Naughty torties?

[NinaHeart]

Do tortoiseshell cats deserve their reputation for naughtiness? Are they indeed moody or mardy, prone to biting and acts of wickedness, or it is all an ugly rumour?

I ask becasue we have been offered a torty kitten and I'm a little nervous of their reputation!

They definitely have tonnes of character! I've owned two and the first was an absolute minx, but my God I loved her

Current cat is tortie and she is stunningly beautiful but knows it and is such a bossy boots! Love her to bits.

We had a tortie cat - she was bonkers! But so interesting. She was very affectionate and didn't like to be left alone. Every time she wanted to go upstairs she would take a long run up to the wall opposite the stairs and bounce off it! She did it so many times the wallpaper started to wear away where she did it! She would also run up the curtains

I have a grey and pink cream tortie and she is the sweetest, kindest cat ever. She has never bitten or scratched anyone, and is happy to be carried around by the DDs (she purrs loudly). However, she is not a lap cat, and only likes being stroked on her terms. (She pats your hand with her paw when she has had enough and walks off.)

Tortitude we call it!

I have just acquired a one year old, tiny brindle tortie girl. She's absolutely lovely - not a hint of malice. she leaps onto your chest when you're sitting on the sofa and rubs her face on your cheeks and kneads on you... she's brilliant. loves exploring - recently found her on top of my seven foot fridge!

Stuffez - your new cat is almost identical to my first tortie. Gorgeous!

We have 2 torty girls
Autumn and Ember
Only 16 weeks old and very naughty, mischievous and bite!

Autumn and Ember

Autumn and Ember

Aww, I’m sure it’s a love bite!

A rare still picture!
Autumn yellow collar
Ember orange collar
They are sister's 🧡💛

Owned by a naughty white tortie here. She was rescued as a starving mum of 6 and so by the time we met her they were being looked after by CP. She was flighty and jittery for the first couple of years or so but now my DH laughs at me for saying I wanted a lap cat as often I can't move for being incapussitated.

She has an incredibly quiet purr - we know she's purring from her ribcage's movement. But when it comes to food she's a terror! Screams like a banshee for a couple of hours before feeding time, has no stop button, will steal anything she can, and has been nicknamed the labrador. Only has one fang left but doesn't stop her catching rats. And the vets can't get pills in her - it's just like that meme...

Also can't pick her up. I've lost quite a few t-shirts to claw holes...

But I love her to bits.

Years ago I had two kittens, litter mates.
Cassie was ginger black and white, and Ziggy was a brindle tortie. Two of the nicest, most loving and affectionate cats I have ever had the pleasure to have owned. In 20 years neither of them scratched bit or lashed out.They were absolutely no trouble ever. I was devastated when they died, aged 19 and 20...... I still miss them.

I've had two torties and neither have been naughty. They've both been amazing and affectionate. I'd definitely have another.

Interesting to read how well behaved some torties can be.
Years ago in another country I belonged to a cat club and used to steward at shows.
I can confirm that tortoise are almost invariably harder to handle than other cats. (this is moggies and across the breeds). The judges and handlers used to mentally brace themselves before removing a tortie from the cage and aI used to stand well clear.
My vet who was also a cat fancier also believed this.
Yet the owners doted on them and said they weren’t “vicious” at home. I think it’s the suddenness of the lashing out that it the worrying factor.

I believe Chestnut mares have the same reputation in horse circles. Mares generally in fact.

Many years ago had a torture and white girl.Best cat ever, wonderfully nature and gentle. Never a bite hiss spit or anything negative. Had a baby year after I got her , wonderful with toddler
Very clever cat, would perch on seat to use toilet and drink from a tap. .
was amazed when I discovered the bad rep of thirties, through this site. I had the complete opposite. Never had a cat as nice, before or since

We have a torbie (mix of tabby, ginger tabby and some white - 'what a weird coloured cat' is everyone's catchphrase when they met her) - she's very affectionate but also very clumsy. Also, a bastard to get in her cat box, though she sometimes randomly chooses to sleep in it - why?

Why not? That’s the question.

Ha ha - I read today that there's no point telling off a cat - apparently they live every moment believing that whatever they do is 100% right. Explains a lot.

We've had our tortie girl for 16 years (she's 18) and she is the sweetest gentlest thing. She has put up with baby twins coming into her life and being obsessed with her from the moment they could crawl. She's really affectionate even with the DC (now teenagers) and demands people sit down to "make lap" all the time.

The only times we've ever had biting or scratching were for understandable reasons like Too Many Pills. At the vet she becomes even more docile, they've commented on how good she is even when doing things like getting blood samples.

She used to be quite chatty but since going deaf a couple of years ago, she doesn't really miaow anymore. Still purrs loudly, though.

We have a tortie Burmese and yes, “small, fierce, feisty and utterly affectionate (on her terms)” as a pp put it is exactly right! She is super intelligent and curious, loves to sit on our laps and to snuggle, a cute clever creature, but oh my, she is also naughty, bloody-minded as hell and will nip or swipe if she pleases. (Then usually give a little lick to say sorry.) A hugely rewarding but quirky and decidedly feisty cat! 😂

I have two torties, one is the pale version so is called Ghostie, and the other is the typical black/gold/ginger (Vixen). They're both so affectionate, Vixen will grab at you if you pass her without giving sufficient attention. Ghostie isn't as demanding. If either of them choose to sit on your lap though, you are not allowed to move them as they will lash out.

Ghostie managed to break her tibia (but strangely not her fibula) and it wouldn't set so she only has three legs now. She's just as fast as the other cats and happily plays kiss chase with the other cats. They both have a tendency to rush out of the front door if I have a delivery. Vixen will then spend ages rolling round on the pavement and going up to random strangers for attention. She is impossible to get back into the house, not even Dreamies work! Ghostie just disappears and, most recently, went missing for 10 days, hissed and growled when I found her and carried her home as if she hated me and didn't want to come back, then started purring the second the door closed and no one could hear.

They are both naughty, mischievous, and full of tortitude, but are also the favourites of any visitor as they're so loving and adore strangers (unlike the rest of the tribe who just run and hide!) Vixen even nearly ended up going home with a policeman after she kept sitting on his lap purring when he was trying to take my statement.

Basically my very long post is to say get the tortie ☺️

Sorry, I forgot the cat tax