Tortitude: The Unique Tortoiseshell Cat Personality

If you’ve had cats for a while or work in the veterinary field, you’ve heard or said some generalizations about a cat’s personality based on the color of its fur. For instance, orange male cats are reputed to be some of the friendliest cats you’ll ever meet. Tortoiseshell cats, on the other hand, have quite a reputation of their own!

Fortitude, the distinctive personality of tortoiseshell cats, is often believed to be the reason why cats of this color are likely to be promptly assessed by potential owners. We’ll discuss what “fortitude” is and whether it’s genuine in this post. We’ll go through several potential explanations for this myth regarding tortoiseshell cats as well as some additional elements that could have a bigger impact on a cat’s personality than the color of its coat.

What Is Tortitude?

Research contradicts the widespread belief that cats are less loving than dogs and are instead autonomous and unpredictable.

Particularly tortoiseshell cats tend to exhibit these personality qualities rather frequently. Many people have high anxiety levels and detest having other pets in their houses. They could be cuddly one moment and snarling the next.

Torties are sometimes referred to as “the divas of the cat world” since they frequently insist on having their way and may be easily irritated. Veterinarians, who contact with a wide variety of cats during their employment, typically approach dealing with torties with a little more caution due to their frequently unexpected behaviors.

Cats with “fortitude” may be more independent, like to be solitary, and exhibit a fiery demeanor when interacting with humans. They are frequently chatty, vivacious, and feisty cats as well. Owners of torties sometimes anticipate dealing with some unwelcome behavior, including swatting, scratching, and even biting.

Even though that may sound unpleasant, tortie cats and their distinctive personalities are well-liked by cat owners. They like the eccentricities, put up with the attitude, and soak up the love when their torties do decide to show it.

Is Fortitude Real?

We all know what they say about making assumptions, so before we pass judgment on a cat’s entire coat pattern, let’s see whether there is any proof to back up the stereotypes associated with torties.

A study examining the relationship between cat coat color and personality was released in 2016 by experts at the University of California-Davis vet school. The study’s findings were derived from a poll of more than 1,200 cat owners who participated in it anonymously and answered questions on their cats’ interactions with people and their personalities.

The survey’s findings are consistent with the notion that torties and closely related calico cat colors do exhibit demanding and aggressive behaviors more frequently than many other cat colors.

In particular, the study discovered that these cats were more inclined to swat, hiss, pursue, scratch, or bite people. Black-and-white and gray-and-white cats were marginally more inclined to act in this manner.

This study only relied on owner reports of a small number of cats, so there are still some unanswered concerns. Consider whether the owners’ view of their pet’s conduct was impacted by the tortoiseshell cat breed’s reputation in general.

There is currently no evidence to support a genetic relationship between personality and tortoiseshell coat color. However, this study’s findings and observations from people with extensive experience with cats imply that “fortitude” is somewhat genuine.

What Causes Tortitude?

There is one possibility to think about as we wait for experts to investigate any potential genetic underpinnings of the tortoiseshell cat’s distinctive behavior.

Male cats are often seen to be more loving and independent than female cats. Again, this assumption is frequently based on observations rather than verified facts, but it is true enough that it has been supported by several research.

Because the gene that determines the coat color is sex-linked, tortie and calico cats are virtually always female. Like female humans, female cats also have a XX chromosome. One gene for orange fur and one gene for black govern the color of the coat on the X chromosome.

Male cats only have one X influencing their coat color since they have XY chromosomes. Females have two potential coat color genes since they have two XX chromosomes. One gene on each chromosome is inactivated throughout genetic development, although this happens at random.

Female cats with tortoiseshell and calico coats develop active orange and black color genes. A second gene alteration in calicos causes a white hue to mix with the black and orange. Instead of being the outcome of normal development, the rare male calico or tortoiseshell is the consequence of a genetic abnormality.

It makes sense to question whether torties’ reputation for “fortitude” may have something to do with the fact that they are virtually usually female and the presumption about female cats’ personalities.

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What Other Factors Influence a Tortoiseshell Cat’s Personality?

There are additional aspects at play besides the tortie’s coat color that may or may not affect their personality. These factors are more widely applicable to all cats, not only tortoiseshells, and have more solid scientific support.

Genetics

Like humans, cats also acquire some personality traits from their parents. According to a 2019 study from Finland, about half of the behavioral variations among cats are hereditary. The investigated cats’ general personalities and behavioral features revealed genetic relationships.

Purebred cats were the main subjects of the study, but domestic cats of other breeds were also used. Many purebred cats, including well-known breeds like the Maine Coon, are born this color because tortoiseshell is a color pattern rather than a breed. These characteristics of purebred cats, particularly those hereditary ones identified by this study, may influence the personality of your tortie.

Socialization

A cat’s personality develops in large part as a result of its early socialization. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the most important behavioral window for kitten development is between 3 and 9 weeks old. While cats that are poorly socialized at this age may have behavioral disorders as adults, kittens who engage with humans now are unlikely to grow to fear them later.

According to research, kittens that interacted with people often between the ages of 2-7.5 weeks are likely to remain friendlier as they become older. Kittens that received good early socialization acclimated to new people more rapidly. For these cats, developing confidence in a new human just requires a few successful interactions.

However, kittens who were not properly socialized during that critical early period grow up far more afraid and suspicious of people. Before people can trust a person, they must have numerous good contacts with them, but simply a small number of bad interactions might make them apprehensive.

You can’t tell if your tortoiseshell cat had enough socialization if you don’t know what happened to it when it was a kitten. It’s possible that a lack of socializing led to some “fortitude” as an adult.

Human Behavior

A cat’s attitude as an adult as well as when they are kittens is frequently influenced by human behavior.

Studies have linked the frequency of encounters between cats and their owners and whether those interactions were deemed favorable, suggesting that socialization continues throughout the cat’s lifetime. These interactions take on greater significance because so many observations of “fortitude” depend on how humans perceive a cat’s behavior.

Some of the interactions between cats and people can be described as a vicious circle. For instance, when a cat approaches a person and begs for attention, people may be more inclined to perceive the contact as good. People may have a bad opinion of cats and engage with them less frequently if they are distant, as many tortoiseshell cats are.

Cats who weren’t properly socialized as kittens need more positive connections with people to form strong bonds, as we learned in the previous section. It may be challenging to penetrate that shell if the human is less willing to show affection when the cat doesn’t ask for it.

Conclusion

As we’ve discovered, torties may be known for their “fortitude,” but their personalities aren’t just determined by the color of their coat. Don’t allow the tortie’s bad reputation to deter you from getting a new cat if you’re looking. These cats’ feisty, amusing demeanor and eye-catching coat colors appeal to many owners.

Even while it’s crucial to be aware of the possibility of “fortitude,” keep in mind that you do have some influence over your cat’s behavior. No matter what color their coat is, each cat is an individual, and choosing the right one for your home also depends on your personality and how you get along with your new pet. The fact is that not everyone will be a good fit for a terrier, but that is true of any pet.

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