research from 2019 showed that about half of the ways cats behave come from their genes. This includes both their overall character and specific behaviors.

The researchers looked at mostly purebred cats but also studied some regular house cats. Tortoiseshell cats can be any breed since it’s just their color pattern. Many popular breeds like Maine Coons can be tortoiseshells. This means your tortie’s personality might come from its breed’s typical traits, including those passed down from its parents.

Socialization

How kittens interact with humans early in life greatly affects their adult personality. The most important time for this is when kittens are 3-9 weeks old, according to cat experts. Kittens who spend time with humans during these weeks usually grow up comfortable around people. Those that don’t may have behavior problems later.

Studies show that kittens who had good experiences with people between 2 and 7.5 weeks stayed friendly to humans as they grew up. These well-socialized kittens also found it easier to trust new people they met, often becoming comfortable after just a few positive meetings.

On the other hand, kittens who didn’t spend enough time with humans during these early weeks became fearful adults. These cats needed many good experiences to trust someone new, and just a few bad experiences could make them scared.

If you don’t know how your tortoiseshell cat was raised as a kitten, you can’t tell if it had enough early contact with humans. If it didn’t, this might explain why it shows difficult behavior, sometimes called “tortitude,” as an adult.

Human Behavior

How people treat cats affects their personalities, both as kittens and adults. Cats continue learning from social interactions throughout their lives, and the quality and frequency of time spent with their owners matters. This is especially important when considering “tortitude” since people’s views of cat behavior can be subjective.

This can create an ongoing pattern. People tend to respond better to friendly cats that seek attention. When tortoiseshell cats act distant, owners might react negatively and spend less time with them.

Shy cats who don’t get enough early social contact need extra patience and positive attention to build trust. If owners only give attention when the cats ask for it first, it’s hard for them to become more social.

Conclusion

Tortoiseshell cats are sometimes known for having an attitude, but their personality isn’t just about their fur pattern. Don’t let this reputation stop you from getting a tortie cat. Many people love these cats for their fun, lively nature and beautiful colors.

While some torties might be feisty, how you raise and treat your cat affects their behavior. Each cat has a unique personality, regardless of their color. Finding the right cat depends on how well you match with each other. Like any pet, torties might not suit everyone, and that’s okay.