Description
The defining feature of the classic tortoiseshell coat pattern is its color combination. This combination appears to consist of black, red, and cream colored hairs, but in reality consists of black areas and orange tabby areas. Since the orange tabby areas are two-toned, it creates the appearance of a three-toned cat. Tortoiseshells generally have numerous flecks of color that soften or nearly eliminate any clear boundaries between color sections.
Two variations of the tortoiseshell coat pattern are worth noting. First, the Torbie is a combination of the tortoiseshell and tabby coat patterns. In this variation, the black sections are replaced by a dark tabby pattern. The second is the Calico, which essentially is a tortoiseshell pattern with added white sections. This name is commonly used in America, while the name Tortoiseshell and White Cat is used elsewhere for the same color pattern.
The tortoiseshell pattern comes in many different color combinations, including the following: Blue Tortoiseshell, Chestnut Tortoiseshell, Chinchilla Shaded Tortoiseshell, Chocolate Tortoiseshell, Chocolate Tortoiseshell Point, Chocolate Tortoiseshell Lynx Point, Chocolate Tortoiseshell Shaded, Chocolate Tortoiseshell Smoke, Cinnamon Tortoiseshell, Cinnamon Tortoiseshell Smoke, Dilute Tortoiseshell, Dilute Chinchilla Shaded Tortoiseshell, Dilute Shaded Tortoiseshell, Ebony Tortoiseshell, Lilac Tortoiseshell, Seal Tortoiseshell, Shaded Tortoiseshell, Shell Tortoiseshell, Smoke Tortoiseshell, Tortoiseshell Point, Tortoiseshell Lynx Point, and Tortoiseshell and White (Calico).
Background - History
The factual history of this coat pattern is not a glamorous one. The tortoiseshell pattern simply arose due to a combination of genetic traits (the specific traits will be discussed in the next section). However, the Khmers of Southeast Asia offer one interesting explanation. According to their folklore, the first tortoiseshell arose from the menstrual blood of a young goddess born of a lotus flower during a magical ritual. Other folklore concerning the tortoiseshell include the following: 1) The Celts considered it a good omen if a male tortoiseshell stayed in their home 2) The English believed that warts could be healed if rubbed by the tail of a male tortoiseshell's tail during May 3) Japanese fishermen believed that male tortoiseshells protected the vessel from ghosts and storms 4) Some believe that having a tortoiseshell in one's dream gives that person luck in love.
Genetic Features
Many people mistakenly believe that all Tortoiseshells are female. While most Tortoiseshells are female, it is possible to find a male with the tortoiseshell pattern. The reason that most Tortoiseshells are female is because both of the genes that produce this pattern are contained on the same part of the X chromosome. The red gene must be on one X chromosome and the non-red gene on the other. Since typical females have two X chromosomes and typical males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, it is obvious why this pattern is rarely seen in males. Most males can only have the red gene or the non-red gene, but not both. The resulting product is a solid red tabby or a solid black cat, rather than the combination of the two that comprises the tortoiseshell pattern. However, as mentioned earlier, not all Tortoiseshells are female. This occurrence is made possible by the fact that some males have two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome (XXY). This difference is rare and caused by a genetic error. It also results in a more feminine male cat. As a result, male Tortoiseshells are often less territorial or interested in females than typical males. They are also sterile. The rarity of the Tortoiseshell male may be the reason that so much folklore deeming them as good-luck charms exists.
Breeds That Exhibit This Color Pattern
The tortoiseshell pattern is accepted in many different breeds, including the following: Birman, Manx, Norwegian Forest, Persian, Turkish Van, Japanese Bobtail, Siamese, Burmese, Angora, Maine Coon, Abyssinian, British Shorthair, Himalayan, Colorpoint Shorthair, Oriental Shorthair, Tonkinese, Cornish Rex, American Bobtail, Cymric, Devon Rex, Scottish Fold, American Shorthair, American Wirehair, Exotic Shorthair, Sphynx, Somali, American Curl, Burmilla, and European Shorthair.
Author: Ruth Bratcher
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