do male tortoise shells live as long as females.?

Question

i have a male tortoise shell and was just wondering how long they lived.

Answer 1

Though it is very rare, it is possible to have a male tortoiseshell coloured cat, but they are usually sterile. See the link below for the genetic explanation for this.

http://www.roanoke.com/printer/printpage.aspx?arcID=23696

As for how long any cat will live, no-one can predict this, whatever their colouration. Tortoiseshells have a reputation for being a bit feisty, but I didn't find this to be true with mine as she was the sweetest natured cat that I ever had and lived to be 19 years old.

Just enjoy your cat for as long as you are lucky enough to have him.

Answer 2

The Tortie coloring like the Calico are reserved for females. In Calico's only 1 in 10,000 are born male. Safe to assume that this holds true in Torties. In these cases nearly all males are born sterile. They have no value as they generally are not a purebred cat so breeding if not sterile is of no use. Passing on genetic flaws by breeding is unethical and can only cause more harm therefore people will not pay for them. Left alone, they will age just like any other cat. Keeping in mind you do not have a tortoise shell cat but a cat that is tortoise shell colored. Again, not a breed just a color.

Answer 3

There are definitely male tortoiseshell cats which is due to a rare genetic abberation where the cat has an extra sex chromosome (not the only pattern).

I read a book about male tortoiseshells called "Cats Are Not Peas" by an Laura Gould who had one and there was no mention of her cat or any other male with that color pattern having less of a lifespan than any other cat.

My female tortoiseshell lived to be 22 and 1/2.

Answer 4

I guess the lifespan of the shell depends on the lifespan of the tortoise. If the tortoise goes, then there goes the shell. Seems like you should be more concerned about the tortoise than just the shell.

Answer 5

You talking cats here or just tortoise shells? I only ask as, so far as I know, there are no male "tortoiseshells" . Either I'm not up to date with these things (quite possible!), or you are onto
a winner!
Update.
Ok kaytie k, you HAVE got a male tortoiseshell & us "bad answer" saps have left our brains behind, or our brains are in our behinds perhaps?

Answer 6

I had a male tortie too. Although it is rare, you can indeed have a male tortie. They are sterile because of the extra chromosome, but he lived to be over 17 years old - about the same as many of my cats.

Answer 7

I'm 49 and i have never seen a male torte before..a few females we've had and still have some but no males...all cats male and female live about the same yrs ,except outdoor cats life lesser yrs to cat fights and diseases...

Answer 8

There is no such thing as a male tortoise shell cat.
The tortoise shell pattern can only be female. The explanation is too long and boring, but it you were told you have a male, you were lied to.

Answer 9

well firstly i think u should take ur cat to the vets because u cant get male tortie's there's a gene that only females have that make only female ones.
Same as ginger cats u'll find that most ginger cats are male.

Answer 10

I don't know about males, but tortoiseshells generally develop an evil streak and live a long time just to spite you. My mum's tortie lived until she was 21.

I didn't know you could get male torties. You're not supposed to be able to get female gingers either, but I have come across a couple.

Is your tortie 100% tortie, or is he a broken tortie (ie tortie and white)?