Tortoiseshell cats are beautiful creatures affectionally called “torties.” Best known as “the divas of the cat world,” this particular kind of cat hides surprising facts within its unique multicolor ...

Tortoiseshell cats are named for their mottled color pattern resembling a turtle shell. Most are female, similar to calicos, making male tortoiseshells rare and special. Your tortie cat deserves a ...

When I was last at the shelter, I noticed the beautiful array of coat colors and patterns on our felines. I wondered, what change in genetic makeup determines a predisposition for tortoiseshell or a ...

Never heard of this one? Domestic cat breeding has led us to felines with “colorpoint” patterns, which is when the body of the cat is a lighter color, then it has darker coloring around the ears, paws ...

Recently, a unique kitten came through the doors of Marin Humane. In fact, little Luigi is 1 in 3,000. Those are the chances of a tortoiseshell feline being a male. This unusual coloring, known for ...

Editor’s note: Dr. Lee Pickett has retired, but Creators continues to distribute columns from her archives. This one is from 2021. Q: I adopted a calico cat from a shelter that named him Joseph for ...

Is your calico cantankerous or your tortie a tad touchy? Researchers at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital say you aren’t imagining things. They are. The “cattitude” study, recently ...

It seems you’re in good company. Veterinarians from UC Davis have discovered, in recently published research, that cats with calico and tortoiseshell coat patterns tend to challenge their human ...

Just like humans, domestic cats are often judged by their color, and the media and folklore help perpetuate these stereotypes. Take the snobbish, aloof, white kitty who promotes "Fancy Feast," and ...