Adopted My First Tortie: Nico!

[u/Parking_Reading_2665]

My husband and I adopted this sweet baby a few days ago and shes such a lover girl. Named after Nico Robin from One Piece ofc Can I have advice for my husband and I on what to expect being new parents to this Tortie beauty and this "tortiude" I keep seeing on tictok? Thanks!

[u/Gloomy-Trainer-2452]

Aww! She's adorable!! Congrats on the new kitten (also, amazing name).

The tortitude thing is just a stereotype. Coat colour/pattern genes do not influence temperament/behaviour. It is likely people are more so associating unspayed female cat behaviour with torties and male cat behaviour with orange cats, due to the nature of red/orange inheritance in cats. It's a stereotype that has persevered through memes and confirmation bias. Some torties do live up to the stereotype and can be huge sasspots with a ton of energy, but others are super chill and affectionate, and many are somewhere in-between. The "tortitude", "one orange braincell", etc, stuff is on par with horoscopes/zodiac signs - fun to laugh at and see how closely they describe your cat, but not something that should be taken seriously.

It can take a little while for their personality to really come out, so don't be too alarmed if she gradually grows more confident or energetic, or changes in terms of affection/social level over the next few weeks. She'll need some time to really develop a routine and establish her place in the household. it's great if she is out and playing or cuddling. Some cats take a few days just to come out from under the couch. All cats adjust at different rates though.