The color of cats.

[Vinca]

Some people seem to think you can judge a cat's personality by its color. Thoughts? It's hard to judge cats when they're in the artificial situation of a shelter and I really want an affectionate, lap loving cat. I've noticed the 2 calicos I've had were aloof and standoffish and not too bright. The gold cat was a monster who would go airborne and latch onto your leg. The black and white female we had was pretty smart and lovable. The gray cats we've had have also been very sweet and lovable. My first thought was to find a cat that resembled my beloved guy who died suddenly 6 months ago, but I'm afraid it might be painful to have a lookalike around. I've never had a solid black cat or a solid white cat. (I've never thought about it much, but we've had quite a few kitties over the past 35 years.) How do you judge temperment?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I don't think the color of cat's coat has much to do with its temperament.

Its breed sometimes does, if you get a purebred. I've only ever had shelter cats or strays: had a friendly but dumb ginger cat; a friendly but smart ginger and white cat; a friendly, chatty tabby and white cat; a shy tortie; a temperamental gray cat; a non-stop chatterbox calico; a friendly gray tabby; a nervous gray tabby; and an active, assertive Siamese x tabby. I haven't seen any kind of relationship of color vs. personality.

[david13]

2. Definitely, like people, I don't think it's the color. I have seen all

types in all colors.
And purebreeds tend to be inbred which causes faults particularly with their health.
The shelter or unpicked pet store cats tend to be the most grateful.
They change as they get older, and with different environmental conditions.
But they do all follow certain cat rules, usually. Never respond when your name is called. That's a big one they have. I only ever had one cat who didn't follow that rule.
If there is something they do that you don't like, do it as much as possible. Within reason almost all cats go hard and heavy on that rule. They get a big kick out of seeing you frazzled.
If they like you, they bite you. That is their best way of showing affection. After all, they wouldn't touch someone they don't like.
And of course, sit around and look pretty. That one they do quite well.
dc

[Vinca]

3. The whole color question was probably dumb, but the last time

I took my autistic-acting kitty to the vet I asked her about the cat's behavior and whether she thought it was related to the death of the other cat. (The other cat was the dominant feline in the house and Rosie had taken a back seat.) The vet made a remark that she was acting typically for a torti. When I got home I googled and discovered some people think color might be a factor in personality. The one sure thing I know is the ones who adopt you (turn up at the door and won't leave)are always the very best.

[Sanity Claws]

4. A cat can also pick you at a shelter

One of my two cats picked me. He was long-haired and I was looking for a short-haired kitty. He came to the front of his cage at the shelter and started purring and kneading. I resisted for a while but he soon won me. How could I say no?
We are now BFF.

[yellerpup]

12. When we went to a local rescue to adopt a pair of cats

the boy picked my husband and the girl picked me. I wrote a story on that....if I can find it, I'll post it. :hi:

[meow2u3]

5. A cat's breed, not coat color, can determine temperament

It's a myth that a cat's coat color alone is a temperament predictor. I've had cats most of my life, and the only one I can say had a "set" temperament was my late Maine Coon, Sylvester. He was a 20-pound goofball kitten whose idea of fun was play, play, play!!! All my other cats had different personalities, including my late calico, Tweety, who was very shy because she was rescued from cruelty.

[Warpy]

7. While all the calico cats I've had have tended to be wild women

I've also seen wide variation in temperament among cats of the same breed as well as cats of the same color. It depends entirely on the kitty.

Any kitty I can pick up who relaxes in my arms and doesn't dig the claws in passes my test for a potential furry friend because it's demonstrating trust of humans, even if it doesn't warm up enough to purr right away.

As for color, I love them all, but my favorite has always been the tuxedo kitty.

[badgerpup]

6. This is my entirely subjective opinion...YMMV

Marmalade (orange) kitties tend to be scrappers...while they might not START a fight or squabble they'll do their best to finish it.

Most of my cats have been black (except for Wimsey)...they've been friendly (except for Riktor; he's my Shy Boy), outgoing, affectionate, curious and noticeably vocal.

The chatty factor seems to depend upon how much Oriental is in their gene pool.
F'rinstance my old Alpha Cat Misha...well, put it this way. If Twitter^TM had been around during his lifetime and cats could tweet he'd have loved it...it would have been PERFECT for him. He always had something to say, and it was always important enough that it needed to be shared. :P

None of the others have reached THAT level of loquaciousness, but they're all ready, willing and able to communicate. I think the fact that I talk to them so much contributes to this however...

Wimsey is solid white (grey-green eyes, so not deaf)...friendly, laid-back, affectionate on his own terms. He isn't a lap-cat, although he does require some lap-time now and then, but he prefers to hang out in the same general area I'm occupying.
Oriental in his genepool too (shows in the shape of his head and in the sound of his voice, although his dial only goes up to "5").
He's a trilly kitty; talks to himself a great deal "Mmmmrrrrrrr....mmmrrrrrr....mmmmmrrrrrrr?"


I've HEARD that torties tend to have attitude issues- they can be quite persnickety about who they will accept tribute and worship from allow to pet them or rise any higher than "staff- menial" in their own personal hierarchy. Same with tuxedos, only not quite as strongly.

Also seen on this very board that torties and other kitties with orange tend to have "Butt Issues" i.e., occasional problems with the lower G.I. tract.

Think it was Lorien :hi::hug: who put it so succinctly...

[spooky3]

8. I agree that breed (which relates to color) is what you should look for- if you can find a Ragdoll

(as much Ragdoll as you can get in a rescue) you may be happy. They are amazingly affectionate, lap loving, etc. Check out Ragdoll websites to see what the varieties of appearances look like.

I have an all white cat who I think is largely Turkish Angora, based both on appearance and behavior. I had another one who died of heart disease previously--they were very much alike. They are fun cats and love attention, but do not meet your criteria for affectionate and lap loving.

[NNN0LHI]

9. I have had the best luck with Gray Tabby Cats

Orange ones run a close second though.

Male cats and female dogs generally make the better pets.

Don

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

10. I'm completely addicted to the Russian Blue

They are all grey with silver tipped fur that makes them look like a velvet blue/grey cat. They have large greenish eys and an intelligent face with a smiling mouth.

Mine is the funniest, smartest cat I've ever had in a lifetime of cat ownership. He had such a quirky collection of behaviors that I googled the breed and found almost all his traits! They are supposed to be among the smartest. The things that they often do that mine does are: collect toys, play fetch, obsessively knock things off from heights, incredibly playful and athletic, talkative, graceful.We think ours is working on his language skills and will surprise one day with a complete sentence

Mine hates being held but loves to sit next to you or on top of your feet. He follows me from room to room like a dog. He has a bit of a foot fetish and loves to jump on your feet under the covers in the morning. Once I was looking idly on Craigslist and saw someone giving away a Russian Blue because it like to jump on her little girls feet in the morning, so I guess that could be another thing they do.

After living with our little weirdo, I don't know that I could do without. Before him we've had a wonderful tuxedo, a great orange tabby, a troubled grey tabby, and a little minature Maine Coon. All just great cats, but Eddie takes the cake. So if you see one ever at a shelter or a pound, just remember that not liking being held does not indicate a lack of affection.

[badgerpup]

11. Gotta agree 1 zillion percent with this...

"So if you see one ever at a shelter or a pound, just remember that not liking being held does not indicate a lack of affection."

Only one of mine is a lapmonstercat, but all four of them are very affectionate, loving, and companionable on their own terms...
...which I respect.