Before Binga says anything, I want to let you know that I don’t necessarily approve of or endorse any of her statements. Okay, I will let her speak now.
If you look all over the internet, you will find lots of articles on how to tell if a cat loves you. Well, they don’t apply to torties, so they might as well all be lies! To keep you from being misinformed any longer, I will let you know now how to tell you if a tortie loves you. This is more important, and truer, than any of the other stories. So don’t believe everything you see on the internet!
Since the great majority of torties are female, I shall use the pronoun “she.” Especially since I am a “she” anyhow, and that’s all that matters.
How to Tell if a Tortie Loves You
- She bites you! The harder she bites you, the more she loves you. Unless you are doing something like trying to clip her nails or stopping her from doing something she wants to do. Then if she bites you, it means she hates you. But don’t worry. She will only hate you for a few minutes. Probably.
- She purrs really loudly for you! Or sometimes it means she just wants something out of you. But don’t worry, torties never ask for things from someone they don’t love! Even if they change their minds and don’t love you later on.
- She sits on your lap and gets mad when you try to push her off. If she doesn’t get mad, then she probably doesn’t love you. If she gets really mad and refuses to leave, then she really loves you a lot!
- She whaps you when you misbehave! If she loves you, she will only leave her claws out a little bit. Unless you really misbehave badly — then she will use full claws. In case you are wondering, misbehaving means doing anything that does not involve the tortie, or doesn’t put the tortie first!
- She tears around the house and breaks things! That means you are ignoring her and she wants attention. Torties only want attention from people they love. Or failing that, they will take attention from anybody. But torties will break the things belonging to people they love first!
- She rolls on her back and presents her tummy to you! Yes, chances are she will shred your hand if you try to touch her tummy, but if she does, you deserved it because you should have known you weren’t supposed to do that!
- She follows you all over the house or apartment and won’t leave you alone! Except if it is dinnertime, then it means she is hungry and wants to make sure you don’t forget to feed her! But it still means she loves you because torties always love the human who is holding the food bowl!
All of this makes total sense, and I am surprised I even have to say any of it!
Binga I chuckled and laughed the whole time. News flash, Calicos share those love rules. You described my beloved Callikit to a tee. She started out feral YIKES. Needless to say I got mixed signals. She’s rub my legs then bite the snot out of me. I was loved by her 20 years. There will NEVER be another Calli. One other thing, she was very selective about who she loved. Me and my mom, that’s it!!! My great nephews insisted on touching her. One touched her tail, needless to say it did not end well. I just said “I warned you”. I loved that girl so much, she was my loyal little girl. I cried horribly when SHE told me, she’d had enough. I’m crying now. Lost her 4 years ago Memorial weekend
Wise words Binga! We are pretty sure calico’s are a lot like torties as Mia portrays many of the things you state here. Especaily the bite, she’s got that down pat!
Purrs,
Mia, Mosby, Angel Cosmo and Angel CJ
Oh good! My Tortie loves me! I was not sure, thanks Binga!
Zoee is our resident Diva, she is a calico and a bit moody. Hoomin says part of it is because she is a feral, but I have my doubts. She does have a mighty whapping paw and thinks nothing of using it on Django.
Bodacious
Beware the thunder paw! MOL!
Binga, no wonder I worship you from afar.
Miss Bing-Binga,
Yoo are as wise as Max the Psycho-kitty!
Toffee
LOL So true! On my 3rd Tortie, she’s just 6 months, got her when she was 3 weeks, and this fits perfectly. Also fitted the previous one perfectly (she’s gone now 🙁 ). But my first one was just a very different cat and didn’t really fit this description but it sure is spot on for the 2nd, Stormy, and the 3rd, Lizziebella (or Lizzie Borden when she’s being naughty).
My baby girl Coko has been with me since she was almost a month old. She is now 13 yrs. old in human years. She is and has ALWAYS been the sweetest most loving and playful cat I have ever had. She is a true Mama’s girl. Follows me everywhere, waits for me at the door, comes in the bathroom,etc. I KNOW MY CAT LOVES ME!!!She has brought me nothing but happiness. I have been blessed to have her. A PROUD CATMOMMY I AM
I’m a Tortie and a Tuxedo as well and I agree. My mommy knew I would be a handfull and a lover when she adopted me from the shelter. I will let her rub my chest but not my belly. I follow her all around the house and talk to her nonstop. When she is at work I cry at lot looking for her and sometimes try to escape the house to find her. I guess I am truly a mommy’s girl.
BINGA HAS SPOKEN!!!!!!!
Yep, this is Patzy’s mom and I’ve had tortures and calico before and I knew what I was getting into when I saw her at the animal shelter. I fell in love at first sight and I was looking for a boy kitty. MOL. They certainly are special though. Their love and devotion makes up for their attitude. And behavior wise, she is perfect – doesn’t scratch furniture (only me) and is clean about the litter box and doesn’t jump on counters, etc. I admit that I was looking for an adventure and not looking for a simple relationship.
True, true, true. I am a tuxie/tortie and I do all those things. I play too rough no matter how my mommy tries to re-direct me to my toys, I have to be with her every second when she is home and I cry all day looking for her when she isn’t home and I try to sneak out when anyone else opens the door because I want to find her. I love chest rubs, but then I think it’s a game when she gets close to my belly. Yesterday we were sitting and looking out the window and a neighbor cat came through our yard – well I proofed up, hissed and slapped mommy because she let another cat near our house!
But our bond is stronger than anything. I love her and she loves me in spite of the claw marks on her hand!
I guess I’m 2/7ths a tortie since number 1 and 7 apply to me. It drives TW crazy when I follow her around since I won’t let het pet me w/o #1 happening.
Astrid does 2, 4 and 5 but doesn’t break things. She lets Lisbeth do that. C.J. does #7 until Mom is driven to distraction. Astrid’s favorite thing is to burrow into Mom’s neck and hair and purr loud enough to be heard a mile away while kneading Mom with claws fully extended. We do not know why Mom puts up with it. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo and Cooper Murphy
Binga you really enlighten a lot of humans here.
Not sure if I can believe you, Binga, cause there have not evfur been any torties here!
Though I have known more than a few in Blogville, MOL, MOL!!!
Bwahaha! Those were excellent, Binga. At PAWS, 5 out of 6 torties agree! 🙂
Yes we can relate to almost all. Mol. Scout doesn’t bite but will give everyone a powder puff at breakfast time, even the human legs get a pow if breakfast takes too long. She’s totally devoted to her human dad and will moan if you try to move her off his lap mol. All in all Binga, you nailed it.
Yours in Tortie solidarity, sister!
😀 our mom looks after two Tortie feral kitties and she says this makes total sense, Binga!
pip, smidge, minnie, hollie, sharpie, ditto, TL
Now Binga, have to say you nailed the Admiral there quite a bit. Biting, tummy teasing of me…most of the other things too. Oh heck. All of it.
Great post, Binga! Our mom never had a Tortie but now she wants to adopt one. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
GRATE bloggie post Binga!!! Mee Mumma iss a Tortie named Tori an shee iss a lot like you, mew mew mew….
LadyMum had a good laff; fanks Binga!
***nose rubsss*** Siddhartha Henry xxxx
Binga, I gotta say you nailed it !
Binga, I’m pretty sure there’s exceptions to these rules or at least one of them – me! I never get mad, never whap, never bite and love, love, love tummy rubs!
Purrs,
Isabella
Sounds about right to me. I once had a tortie and nothing scared her. She was definitely the boss of all the other cats, and if a dog dared to come through the farm gate she would soon see him off.
Yikes…..maybe I’m glad we are in a “tortie-less” house???? Tee Hee
Love, Teddy
You rock, Binga! #1 has never had a tortie but she will file all this precious info away because, of course, she knows to believe every single word you utter!
Purrs,
The Chans
Excellent information Binga. Thank you for helping me to understand Penny better. What about peeing on your shoes? Does that mean you love your human too, because Penny must love her Dad. 🙂
Interesting!
Thanks for the purrs and good thoughts for our Dad.
The Florida Furkids
Binga!
Brilliant as always!
Toffee
Would you believe Mudpie is neither a biter or a whapper? Other than that this fits her spot-on. Purrfect, Binga!
Binga, these are so true tips to live by. We remember our fursis Samantha always growling before anyone would approach the front door. Mom called her their guard cat. Torties are special and unique. Gotta love em! Purrs
MOL!
You have a little bit of a “Pmd Face” in that picture, Pretty Summer!!
Does Binga have a very loud purr?
My Sydney does a few of these things, and she’s not even a Tortie! (she’s a brown female tiger tabby)
Oh, we know, Binga! Our old sis Olivia was a dilute tortie, but her tortitude was not dilute at all! She would have absolutely endorsed your list–especially the first one!
Sister Precious says those are all correct sweet Binga MOL!
Hahaha ! I could copy and paste the whole text for TUXIS sweet looking Rosie is in reality a little bitch (who loves you !)
that explains everything (and may apply to a certain torbie that lives here as well)
MOLMOL # 4 is too funny
Hugs madi your bff
Thanks Binga! Two torties live here, but obviously I still have a lot to learn.
Binga, you are gorgeous but you need to be nicer to your hoomin and clowder kitties!
Wow, those torties show love in strange ways. We know…we’ve got Zoey and while she’s a torbie…she’s pretty much the same way.
Wow, Real Cat Paisley must really love me. She does all these things, except the biting–she prefers to attack my feet when she wants attention. Good list, Binga! 🙂
Weeeeeellllll…. I am a tortie and I sorta agree. 1 Bites do not work in this house!
2. If I purr loudly then she expects it!
3. Sitting on a lap? You have got to be kidding!
4. Whaps, I find it more effective to hold the offending hand down.
5. I run around the house lots but find its more annoying to the human to…well rearrange things!
6. Rolling on my back is nothing more than a trap. Humans fall for it every time!
7. I always follow the human! She needs supervision! When it is time to get up in the morning or meal times it is My job to make sure it is done on my time and done well!
Don’t get me wrong, I love my human. She gets to complacent and needs to be put back in line.
Signed,
TyBee the Tortie
Yep, torties are totally a different breed. Thanks, Binga, for presenting this list for all those clueless hoomins out there.
When our human adopted us, she had no clue about cats. She came to our shelter, had no idea about anything, she only knew she wanted to adopt adult cats (because kittens are so much cuter and more likely to find a family. And she wanted to adopt two cats because being lonely is not funny)
Over time, and by reading many blogs, she sometimes thinks that she got lucky she didn’t adopt a tortie as her first cat. She thinks our standards are very high and that we require a lot of service. Of course we do, we are cats, but we aren’t torties… so there’s always space for improvment. Hehehehehe.
All of those points remind us of our Tortie Tiger.
She was an intense kitty,especially the nipping,biting part 😉
Always in motion and seeking attention,especially when you were giving it to another cat.
Georgia is SO different. She is loving and shy.
Maybe it has to do with her extra toes 🙂
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
No wonder Binga is such a handful!