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4Their Coat's Intricacy
gopfaster//Getty Images In addition to a tortoiseshell cat's fur needing to be particular colors and then classified as mosaic or chimera, their coat can also be categorized as bridled or patched. If the colors in a tortie's coat appear to be woven together, it's bridled. But if colors appear in large sections all over the body, then it's patched.
5A Tortie's Life Span
rudolfoelias//Getty Images Because tortoiseshell cats are made up of different breeds (and those breeds may differ from cat to cat), their lifespan and weight vary. One of the oldest torties was named Marzipan who lived to be 21-years-old. She arrived as a kitten at the Astor Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, where she became a popular fixture. Aussies were sadden by her passing in 2013 from a "long illness."
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6Female-Dominated Tribe
Andrew Linscott//Getty Images If you ever spot a tortoiseshell cat, it's most definitely a female. It's important to know that the female sex chromosome (X) carries the gene for orange or black coat colors. With two X chromosomes, females can have both orange and black coloring in their fur and males can only be either or, but not both colors needed for the tortoiseshell fur. Almost all tortoiseshell cats are female!
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7The Occasional Male
Glenn Asakawa / EyeEm//Getty Images But there have been recorded instances of tortoiseshell cats being male, caused by a genetic mutation. About 1 in 3,000 tortoiseshell cats are male making them incredibly rare. These cats are known to be sterile and may have health issues throughout their lives.
8Tortoiseshell + Attitude = Tortitude
piranka//Getty Images When speaking about tortoiseshell cats, their alleged "tortitude" always comes up. Cats are called out for their feistiness, but it seems torties are on a whole different level. They are recognized as being the divas of the cat world for their strong-willed and fiercely independent nature. But there is no real proof that tortoiseshell cats actually have more attitude than the average kitty.
9Myths and Folklore
piranka//Getty Images Tortoiseshell cats have made their mark in myths and folklore. In Scotland and Ireland, it’s considered good luck when a male tortoiseshell cat enters a home. In the US, they're referred to as “money cats.” The Khmers of Southeast Asia believe that tortoiseshell cats came from “the blood of a young goddess born of a lotus flower." Bringing one of these cats onto a boat can give protection against storms and ghosts, according to Japanese fishermen.
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10Torbies and Calico Cats
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