Is there any truth in the coat colour linked to personality theory?

[toomuchhappyland]

We are soon to be getting a kitten from a friend's litter (female escaped before she had been spayed). We have the choice of a tortie girl or a black and white boy. I love torties, always have and that would be my choice - apart from the mad tortie stereotype. We already have a very sociable, laid back boy cat, and young children (three year old dd adores cats), so obviously my priority is picking one which will hopefully be a nice family cat. I'm wondering if I should get the black and white as he might be more laid back, or if the coat colour/personality theory is all bollocks? Thoughts please?

[sphinxster]

Not aware of the stereotype but our black and white girl is mental. My parents had a tortoise shell who was incredibly chilled out and quiet, I often forgot they had a cat!

[cozietoesie]

Only had one tortie, I'm afraid. The famous Cheekie. A ferocious and ultra-competent hunter of anything that moved and the biggest flirt on four legs I've ever known.

[MontserratCaballe]

My tortoiseshell is the sweetest girl. Puts up with being constantly picked up, dressed up and fussed over by the children. Knows when to escape and take refuge on a bed. We have had her since 8m and she is now 5. Youngest was 3 when she arrived. She is the perfect pet. I would have another in a heartbeat.

[bertsdinner]

I think it's probably bollocks, though we did have a tortoiseshell cat when I was a child and she was a very stereotypical tortie. Very feisty. My Nana`s cat was a dark tortoiseshell and very placid.
Ive currently got a black and white male who is a gentle,affectionate cat, but he has a stubborn streak. My old black and white female was very similar so I always think these are black and white "traits", although its probably just coincidence.

[hollinhurst84]

Hmmm
My black male is so laid back I have to poke him to check he's alive

Black female (stable cat) is known as split personality. She will happily be cuddling you and then bite you and mean it. The vets sent her home after paracetamol overdose with most staff bearing wounds

Unless that's a female/male thing

[Fluffycloudland77]

How on earth did she eat paracetamol?

[lljkk]

Disclaimer: I have a foul-tempered short hair cat & a long-haired cat who likes a good tummy rub... but I still think the avg temperment of long haired cats is more feisty & less tolerant than the avg. temperment of short hairs. What do others reckon?

I never heard that torties were feisty. Only long-hairs as feisty.

[Wolfiefan]

We have two tortie girls. They are lovely. Funny and loving and cuddly and great with the cats. We've also had black and black/white cats.
I think all cats are different. Meet them and see what you think? Or get both?

[Vinorosso74]

I think it's rubbish. See which one you bond with best. Shame you can't ask your current cat for his preference!

[Eeeek686]

Opened this from 'Active posts' eager to see whether my turquoise duffle coat or striped raincoat said anything significant about me!

On a slightly more relevant note, we had a black with tiny white bits cat when I was a child who was chilled out bordering on aloof, and several tortoise shells who were all v. Friendly and fun loving....

Hth!

[hollinhurst84]

Fluffy - someone had mixed it in yoghurt and left it out. She had 500mg X 24

[Fluffycloudland77]

That's awful, was someone trying to poison local cats?.

It's a miracle she survived it.

[LocalEditorEssex]

My tortoiseshell is an excellent hunter, she is very affectionate when she chooses to be.
She has never been nasty to any of us.

My male tabby is so funny but lazy. Occasionally touchy.

My long haired black female only likes me, she turns her mood in a second. One minute she is playing with you then the next she is trying to kill you.

[2pandasandapig]

I have a black and white boy who is a bastard of the highest order - he beats up the other cat, steals everything he sees and has to have a general anaesthetic to get his claws cut! I also have a pure black boy who is the sweetest, kindest cat I've ever met - he sleeps with my children and loves cuddles. I have no idea what the colour stereotypes are tho.

[hollinhurst84]

No, it was being mixed for a horse. Vet said half a 500g capsule is fatal and he had never had a cat live past 24hrs with that let alone that amount (this was 36hrs later)
So she came home and is back hunting and terrorising the stables as normal

[cozietoesie]

All the long-haired male cats I've known personally - of whatever colour - have been wusses. I draw no conclusions, just put that out there for thought.

[Bogburglar99]

My grandma had an absolutely legendary tortoiseshell, who was talkative and super bossy, but also great fun and very friendly. She used to sit on the wall and complain vigorously at you if my gran had dared to be slightly late home

I had a black and white cat who was a certifiable psychopath. So don't think it follows.

Bogbastardkitten is the first long haired breed I have owned and he is a daft friendly lump who is more people oriented than any cat I've ever met. I think he thinks he's a dog really.

[Hassled]

Tortie girls are the cows of the cat world. There was a thread here about them once - loads of us had had tortie girls who hated us and everyone else. Get the black and white boy (also I think neutered males are generally more affectionate).

[cozietoesie]

Oh Cheekie was friendly. (In between killing things.)

Undiscriminatingly so, sadly. There was this local lace-eared tom.......................

[AlmaMartyr]

My tortie is the loveliest cat. Super friendly, very loving. She almost always sleeps with DD, tucked up in bed with her. She's prone to getting stuck in daft places more than other cats I've known but is such a delight.

[toomuchhappyland]

I'm so torn!! Going to see them on Wednesday so will decide then. Thanks for your input everyone.

[Lovelydiscusfish]

Regardless of colour (I'm not sure the stereotypes really hold), my understanding has always been that it's better to have different gender cats (if you only have two), as territories therefore can more freely overlap. So if your existing cat is male, I would say you should definitely get the female.

[toomuchhappyland]

Lovelydiscus, from what I've read if the existing cat is neutered it doesn't seem to really matter.

[cozietoesie]

I'm mentally scarred by trying to combine two cats, one of whom was a very set-in-his-ways and elderly Siamese. I don't think it would have mattered if the other cat had been male or female, long-haired or short-haired, tortie or pink and purple. He just hated the lot of them. The problem was mine, really, because he made his position clear from the outset - I just couldn't/wouldn't accept it. Ah Well.

[lottielou7]

We had a crazy Tortie cat when I was growing up. She used to bounce off the wall but she was great fun.