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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Anyone got a tortie?

98 replies

SeaSalt39 · 25/01/2025 22:05

Anyone else got a tortie? Photos please! I am thinking of adopting one and I am going to meet her tomorrow.

OP posts:
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maddiemookins16mum · 25/01/2025 22:07

The best advice I can give you is be prepared for Tortitude. Of all the cats I've been owned by, Torties have had the quirkiest characters.

I'd have a Tortie any day, they are truly special.

Octavia64 · 25/01/2025 22:08

Yep.

She's adorable.

GiantCheeseMonster · 25/01/2025 22:11

Yes. Rare photo of her not menacing either our other cats or small creatures from outside. Everything you’ve heard about tortitude is 100% true. They are feisty, fearless, very loving and intelligent and generally very efficient hunters too. I have no idea why coat pattern influences behaviour in this way but every tortie seems to be the same! Brilliant characters but get used to finding entrails under your table….

Anyone got a tortie?
SeaSalt39 · 25/01/2025 22:12

I think they are so pretty. Are they quite fiesty then? Wondering if she will be affectionate

OP posts:
SeaSalt39 · 25/01/2025 22:13

GiantCheeseMonster · 25/01/2025 22:11

Yes. Rare photo of her not menacing either our other cats or small creatures from outside. Everything you’ve heard about tortitude is 100% true. They are feisty, fearless, very loving and intelligent and generally very efficient hunters too. I have no idea why coat pattern influences behaviour in this way but every tortie seems to be the same! Brilliant characters but get used to finding entrails under your table….

Gorgeous!

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GiantCheeseMonster · 25/01/2025 22:14

Mine demands affection. As soon as I sit down she is on me, generally wanting to be high up under my chin. I am her Person and her first choice but others’ laps will do if I’m not there. She also follows us when we go for a walk and used to walk my DCs to school when I did the school run. She got quite a reputation on the school playground, people used to watch out for her.

catscalledbeanz · 25/01/2025 22:21

Mine is the opposite of the stereotype. Absolutely no attitude, can't hunt, not feisty or sassy- she's just a ball of love, attention and idiocy. She's a clumsy windy greedy queen.

Anyone got a tortie?
ExtraDisorganised · 25/01/2025 22:21

Ours is tiny, beautiful and aloof. No attitude, she is calm and gentle. Won't come to sit on your lap but if you sit next to her and stroke/cuddle she loves it. Loves stretching out in the sunshine and is a completely useless hunter, she tries occasionally but mainly CBA. Gets underfoot which is annoying on the landing at night.

SabrinaThwaite · 25/01/2025 22:37

Ours used to accompany me and the DC part way to school and then wait for me to come back to take me home. She also took a massive dislike to the poor lady postie which ended up with us getting no post until a new postie took over - she then used to escort him around the close and see him off the premises when he had delivered to the last house. Also used to terrorise the neighbour’s Westie by glaring at him through their patio window.

Good luck!

Bjorkdidit · 25/01/2025 22:40

SeaSalt39 · 25/01/2025 22:12

I think they are so pretty. Are they quite fiesty then? Wondering if she will be affectionate

They have a reputation and I've never known one not live up to it (we've had loads of cats over the years including fosters so have experienced a few) - two had to be rehomed due to terrorising our other cats and one of these gained the nickname Crazy Daisy.

We've still got a tortie white who's now 17 and mellowed a lot but some years ago she went to the vets due to a fight injury and I took her out of the carrier and the vet saw her and said 'huh, a tortie, figures'.

Here she is in her younger days showing her attitude. As for affection, it depends, some are complete lap cats, or will sleep on the bed if you let them, or could be wild and unfriendly, or anything in between. Often depends on temperament and their experience of humans to date.

Anyone got a tortie?
bigboybenny · 25/01/2025 22:44

Our tortie also doesn’t fit the stereotype. Slightly aloof but very calm and gentle. Will occasionally sit on a lap but more likely to snuggle up next to us. Not very interested in going outside yet - she’s 9 months old.

Anyone got a tortie?
SeaSalt39 · 25/01/2025 22:45

bigboybenny · 25/01/2025 22:44

Our tortie also doesn’t fit the stereotype. Slightly aloof but very calm and gentle. Will occasionally sit on a lap but more likely to snuggle up next to us. Not very interested in going outside yet - she’s 9 months old.

So pretty! Lovely eyes

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SeaSalt39 · 25/01/2025 22:46

catscalledbeanz · 25/01/2025 22:21

Mine is the opposite of the stereotype. Absolutely no attitude, can't hunt, not feisty or sassy- she's just a ball of love, attention and idiocy. She's a clumsy windy greedy queen.

Ah missed this, she’s so pretty! How old is she?

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Soubriquet · 25/01/2025 22:48

Meet Tootsie the tortie/calico

Anyone got a tortie?
Anyone got a tortie?
Anyone got a tortie?
catscalledbeanz · 25/01/2025 22:49

Thank you. Perhaps 2. We rescued her last autumn, and they estimated her at 18 months.

Bacardi101 · 25/01/2025 22:50

I have a tortie and she’s the opposite of the stereotype! Very calm and aloof only comes to find me when she wants feeding! She has never sat on my lap but will allow pets when the dreamies are out but she’s my angel! My black cat on the other hand is crazy! But also very affectionate and follows me everywhere I go even in the shower!!

Bacardi101 · 25/01/2025 22:52

Sorry forgot the cat tax! X

Anyone got a tortie?
Anyone got a tortie?
RightOnTheEdge · 25/01/2025 22:57

Mine is sadly not with us anymore, we had her from a kitten until she had to be put down at around 17.
She was gentle and loving and quite timid with people she didn't know. She liked to sit in the doorstep and have a potter around the garden but any noises or if she saw any people on the street she'd shoot straight back inside.

Anyone got a tortie?
Beamur · 25/01/2025 22:58

My ex boyfriend had a tortie. At his house she would bite me, she was a jealous and possessive little madam.
I actually lived quite near him and kitty used to visit me at my own house when her preferred Lord was unavailable. At my house, just with me, she was delightful. Sweet, affectionate and not at all bitey.
Prior to this shameless hussy, I had a Calico. Adopted as a young cat, had not been well looked after. The prettiest cat but very highly strung. Destructive, unpredictable - bit bitey (there's a theme) but mellowed with age to being a complete sweetheart.
I think if you're the favourite person then it's all good. But be prepared for a bit of diva who might bite you occasionally!

Travail · 25/01/2025 23:03

Pink nose kills me every time.

Anyone got a tortie?
Anyone got a tortie?
Anyone got a tortie?
Anyone got a tortie?
Lolypoly14 · 25/01/2025 23:04

She’s very affectionate and cuddly when she wants to be, but will have you hand off if you stroke or touch her without permission.

She’s tiny but is an absolute menace to any other cat in the neighbourhood, is not scared of our dog in the slightest and will hide under the dining chairs and attack the feet of anyone who walks past.

She’s not much of a hunter - brings in leaves, random neighbours socks, but never birds or mice or anything like that. Not much of an outside cat at all really unless it’s nice weather. Likes to sunbathe, but won’t go out if it’s wet, won’t walk on wet grass or mud.

She has some odd habits - will suck your clothes, she used to lick my eldest daughter’s eyelashes and dribble all over you, wrap herself around your neck like a hot, furry scarf.

She’s lovely, but only when she feels like it.

Oops, managed to attach some photos by accident

Fluffycat2906 · 25/01/2025 23:05

Ours is gorgeous her tortitude only shows up where other cats are concerned she is very fat but loves to play and is my snuggle bug. Enjoy your tortie puss

Anyone got a tortie?
Circumferences · 25/01/2025 23:06

I don't have a tortoise shell puss anymore- I have tabbies now but you've reminded me of my lovely Martha who I grew up with from aged 8, and Suzie-Q who died when I was 7. Both Torties both utterly gorgeous.

Martha was the most affectionate cat on the planet! Nose rubs, purring on your lap, sleeping under your duvet at night, lovely chirruping noises when you cuddled her, she was so lovely.

My tabbies are lovely too of course, but I do miss Martha and Suzie-Q! No photos sorry.

Here's a photo of our tabby cat though 😜😆

Anyone got a tortie?
HeadsAlwaysSpinnig · 25/01/2025 23:29

I have two torties, both very sweet, short haired is slightly more aloof, not a lap cat but affectionate in her own way, and very much 'my' cat. Long haired one would go home with anyone, shes the most sociable cat in the world and will sit on any one who enters the house and demand their full attention.

Anyone got a tortie?
headache · 26/01/2025 00:12

Our chubby wee tortie, very affectionate, loves people, has a very loud purr, always hungry, gets bullied off our youngest boy cat I wish she would use her tortitude on him she could so take him. She’s no bother at all.

Anyone got a tortie?
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