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.

Also am here for the gorgeous cat pics

Mine is scared of spiders and likes her tummy rubbed and back feet massaged. She also loves being stroked by feet rather than hands. This has lead to people thinking my dc are kicking their cat - they're not and are very gentle. She very soppy and rather uncat like.

My lovely girl

Well our vet said they're always aware that they have a tendency to be feisty. Some are some aren't.

Cozee ha! Appearances are deceptive. My wife picked her at the shelter because we had mice and she had 'the face of a killer'.We got her home and she slept soundly on the bed whilst the mice ran amok in the rest of the flat.

In reality she is more like one of those Russian Countesses who were exiled after the 1917 revolution and spent their declining years in reduced circumstances in tiny flats in Paris. She always looks slightly disappointed with her surroundings and as if living with us is below her dignity.

My mother's cat is a full tortie.

Oh wow, has she character! Despite me staying awake for 48 hours with her nestled down my top to keep her warm when she was 10 weeks old, she refused to let me fuss her affecionately for about 10 years. She now demands affection and fuss from me whenever I turn up.

I think I see torties as having a take no shit attitude- basically she's the one teacher at school no one would cross, or God help you because no one else could.

cloud your cat looks almost the dead spit of our tortie! It really threw me as she's an indoor cat and to see her 'twin' outside was odd to say the least.

The fur looks the same texture too, is t soft and silky like a rabbit and really plush?

My tortoiseshell is the sweetest girl. She has never hissed or scratched, despite some quite rough play from the children. She is 5 now and such a huge part of our family

LikeDylan Yes! Her fur is super-soft and very plush (causing lots of furball issues). Who knows, maybe they are related

cloud ditto. Plus her fur gets everywhere! Her other defining feature is her tiny legs!

You cat isn't from Scotland is she?

LikeDylan Nope, she's from South London

My sister and her family had 2 tortoiseshells, mother and daughter. The mother was a bit of a grumpy sourpuss most of her life. The daughter, called Tinkle, was one of the sweetest creatures you could hope to meet, and very intelligent as well. She was also remarkably empathetic. My elder niece told me that whenever she was a bit stressed studying for exams, Tinkle would come to her room to keep her company.
Whenever I was visiting my mother, who lived next door, and was in the garden, Tinkle would often pop over the fence to greet me. As I never fed her, this was pure friendliness - the idea that cats are only bothered with those who feed them is a calumny. After my mother died, and I inherited the house, she continued to visit me.
Tinkle predeceased her own mother. After her death, the mother actually became more friendly, taking on some of the characteristics of her daughter. Perhaps she had been grumpy because she was overshadowed by her charismatic daughter.

There goes my theory about them being sisters cloud!

We had a tortie - she wasn't mean at all but just a bit bonkers really! She's was very entertaining but got herself into scrapes. She was lovely.

They have a reputation in Rescues and vets for being hard to handle, often bad tempered and sometimes impossible to house train.
Many people don't know tortoiseshells from tabbies.