Calico Cats- a Bad Reputation?

Orange tabby, Tortoise shell and calico cats are all known for having a temper. It's just kind of like saying that two year olds go through terrible twos. Not all two year olds go through this just like all calico cats aren't a pain in the but. It's just a little comparison that we do. Like different breed dogs are known for different temperments. It doesn't mean that your cat was anymore fractious than others.

Oh, yeah!

I work in a shelter and have seen thousands of cats. Certainly not every calico (or tortie, which has the same reputation) is feisty, but enough are to lead to this generalization.

BTW, I think it is naive to believe what an above post stated about color having nothing to do with temperament. In fact, some research and experiments have been done on animals in order to make them more or less friendly. Not only did the temperaments change, but the appearances did, as well, including coat color. There is definitely a correlation, even if not a major contributing factor.

Sorry, but I say the same thing when I'm handling a cranky calico at work. Yes, some of them are really nice too, and some of my favorite patients are calicos. Please don't take offense; it is easier to make cute comments when pets aren't very happy than to let the owners get stressed too. We think the same thing when we deal with and aggressive chow chow or rottweiler. Certain breeds just tend to be more "feisty" if you want to be more politically correct.

I object about the intelligence remark. We have a ginger and white male cat, Rhett, who truly is eerily intelligent, and he isn't even a year old. We are constantly astonished by the differences in his behavior from that of many other cats. Rhett is the only cat I've seen who sits up in front of the television and interacts with what is on the screen, whether people are taking or an animal is moving around; it doesn't seem to matter to him. We also have an exceptionally intelligent female, Precious, who is not quite a tortoiseshell, rather as if you had dunked a yellow cat in black and it hadn't quite taken. We thought SHE was the bright little mind to beat till Rhett entered our household. I think we must attract smart cats. Our oldest, Tigger, has always responded better to being reprimanded verbally, meaning that I actually speak to him, eye to eye, about his misbehavior, and he changes his ways! Even as a kitten, he connected the sound of a phone ringing with the wallphone yet also would run to the phone in my mother's room then look at me, obviously expecting me to answer it. So, intelligence isn't restricted to coloration or breed, at least not in my 50+ years of experience with felines.

I have a calico andshe is the most affectionate cat I have ever had. She loves people, dogs and other cats. Maybe they are like people--it takes all kinds to make a world

I have a calico and although she's pretty to look at she barely wants to be touched. She sleeps at the foot of my bed and she will allow you to pet her but if you try to pick her up or if you put your foot near her she'll scratch you

Yup! Calicos (of course not all) are independant, good hunters, stubborn, and have witchy attitudes when they want to. They are usually attached to one person only. Tortiseshell calicos (no white on them), called torties, are the worst about having an attitude.

I have had calicos, and they all have different personalities (usually within themselves!). I have 2 now.

The one on my avatar, (Funny Face), a tortie, is the 'alpha' cat of the neighborhood. You can tell by her expression that she thinks she's superior! She will attack boy or girl cats that come in her 'territory' (she's fixed of course). She also 'mounts' female cats in the area that are in heat! Both her and her mom (a calico too) will go after dogs (which is embarrasing!).

Mine are very lovable...when they want to be!

A tidbit of trivia: October 1, 2001 the state of Maryland declared the calico cat as their official state cat.

I have a Calico and she real loving. So I don't know what the vet was talking about. My be the cat could sense that the vet was not a cat person.

Maybe the vet just meant the coloring? We adopted a calico from our vet and she is absolutely adorable and a sweetheart when she wants to be. But she's also very stubborn and hard-headed :).

I had a Calico (Female) a few years ago,unfortunately she is no longer with me.Yes they can be tempermental & they usually only like one person (uaually the owner).I have a large family and Patches would only cuddle with me.If anyone else tried she'd move away from them.She was the best cat I had ever owned.Yes they can be very stubborn.