# Name this cat breed / colour **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 24, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920 "2005-07-24T13:49:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/1 "2005-07-24T13:49:13Z")
Here she is. Any ideas ? [![](http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/ptegan/Temp3460.jpg) ](http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/ptegan/Temp3460.jpg) Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/2 "2005-07-24T14:05:59Z")
> [@Cat Jones](#): > > Here she is. Any ideas ? > > [http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/ptegan/Temp3460.jpg](http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/ptegan/Temp3460.jpg) > > Thanks. Mixed breed. Calico. ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/3 "2005-07-24T14:06:04Z")
This type of cat is typically referred to as simply a “Domestic Shorthair” and the color is a form of tabby called “Tortoiseshell and White.” The Domestic Shorthair and Longhair can include any cat that doesn’t come from two parents that are either unknown, or neither parent is a pedigree. It is the feline equivalent of a mutt. Nice looking cat! ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/4 "2005-07-24T14:07:31Z")
> [@daffyduck](#): > > This type of cat is typically referred to as simply a “Domestic Shorthair” and the color is a form of tabby called “Tortoiseshell and White.” The Domestic Shorthair and Longhair can include any cat that doesn’t come from two parents that are either unknown, or neither parent is a pedigree. It is the feline equivalent of a mutt. Nice looking cat! I’ll abandon “calico.” Tortoishell is better and the proper term. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/5 "2005-07-24T14:27:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Nice looking cat! Why thank you kindly 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/6 "2005-07-24T15:02:12Z")
Your “tortoiseshell & white” looks remarkably like mine: [Roxie](http://pics.livejournal.com/indyellen/pic/00015cpk/g6) ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/7 "2005-07-24T15:04:30Z")
Which in turn looks remarkably like my Honey Cat… Damn but I need mum’s digicam! ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/8 "2005-07-24T16:29:24Z")
And my cat [Suzy](http://uk.msnusers.com/g4vqgigknrfqkgi4p94qhjesi0/Documents/Pictures%2FS2010046.jpg) They are also called Torties. I don’t know about your cat, but Suzy (like many Tortoishells) can be a bit unpredictable. One minute she is all over you , next minute she will bite. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/9 "2005-07-24T16:54:20Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > And my cat [Suzy](http://uk.msnusers.com/g4vqgigknrfqkgi4p94qhjesi0/Documents/Pictures%2FS2010046.jpg) > > They are also called Torties. I don’t know about your cat, but Suzy (like many Tortoishells) can be a bit unpredictable. One minute she is all over you , next minute she will bite. Damnit, need a login to see the kitty ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/10 "2005-07-24T16:56:55Z")
> [@Sierra Indigo](#): > > Damnit, need a login to see the kitty ☹ Sorry about that , I will try to get the picture on the net another way. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/11 "2005-07-24T17:11:23Z")
Try this for [Suzy](http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/deavidcronan/S2010046.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/12 "2005-07-24T18:22:18Z")
Awwwwwwww… She’s adorable! ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/13 "2005-07-24T18:27:24Z")
> [@Sierra Indigo](#): > > Awwwwwwww… She’s adorable! Yes, and she bought us a present of a live mouse a couple of days ago. I was chasing it round our conservatory at 11 at night. I caught it and released it into the garden. It seemed OK. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/14 "2005-07-24T18:37:51Z")
I disagree. She is Calico (tri-colored) with tortishell as one of her three colors. Calicos are almost always girls. As I understand it, each X can carry up to two colors (tortishell is one color, the hairshaft itself is varigated) She is mighty cute. And a mighty huntress! ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/15 "2005-07-24T18:42:30Z")
> [@Hello Again](#): > > I disagree. She is Calico (tri-colored) with tortishell as one of her three colors. > > Calicos are almost always girls. As I understand it, each X can carry up to two colors (tortishell is one color, the hairshaft itself is varigated) > > She is mighty cute. And a mighty huntress! This has been discussed on this board before. As usual we are two nations divided by a common language! These cats are always called Tortoiseshell over here while the preferred name is Calico in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/16 "2005-07-24T18:43:44Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > Yes, and she bought us a present of a live mouse a couple of days ago. I was chasing it round our conservatory at 11 at night. I caught it and released it into the garden. It seemed OK. Must be a trait common to these cats. Our cat Honey has only managed to kill a mouse once, and I think that was by mistake. The other times she’s always had them live and wanted me to come see… > [@Hello Again](#): > > I disagree. She is Calico (tri-colored) with tortishell as one of her three colors. > > Calicos are almost always girls. As I understand it, each X can carry up to two colors (tortishell is one color, the hairshaft itself is varigated) Tell me to shut up if I’m wrong, but I thought Calicos were normally females because tortishells are normally femmes, just like full gingers are usually boys, and calicos normally are torti+white. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/17 "2005-07-24T18:46:08Z")
Nope. toritshells can be either male or female. I know lots of tortishell and white males. Tortishell is the varigated pattern of browns you see in her darker patches. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/18 "2005-07-24T18:49:03Z")
BTW, when the cat brings you her kill, she’s treating you as one of her kittens (she wants to teach you to kill.) You might notice she has a particular “meow” that signifies a live capture. Mama cats call their kittens for “practice time.” If she’s just batting it around, she’s playing with it. Mouses are fun toys. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/19 "2005-07-24T18:58:04Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > They are also called Torties. I don’t know about your cat, but Suzy (like many Tortoishells) can be a bit unpredictable. One minute she is all over you , next minute she will bite. Yes, Roxie does that, too. She’ll be meowing at me, begging me to pet her & for her to curl up on me, and then all of a sudden she’ll snap at me & stalk off. Moody bitch. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920/20 "2005-07-24T18:59:27Z")
> [@Hello Again](#): > > BTW, when the cat brings you her kill, she’s treating you as one of her kittens (she wants to teach you to kill.) You might notice she has a particular “meow” that signifies a live capture. Mama cats call their kittens for “practice time.” > > If she’s just batting it around, she’s playing with it. Mouses are fun toys. As I understand it, if she brings you a dead kill, she’s giving you a present, sharing food with the alpha of the pride. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-cat-breed-colour/313920.md?page=2)