Does anyone else have a tortoiseshell cat?

Question

Missy is beautiful and she has beautiful green eyes which I hear is rare but she is very shy and afraid of people. She has finally come out of her "shell" with me about 1 year ago but she is still afraid a lot. I got her from the pound and I love her to death as well as my other cat who she gets along great with. He was a kitten when he was brought home and Missey was an adult. Does anyone have anymore info on torties especially with green eyes and her behavior. I tried looking it up and I just figure it might be from previous owners? Thanks

Answer 1

I have had three torties over the years – one was even one of the rare male torties. All were very different in temperament. Torties and calico are not breeds; they are a special coloring found in a number of breeds. My current tortie, Kerqui, is a green-eyed beauty (and she knows it!). When she was younger, she tended to be shy around people and very outgoing and mischievous around me. She would usually hide when strangers would come into her home. As she matured, she became more confident. Now at 17, she has become the official greeter for visitors. In fact, she will pester guests until they pet her and give her the attention she feels she deserves.

I am not sure that a tortie has a fixed personality any more than any mixed breed cat does. They are often called “naughty torties” or fiery – but I have not seen that consistently in my cats. My torties have been feisty at times and serene at others. Although I do not think it is a consistent trait, all three of my torties got along very well with other cats.

Why one cat is afraid of people while another is not is a mystery to me. In some cases behavior may be caused by previous treatment. However, it may also be just part of the individual cat’s personality. One of my current cats will only come out of hiding when I am the only one around – and it took her over a year to come around me! I got her when she was only 8 weeks old, so her fears are probably not from previous abuse. My third current cat cannot decide if he should hide when people come over or sit on a lap for strokes. I can never predict what he will do.

Eye color is genetically related to coat color. Pointed cats almost always have blue eyes. White cats, and cats with a lot of white markings, can have any color – blue, green, gold, copper or “odd-eyes” (one blue eye and one green or gold eye)! Other cats can only have green, gold, or copper eyes, not blue eyes.

Most of my cats have had golden eyes. The most common eyes colors are in the middle of the eye color spectrum – greenish-yellow to gold. The colors at the ends of the eye color spectrum – deep green or brilliant copper – are usually seen only in purebreds that have been selectively bred for extreme eye color; however, they can appear in any breed of cat.

Kerqui has the deep green eyes. It took several years for the eyes to achieve that color. When she was a kitten her eyes were more yellow/green. My other female tortie had deep golden eyes and the male had the lighter yellow/green eyes.

Enjoy your Missy!

Answer 2

I have two torties living with me. One has green eyes and the other orange.
Neither are shy or timid. The older one (she is 11) is gentle and likes to be carried up the stairs to come inside. She comes out to meet us when we get home and if she feels like it she also greets visitors. Neighbours have never had any problems calling her in at night when I have been away and they have cared for the animals.
The younger (16 months old) was the kitten from hell and used to lay in wait for the older one to walk past so she could pounce on her. This one grew into the cat from hell and is still very our there and plays massive chasey games with one of the other cats. She also likes to crawl under the covers on cold mornings. She will follow people into the "bathroom" and lay on their feet.
Both love to meet new people and the older one teases by laying on her back inviting ppl to tickle her tummy. If they oblige she wil either roll out of the way or give them a playful bite.
Of the torties at the shelter ( at the moment we have three adults and eight kittens torties - not all related by the way) all like to be handled and the adults will greet visitors. Some will sit on top of the cages and swat people. We have had many torties through and some have been real naughty and others just want to be cuddled and follow people around. The cats at the shelter all have the option to roam the whole cattery and the cat run outside. They are only put to bed at night.
The kittens all come to the front of the pens for cuddles and stick their paws thru to try and catch people.

So in short, the torties I have come across and experienced - some with yellow eyes, some with green, orange, all sorts - have had varying personalities but most are/were out there and ready for action. None have been shy and timid. But this doesnt mean there aren't shy and timid ones.

Answer 3

No, not a green eyed but a blue eyed and she's an angel. She is a dilute though, probably why but she is a naughty tortie at times :) I do have a friend with a green eyed tortie and she is a really psycho cat, she is on kitty prozac!

Torties are reknowned for their cheekiness and brazen gall.
I fostered one just recently, she could be a brat, a bit like that poem, there was a little girl, had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead, when she was good, she was very very good, when she was bad she was horrid. She scare the living daylights out of my dog. They used to get into brawls in the middle of the night, I ended up having to send my poor dog to sleep with the kids. The dog didn't do anything to her! She only had to be there and the cat would pounce on her.

We had one when I was growing up, she was a beautiful cat, she came to us pregnant. My brother went off to work and about 15 minutes later, he was back, the cat had kittens in the car. She threw one of each colour in her coat! They were beautiful kittens and grew into lovely cats.

Answer 4

breed CAN have some effect on personality, but coloring does NOT. Tortishell is not a breed, it's a color.

I have a calico, which is kind of similar. She's a sweetie, but then, mom raised her during her critical age, as I spent a few months on a mission trip in South America. I defy ANY cat raised by my mom to NOT have a great personality. (Mom is cat crazy and has a gentle way with them. All her cats ADORE her.)

green eyes is kinda rare for any cat I think, though they're might be one or two breeds that have a tendency for green eyes.

Mom has a tortie (tortishell)point Himalayan, which is also kinda hard to find. Of course she's the sweetest thing as well.

Answer 5

Ooh, you've got a naughty tortie! They have a reputation for being pretty firey, hence the nickname. Having said that, my sister had a tortie and she was the sweetest, most harmless cat in the world.
I think green eyes is rare, certainly cats tend to have yellow ones - but I hear it is not actually looked upon favourably in cat shows, make of that what you will.

Chalice

Answer 6

I have a tortoiseshell cat too (Spike) and she exhibits some of the same bahaviour.

She is very nervous and hides when anyone comes to the door or rings the doorbell. She also seems particularly wary of any male visitors to the house. We also have another female cat who is a lot younger and more boisterous.

We got Spike from a close neighbour whose pet cat had a litter of kittens. She has never suffered any abuse or mistreatment that I'm aware of and has always been like this.

I don't think it's something to be worried about, I think it's just part of their personalities.

Answer 7

I have two and they are known to be timid, my two are very dependant on my family but any one else who walks through the door they will go and hide (especially kids). I have has them both since kittewn too and they are now 18months and still they can be very shy at times but rely on the company of their favourite people when they do really relax. Because you rehomed her you can never be too sure of her past and due to her age it wont be somehing she will totally grow out of it. Just make a real effort with her all cats want is company and love and she will love you for it.

Answer 8

i had one to and it was shy but avenuele it will come out of her shell

Answer 9

i do here is a pic