A veterinarian has cautioned prospective cat owners about a specific breed that appears to become "manic" at the age of two. Amir Anwary, a vet, acknowledged the popular belief that orange cats are the "craziest and most aggressive" type, but based on his experience at his practice, he disagrees.
"The females that have just turned two-years-old… are manic!" he wrote in a TikTok caption. "I don't know why!" In his video, Anwary joked that he was even too afraid to face the cat in question, hiding behind a door in his surgery.
Female Tortoiseshells Named as the Culprits
That cat? "Female tortoiseshells," he said.
Anwary's opinion is supported by a recent study by veterinarians at UC Davis, which found a possible correlation between feline behavior and fur color. The research, conducted at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, discovered that cats with calico and tortoiseshell coat patterns tend to be more challenging and aggressive compared to those with single-color coats, as reported by the California Aggie.
Study Data and Owner Reactions
The research was based on a survey of more than 1,200 cat owners, who were asked about their pets' behaviors, coat colors, and the frequency of bad behaviors like hissing and biting on a scale of one to five. The study showed that cats with calico and tortoiseshell patterns tended to challenge their human companions more and exhibit more signs of aggression.
One tortoiseshell owner shared in response: "My tortie got banned from a vet once because they said 'they feared for the safety of their staff'. When I picked her up that day they had her in a two-inch thick plexiglass box meant for ferals because they couldn’t get her back in the normal cage."
A second person added: "I have a white tortie and I can confirm she's an absolutely gremlin." A third quipped: "Tortitude! I was working in retail and my arms were super sliced up and a customer asked, 'Do you have a tortoiseshell cat?'"
While a fourth TikTok user claimed: "Orange cats do it out of craziness and silliness. With torties it’s intentional."
Purina's Caution
However, Purina says the findings are yet to be "conclusively proven." They admit that many cat owners are already convinced that their feline's tortoiseshell fur color is linked to mischief. They point out that the term 'tortitude' was coined to describe the torties' sassy, strong-willed personality, and anecdotally, there seems to be a lot of attitude that comes with their beautiful coats.
"In reality, the tortoiseshell cat personality has more to do with their particular breed, their environment, and even their gender than the shades adorning their fur. Not all tortoiseshell cats live up to the reputation of a 'naughty tortie', and if you choose one of them as your companion, expect a personality that is as unique as their multicoloured looks."
