31 Aug 2009
Is There a Connection Between Cat Color and Temperament?
My recent article on “Tortitude – The Unique Personality of Tortoiseshell Cats” led me to wonder whether there’s a link between other cats’ coloring and their temperaments. After all, both color and temperament can be inherited and genetically controlled, so it doesn’t seem to be too much of a leap to think that a cat’s coloring may be an indication of his or her personality. It seems that there are, indeed, some commonalities between cat color and personality. This is what I found:
Tabby Cats
Tabbies have a reputation for being laid back, calm and more sociable. They’re also said to be very affectionate, and relaxed to the point of being lazy.
Black Cats
Black cats can be stubborn and friendly at the same time. They are said to be good hunters, but they can have a tendency to roam. They’re good natured and sociable.
Ginger, Orange and Red Cats
Orange cats are usually males (only one out of five orange cats is female). Cats with this coloring can be laid back and affectionate, but can also have a bit of a temper. Females tend to be more laid back than males.
Black and White Cats
Black and white cats (some are known as tuxedo cats when their coat pattern resembles a tuxedo jacket) are said to be even tempered and placid, but they can also be wanderers. They can be very loyal to their family, often to one person in particular, and can be real lap cats.
Blue, Cream, Gray and Lilac Cats
Cats that have lighter coat colors all carry the same gene, called the dilution gene. I found conflicting information on this particular coloring – some say cats with this coloring can be mischievous and a bit frantic, while others say they are laid back and mellow.
I believe that each cat has a unique and special personality, and color is only one aspect of what may play into making kitty who she is. Other factors, such as breed and environment also come into play. And of course, our cats are also spiritual beings, and perhaps spirit plays the biggest part in determining personality.
Does your cat’s personality fit into one of these classifications based on coat color?
Oh, I LOVE today’s post! I find it so interesting how the coat color CAN determine (somewhat) personality traits in our kittiekitties. An earlier post about torties/calicos seemed to ring true with my tricolor calico girl, Mandy. My recently deceased Edgar was a grey tabby (with an almost solid body – no stripes, but the typical striping on his chest, cheeks, legs, & tail) and he was so resilient, I could’ve twisted him into a figure-eight if I wanted. His love was unconditional, and he SHOWED it, unlike my little headstrong on-n-off-again Mandy. I am just enamored and mesmerized with this species called felines! [giggle] I LOVE learning about them, as Mandy (Edgar was, too!) is very much a part of our family – husband, wife, and cat! I talk to her as if she’s a person and mostly expect that she understands most of what I’m saying.
Today’s picture and topic bring this to mind (from the childhood Sunday School song, ‘Jesus Loves the Little Children’)…’red, yellow, black, or white – they are precious in His sight’…I think that goes for our kittiekitties, too! Afterall, our Creator made them too!
=^..^=
Cindy Bricker
August 31st, 2009 at 10:27 ampermalink
I completely agree about the talkative nature of Calicos and Torties. Independence and a certain “spark”, too! I’ve noticed this not just in my own, but others I have met and worked with.
I have a perception of grey cats as snuggly and affiliative, but that comes from a smaller sample of cats for me.
I suspect the tabby “laid back” quality may come from the Maine Coon genes.
This is a great topic! Please let us know if anyone has more scientific data to contribute. Thanks.
Janet Velenovsky
August 31st, 2009 at 10:42 ampermalink
I have a black and white cat named Buford T. Pusser, and I was thinking about his temperment… Buford is very loyal to me, but not much of a lapcat. But, he will sit in a box on my lap, but he can be very stuborn and onery at times, and loves to drink cold, black coffee. When he was a outside cat (he’s a inside cat now) he was the wonderer of all our cats, and one of the best hunters. He’s also very affectionate at times. So, from what you say coat color can have something to do with temperment.
KRae
August 31st, 2009 at 10:44 ampermalink
Cindy, I love what you said about the Sunday school song about the little children applying to our kitties as well.
Janet, it sure looks like there is some validity to the link between color and temperament. I had a grey tabby who was very affectionate, but only with me. He was shy around others. Of all the colors and markings, I still see the most distinctive link between color and personality in calicos and torties.
KRae, I am intrigued with a cat who likes to drink cold, black coffee!
Ingrid
August 31st, 2009 at 2:17 pmpermalink
Several people ask me about my cat who drinks cold, black coffee, all I can say is Buford is onery enough to do it! In fact I put up a post about it on my blog; http://www.kraemerk.com/2009/08/17/cold-black-coffee/
I have several other posts up about my “weird” cat. (he also likes wearing sundresses)
KRae
August 31st, 2009 at 5:19 pmpermalink
I love the photos of Buford drinking coffee. He sounds like quite the character.
Ingrid
August 31st, 2009 at 5:28 pmpermalink
“Quite a charater” is a understatement! For instances, he loves being rubbed backwards, loves wearing dresses and hats, loves rubbing my computer monitor and getting fur all over it, and a few other things I really shouldn’t mention…
KRae
August 31st, 2009 at 5:34 pmpermalink
I love color genetics, and when I look around at the gang here, there seems to be a fairly good representation of most categories (sigh). I think you’ve hit each right on! Fun!!
Renee
September 1st, 2009 at 10:19 pmpermalink
This is a fun post! In thinking about our own kitties – we have a tuxedo boy – Ben. He is quite affectionate, and never gets enough pets.
We have a gray boy – Oscar. He is GRUMPY. I think I may have jinxed him by naming him Oscar (the grouch?)
He’s very sweet too, but more prone to biting when he’s done with attention.
And then there is our Henry. He is a siamese, tabby mix. He is super sweet, but SO not smart. He is our loviest cat though. We both would like to have an orange cat down the road.
Tammy
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:05 pmpermalink
Renee, it sounds like you have quite a variety to pick from to prove or disprove the link between color and temperament!
Ingrid
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:34 pmpermalink
Tammy, that’s an interesting question whether you predisposed Oscar to being grouchy by naming him that. Hmm, that could be a whole new blog post – do the names we give our cats influence their personalities?
Ingrid
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:36 pmpermalink
I’m a little behind on this post but I, too, find that there is a close connection between color/markings and personality traits. My black and white spoiled me as he was so even tempered and very laid back. My tabby, now, is extremely attached to me. This article is quite accurate, based on my experiences.
Debbi Docherty
September 20th, 2009 at 10:35 ampermalink
Tortie; Kasey, born 1999
Strong-willed – YES
A bit hot-tempered – Yes
They can be very possessive of their human – YES
Fiercely independent – YES
Feisty and unpredictable – YES
They’re usually very talkative and make their presence and needs known with anything from a hiss to a meow to a strong purr – YES, or in her case, the “eeps and squeeks” song from the other room when wanting attention.
Black & White “tuxedo”; Morgan (Morgan Taylor Cat), born 2000
Even tempered and placid – YES, but skittish
They can also be wanderers – I expect she would likely be, but she is an indoor cat
They can be very loyal to their family – Hard to tell, she is the last to come up to visitors of our three cats
Often to one person in particular – Morgan does like to “visit” everyone, on her terms
Can be real lap cats – Morgan is not, she will jump up on your lap once and a while, again on her terms, this could be because of how she was treated as a kitten, pre-rescue
Orange, Taz, born 1999
Orange cats are usually males -YES, he is not a Maine Coon but is like one, at 19+ pounds
Cats with this coloring can be laid back and affectionate – YES
Can also have a bit of a temper – YES, if you pick him up and he takes offense, he will hiss, when you put him on the floor, he immediately rubs around your ankles
Other – if there’s something immature and undignified for an adult cat to do, he is quite willing, ready and able to “step up to the plate” and get it done
Glen
December 20th, 2009 at 7:56 pmpermalink
Glen, sounds like Kasey definitely fits the “profile,” while Morgan and Taz prove the point that while some cats may fit these profiles, ultimately, all cats are unique individuals
Ingrid
December 20th, 2009 at 8:26 pmpermalink
Very powerful list of comparison color and temperament of cats.
But, we should know that it’s not applied on 100% cases. Sometimes we, as a human being, able to change the nature of our cat (to better or worst side).
For example, I know about lady who treat her Maine Coon cat very bad and that beautiful kitty with a very nice and funny character transformed into aggressive dog (figurally speaking).
Cause I have my own “small” Maine Coon – it’s really easy to compare. Love produce love, aggress produce aggress.
Nataly
January 15th, 2010 at 11:55 ampermalink
Nataly, I agree that these profiles are not true 100% of the time – after all, each cat is an individual. It’s the old nature vs. nurture discussion – genetics only go so far, and then environment comes into play, too.
Ingrid
January 15th, 2010 at 12:14 pmpermalink