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You are here: Home / Blog / 8 Fascinating Facts About Tortoiseshell Cats and Kittens

8 Fascinating Facts About Tortoiseshell Cats and Kittens

Cats are distinctive and attractive in their own way, no matter what the breed or color. But there’s something special about tortoiseshell cats. Sometimes known as “torties,” they have a special quality. Their coats. The patterns on their fur is eye-catching, and they have a well-deserved reputation for being a little fierce.

Here are a few amusing facts about “tortie” cats in case you’re thinking about adopting one or just want to learn more about them.

#1 – The Tortoiseshell breed of cat doesn’t actually exist

The patterned coat, not the breed, is what distinguishes a tortoiseshell. There is no such thing as a tortoiseshell cat breed. Tortoiseshell markings can be seen in a variety of breeds, including American shorthair, British shorthair, Cornish Rex, Persian, and Maine Coons, among others.

Tortoiseshell coats come in a variety of colors, including ginger red, black, and cream, orange, and gold. Their coats are either “bridled,” in which the colors appear to be braided together, or “patched,” in which the colors appear in big areas all over the body.

#2 – Tortoiseshell cats are almost always female

Tortoiseshell cats, like calico cats, are mostly female. That’s because their coat colors are determined by the same chromosomes that define their sex.

The genetic code for orange or black coat colors is carried by the female sex chromosome (X), but the male sex chromosome (Y) does not.

Females have two sets of genetic information that can determine their coat color because they have two X chromosomes. Each cell’s X chromosome is turned off by the embryo, resulting in orange and black color differences in their coats.

Because male cats only have one X and one Y chromosome, they can only be orange or black.

A male tortoiseshell cat can be born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome in a one-in-3,000 chance. Male cats with XXY Syndrome are sterile and frequently suffer from substantial health problems, resulting in much shorter lives than female torties.

#3 – Tortoiseshell cats are said to carry good luck

One of the oldest and most persistent superstitions is that crossing paths with a black cat will bring bad luck. Alongside this is that tortoiseshell cats bring good luck. This is known all around the world. Different countries have different takes on this superstition.

Ireland
Tortoiseshell cats are thought to bring good luck to their owners in Ireland.

Southeast Asia
Folklore in Southeast Asia says that tortoiseshell cats were formed from the blood of a young goddess. Weird!

Japan
In Japan, tortoiseshell cats are thought to provide good luck against shipwrecks. What about other forms of transport?
Also they are thought to protect the home from ghosts.

England
A wart can be cured by rubbing the tail of a tortoiseshell cat on it, according to English folklore.

#4 – They have a unique temperament – “Tortitude”

Many believe that the tortie has its own distinct personality that makes them quite demanding. They are the feline world’s divas. Tortie fans refer to this personality as “tortitude” because of this.

Despite the fact that the majority of studies demonstrate no specific personality traits associated with torties, some studies and many owners disagree!

#5 – The Rarity of A Male Tortie

A male tortoiseshell cat is rare. There are a few male tortoiseshell cats around. They are, however, not particularly common.

The problem is that only male cats with a XX-Y gene mutation will appear tortoiseshell, as the color pattern requires two x chromosomes. This means that while the cat can have various color genes on each chromosome, the male cat will have other difficulties.

A male tortoiseshell cat can be born with two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome in a one-in-3,000 chance.

Male cats with XXY Syndrome are sterile and frequently suffer from substantial health problems, resulting in much shorter lives than female torties.

#6 – Male Tortoiseshell Cats Are Usually Sterile

Due to an irregular number and pattern of chromosomes in the cellular DNA, a male tortoiseshell cat is almost always sterile.

As previously stated, one in every 3,000 male cats (0.033 percent) has this disease, and their cells can undergo the same X-inactivation process as females. XXY guys are always sterile, thus they’ll be hard to come by.

#7 – Tortoiseshells are the Official Cat of Maryland

Maryland’s official cat is the calico or white tortoiseshell cat. On October 1, 2001, the state cat became official. The calico was the natural choice because the feline shares the same color pattern as the state’s official bird, the oriole.

#8 – A Tortoiseshell Tabby is Called a Torbie

Torbies are created by crossing the colors of a tortoiseshell cat with the stripes of a tabby cat. They’re also known as “tortoiseshell tabbies” or “striped torties,” among other names. Their coats are vibrant and bright, with unique stripes that vary in length and width.

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