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Original poster

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

54 replies

toomuchhappyland · 25/03/2016 20:47

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?

OP posts:
lottielou7 · 26/03/2016 09:50

I've heard that tortitude only applies to cats who have no white.

AnotherStitchInTime · 26/03/2016 09:50

I have always found male cats to be more laid back in general. My current female is lovely but affectionate very much on her terms. Male cat is just soppy.

Original poster
toomuchhappyland · 26/03/2016 09:55

This one has no white lottie! Mostly black with a few ginger stripes showing and a ginger stripe all down her nose.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 26/03/2016 10:01

She sounds great. Smile

Do you know anything of her personality?

cozietoesie · 26/03/2016 10:08

Cheekie had no white markings if I recall.

We eventually rehomed her (circumstances) to a farmer friend who needed a good mouser to improve his farm cats.

She liked it fine there. I'll not dwell on what happened to his very large pen of prize young turkeys. Grin

Original poster
toomuchhappyland · 26/03/2016 10:14

Not at the moment cozie - were going to see them on Weds. They will only be four weeks old then though so we won't be getting one for a while.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 26/03/2016 10:32

I reckon I'd go for it even though you can't always tell with a kit of that age. I may have a slightly .....authoritarian......old boy at the moment (I mean who else wouldn't have got on with The Lodger?) but that's not really representative. He barely gets on with humans who aren't me so another cat? ..........Smile

stumblymonkey · 26/03/2016 10:41

It's complete woo...like the cat equivalent of starsigns.

I have a tortie girl who I'd characterise as very intelligent, demanding (for pets and to be let in/out) and affectionate. Loves some time outside but once she's in during the evening she can't wait to snuggle in a lap and fall asleep.

My other cats have been silver, fawn and white with tabby patches and the tortie has been the least mad of the bunch. She's very refined, classy and clever.

stumblymonkey · 26/03/2016 10:41

...and my tortie has no white...

cozietoesie · 26/03/2016 11:14

Oh Cheekie was clever all right. And determined - Boy was she determined when she set her mind to something! Smile

PearlMcClutcher · 26/03/2016 11:22

Get both? It's win-win Wink

lottielou7 · 26/03/2016 11:50

I still think she was a great cat - she was so playful and funny. I've only had one so couldn't possibly know. I expect they differ as much as any other cat tbh.

StopLaughingDrRoss · 26/03/2016 14:33

My boy tabby had a heart scan a few months back and whilst they try to do them without sedation, there is a risk they might need to do it if they're too feisty.

The vet commented that she could tell already that my boy would probably be fine, in her words "Tabby's are quite laid back - now if it was a tortoiseshell..." and she pulled this slightly fearful face Smile

I personally think it's down to the cat although the big, jet black cats I have known in my life have all been soppy as hell but you wouldn't mess with them!!

I agree with a pp though - get both Grin

Lovelydiscusfish · 26/03/2016 17:45

Ah, I was pretty sure that mixed sex pairings were meant to be better, whether the cats were neutered or not? Certainly our RSPCA, where we've adopted our cats from, seems to insist on this for most cats? I could be totally wrong though. Or maybe it doesn't matter if you're introducing a kitten? Tbf, the RSPCA do seem to allow kittens to go to any home, no matter what existing cats/dogs you have, presumably on the basis that they will get used to the situation they grow up with.
Anyway, good luck - all very exciting! Smile

6cats3gingerkittens · 26/03/2016 22:00

My tortie has been a sweety since the day she was born, I was there. She's pretty, dainty and smart and very very affectionate towards cats and people. My vet loved her because she was so well behaved when spayed.
The exception that proves the rule?

LionsLedge · 26/03/2016 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Allergictoironing · 27/03/2016 09:24

There are 3 black & white cats in my life (all rescues) - my next door neighbour's one & my sister's two, and they are all completely different in personality.

NDNs little girl is friendly, likes cuddles (on her terms), constantly attention seeking, and will play with a laser pointer until she drops from exhaustion; she's also very smart. Dsis's girl is not the smartest cat on the block, shy of strangers but adores Dsis & will sit on her/her keyboard. She only eats cat food, tends to ignore "human" food like ham & not even interested in Dreamies!

Dsis's boy is a bit of a monster. He stalks around like a panther, and until he had to go on tablets for fits he ruled the local neighbourhood (they've quietened him down a bit). If he's in the mood you are permitted to scratch his head & neck for exactly as long as he wants, his usual method of saying he's had enough is to turn his head & slowly but firmly bite your hand (but no blood). His pet trick is to lie on his back exposing his gorgeous white belly & look at you with soft eyes that seem to beg you to stroke - then rip your hand & arm apart with both teeth & claws if you try. He will sometimes play if he's in the mood but never more than a few minutes. He will try to eat any human food he can, including the time we caught him licking the very rich buttercream off the chocolate log one Christmas Shock.

I will be getting cats this summer after years of yearning for them. When I spoke to the rescue I will get mine from she asked was I fussy about colour; my response was a) personality is most important and b) the cats will choose me, not the other way around Grin.

Original poster
toomuchhappyland · 30/03/2016 16:01

So we're in Team Tortie! Here she is. We all fell in love with her - and the owner thinks she's the most confident/outgoing of the litter, which we figured is probably a good thing as she's coming to live with small children. Probably means she's going to be a handful! Not a great pic but I'll post more when we get her. Now having name wars....

Is there any truth in the coat colour linked to personality theory?
OP posts:
cozietoesie · 30/03/2016 16:07

Pretty girl. Smile

Fluffycloudland77 · 30/03/2016 16:59

Omg my ovaries just twanged, she's so cute!.

LionsLedge · 30/03/2016 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Vinorosso74 · 30/03/2016 18:24

Oh sooooo cute!

WalkingBlind · 02/04/2016 01:16

I have short-haired tortie: Curious and causes all the trouble!

Long-haired tortie: Little madame, quite feisty.

Short-haired ginger: Twat cat. Greedy cat.

All are female and think they are princesses I'm sure. I'd love to know which ones are meant to be chilled out, could do with one to balance the bunch! Grin

WalkingBlind · 02/04/2016 01:18

Oh the short-haired tortie has white patches but the long-haired one doesn't

Phoeberdoos · 02/04/2016 01:27

My tortie is crazy, and she has some small white markings.

She has on several occasions launched herself at mirrors... and the dog.

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