Is it true tortoiseshell cats can be mean

[Sunflower6]

I am considering taking on a second cat and have seen a young tortoiseshell cat that needs a new home, someone told me that tortoiseshell cats have a reputation for being mean is this true? I had never heard this myself before.

Well, mine was a loony who had a habit of jumping on me from the top of the wardrobe when she wanted me to get up, but her claws were in, so not mean, just determined to get her way. Loved her.

My MIL has fostered and adopted loads of cats over the years (she's up to 9 at the moment, her peak was 11) and all her tortoiseshell have been sweeties.

I have one out of four cats, she's not mean, perhaps more independent and feisty but never mean, none of my cats are mean.

Isn't it naughty torties?

Mine is a lovely tortie, but does have a fiesty-ness about her.

She can shoot a look that could kill if she's sleeping on your legs and you roll over though; heaven help you.

Torties are beautiful.

Maybe it's just that girl cats tend to be a bit more stroppy than boy cats, and torties are always girls? I've only known nice torties fwiw.

Thank you for your replies, I thought it was probably untrue but wanted to check.

I have a 7 year old neutered Tom cat who is very loving and loves a cuddle, can anyone advise whether I would be better to adopt a kitten I was wondering about a cat younger than him. I don't want my boy to feel displaced and thought if the new cat was younger than him he could be top cat so to speak.

We had two cats until 1st June when my eldest cat who was 13 disappeared and hasn't been seen since. My boy cat used to chase her about but I miss having two cats, I will wait a while longer but think my girl must have passed away whilst out and about 😞

We had a tortie who was the nicest most placid cat ever. She was not mean at all in the slightest. I still miss her.

I've had three torties. All adorable, if slightly insane!

One used to lash out at strangers if they touched her belly or tail and another used to beat up dogs.

They were the most loving cats I've ever had. Always wanted to be with us. Followed us to the shops.

I miss them.

Mine is slightly aloof and incredibly gentle, loves having her tummy rubbed and walks away from trouble. Beautiful and so, so elegant too.

I definitely think there's a tortie character - mean is not accurate tho. Google Tortitude...They're often feisty, extremely affectionate and very possessive. This is mine down to a T. She cuddles us frantically. Wants to be wherever we are. Will beat the bathroom door down if I go to the loo! Is an unpredictable swipy so and so but heart meltingly adorable at the same time.
All vets and vet nurses I've met have spoken about the naughty tortie character so I definitely think there's something in it.
It's a positive not a negative though! Mine is one of the great joys of my life. Adore her beyond words. I've loved many cats but she is something else.

My iPhone auto corrects tortie to torrid!!

Her Excellence herself.

The famous Cheekie was a tortie and she was loving and charming to humans.

You wouldn't have wanted to be small and scurrying or feathered though!

In the veterinary world they are know as 'naughty torties' in truth they are not bad just assertive female cats who like everything on their terms and are prepared to assert their authority. This is often not compatible with veterinary treatment.

My tortie is very cuddly and affectionate, although she will scratch if pushed too far. She rules the roost over my other cat, but they have pretty much divided the house up into their territories. Definitely feisty rather than mean.

We had a lovely little tortoise girl, sadly no longer with us, but her son who we hand reared and was the only survivor of the litter can be incredibly vicious and he's a ginger.

We've had two torties with completely different characters; one was a total scaredy cat and a bit aloof, the other the most cuddly cat I've ever met in my life. Neither of them was mean, feisty, or anything like it.

I'm a redhead and am not particularly fiery, and I don't believe that cats' personalities are any more likely to correspond to coat colour than humans'.

My torty-and-white is lovely. Affectionate with humans on her terms, but extremely tolerant of being handled at all times. Never even come close to scratching a person. She can be a little aloof and does seem to think that humans and our other cat are idiots. Not a drop of meanness in her though.

Maybe we should all channel our inner tortie.

Lol at 'channelling our inner tortie'
Mine is definitely a haughty tortie. We all love her to bits but she's very particular about who can go near her! I read that torties have favourites and its true in our house as she clearly favours me and DS and with us she's a real lap cat. With others in the house she will scratch or even bite if they come anywhere near her!

bitterboy I have a beautiful tortie and white but yours is utterly stunning!

Sleepybean worded what I wanted to say perfectly. I have two "naughty torties" who are both amazing in their own way, loving and possessive in their own terms, but definitely have an attitude

Her Highness and the Beastie:

I had a tortoise shell and she was tiny. Beat the living shit out of our other four HUGE (all partly Maine coon) male cats.

She left us and has since been in no less than six homes. Attacked toddlers, kids, rabbits, beat the crap out of a medium sized dog.

So I'm answer to your question- I don't know but ours certainly was!

She came from the streets in Puerto Rico though tfb.

Our tortie kitten enjoying a cuddle... least mean cat ever