Is my cat a tortico, tortie with white or something else?

roscoeraccoon

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
32
Purraise
12
I have been told my cat has unusual markings. I've looked up different names for her coloring and the one that stands out as a combination of tortie and calico (tortico) which I think describes her perfectly as she has the typical black with red mottled coat on top, but underneath she has very distinct and separate patch work of red, black and white. But then I heard this isn't a real color name and that she would be tortie and white, which I don't think describes her as she has patches of red as well as white on her belly.


In this picture you can see her typical mottled tortie coat.


In this picture (where she is sleeping like a drunken sailor) she has very distinct patches of color such as the all red leg, red patches on her forehead and chest as well as white socks, chin, chest, belly.

What would you describe my cat as?
 

catlove15

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
34
Purraise
3
Location
bc, canada
i'm no expert but sounds like you got the name right with tortico. or tortie and calico you could probably say too. 
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,997
Purraise
10,645
Location
Sweden
If you think the color patches are distinctive, you may call her for calico.

If you deem the color patches as rather blurry, colors but no real clear patches, it will be tortie and white.

A very pretty sailor, isnt she?    :)

Good luck!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

roscoeraccoon

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
32
Purraise
12
Thanks for your reply! I guess part of my question is tortico a legitimate color name, or is it just made up? I'm guessing that if it's not a real descriptive term, then she would qualify as a tortie and white. The shelter listed her as a calico and the vet listed her as tortie and no one seems to know what to call her.

I think she's a pretty sailor indeed, so glad I got her before they put her down. :(
 

memphisthecat

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Dec 27, 2014
Messages
5
Purraise
2
Location
San Francisco, CA
I came here with the same question - our kitties could be twins! I'm trying to figure out if Memphis my 6 month old kitten is a tortie, tortico, or totie with white. I'm thinking she's a tortico because she has a calico belly with clear patches and a tortoisehell back with no white except her nose. Would love any insight form tortie experts! 


 

catlove15

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
34
Purraise
3
Location
bc, canada
i'm still thinknig black white and red is calico and black and orange is tortie. so i'd say your first one could be calico maybe or just black and white. and the mostly black and orange one is tortie. but it really doewsn't matter. i went in to see my vet and told him and he said he'd say merlin is tortie with white. i say calico. or caliby cuz she's got tabby stripes. or torby. :) 

 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

roscoeraccoon

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
32
Purraise
12
What a cutie pie memphisthecat! I love the smudge on the forehead. She does look like my girl. I guess tortico is not an actual term. Cats that have a mottled patterns are torties and any coincidental patterning that includes white would just classify them as tortie and white. It's interesting the more 'torticos' I see the patterning is very similar, such as the white socks and white on the belly, yet not the back. I'd be interested to know the genetics that has the gene for mottled coat and the gene for patching yet always expresses them by keeping mottled on the back and patching on the belly.
 
Last edited:

SunshineAndMia

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jan 14, 2015
Messages
10
Purraise
2
I guess it's because the white mutation (as I've heard it called) is more likely to target more fine, "fragile" hair. That's my guess. Sunshine, my orange tabby, and Mia, my calico both have light peach and white on their legs and bellies, respectively. I've noticed fur on the back and head to be coarser and more prone to shedding so that might be a part of it. Maybe genetically, the back is stronger.
 

dianac

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Mar 29, 2015
Messages
4
Purraise
2
This cat looks just like my cat Chloe. Almost the exact same markings and colors. My vet says she is a tortico (a combination of tortoise shell and calico). I got her from a woman who rescued feral kittens and found homes for them. I saw Chloe's mother and she was all orange, but I have no idea what color the father was. Whatever he was, the result is my gorgeous little tortico with the squeaky meow!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

roscoeraccoon

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
32
Purraise
12
She sounds so sweet. My girl doesn't even meow. She just murmurs. When she thinks you are going to the kitchen to feed her, but don't she give you this disgruntled mur.
 

strider rose

cat toy lady and cat mom to 3
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 19, 2020
Messages
10,105
Purraise
17,896
Location
Marshall Michigan
I have been told my cat has unusual markings. I've looked up different names for her coloring and the one that stands out as a combination of tortie and calico (tortico) which I think describes her perfectly as she has the typical black with red mottled coat on top, but underneath she has very distinct and separate patch work of red, black and white. But then I heard this isn't a real color name and that she would be tortie and white, which I don't think describes her as she has patches of red as well as white on her belly.


In this picture you can see her typical mottled tortie coat.


In this picture (where she is sleeping like a drunken sailor) she has very distinct patches of color such as the all red leg, red patches on her forehead and chest as well as white socks, chin, chest, belly.

What would you describe my cat as?
calico is what she looks like to me
 

lutece

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 8, 2018
Messages
4,499
Purraise
5,739
The most widely accepted term for any tortoiseshell cat with white markings is simply "tortoiseshell and white" (also known as "tortie and white").

"Calico" is an informal term that is usually used to refer to a tortie and white cat with large, well-defined patches of black and red/orange. Black and red patches tend to be more separated from each other if a cat has larger white areas, but this is only a loose correlation, and it is possible for a cat to have some large and well separated patches of red and black, and other areas which are mixed together or brindled. There is no hard and fast rule that defines when a tortie and white cat's patch pattern makes it a "calico."

Most cat associations worldwide do not use the term "calico," instead they simply use "tortie and white" for all tortie and white cats. In CFA the term "calico" is used in some breeds, but not in all breeds which allow this color.

I've occasionally seen people use other portmanteau terms here on TCS such as "tortico" (and its corresponding torbie version, "torbico") but these terms are not in use in any association, nor are they in use by geneticists. Instead of using a term such as "tortico" I personally think it is better to use a more generally accepted term such as tortie and white or calico.
 

AnSDRfanhere

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 11, 2020
Messages
59
Purraise
31
I have been told my cat has unusual markings. I've looked up different names for her coloring and the one that stands out as a combination of tortie and calico (tortico) which I think describes her perfectly as she has the typical black with red mottled coat on top, but underneath she has very distinct and separate patch work of red, black and white. But then I heard this isn't a real color name and that she would be tortie and white, which I don't think describes her as she has patches of red as well as white on her belly.


In this picture you can see her typical mottled tortie coat.


In this picture (where she is sleeping like a drunken sailor) she has very distinct patches of color such as the all red leg, red patches on her forehead and chest as well as white socks, chin, chest, belly.

What would you describe my cat as?
 

BellaGooch

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 20, 2019
Messages
3,760
Purraise
8,049
What a cute girl! I'd have to say tortico but that's just my opinion 🤷‍♀️
 
Top