04/17/2024
April 17th is Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day! Some fun facts about our fiesty little friends, also known as "Torties:"
* Maryland icon Edgar Allan Poe's beloved Cattarina was a Tortoiseshell.
* Male tortoiseshell cats are incredibly rare, and usually sterile. Only 1 in 3,000 Torties is a male!
* The Tortoiseshell coat pattern can be seen on a variety of cat breeds, and only Torties and Calicos possess the red and black coat color gene. Calicos' extra spotting gene gives them their distinct unpigmented spots.
* Chimeras can be found in Torties, where one side of the body or face is a completely different color.
* Numerous patterns have been identified in Tortoiseshell cats' coats; when Tabby stripes are noted, these unique cats are dubbed "Torbies."
* Through many cultures, you'll find auspicious legends about these beauties.
Please share photos of your own Torties; we would love to see them.
If you are looking for a cat with a BIG personality (sometimes, "Tortitude"), stop by the Maryland SPCA or another local shelter and welcome one of these spunky cats into your life. We would love to partner with you for their healthcare!