Head

The head of the Tortoise-shell should be rather small, broad across the forehead and between the eyes, rounded on top, with a nose rather longish, the whole having a somewhat bullety appearance. The head is carried on a rather longish neck, which adds grace, under somewhat savage aspect, to its appearance.

Eyes

The eyes are round, brilliant, and vary in color from a bright amber to an orange-yellow; the darker the hue the better.

Ears

The ears are medium in size, rounded at the apex, and broad at the base, giving them an angular form. They should be set well apart and carried well cocked or erect, giving a bright appearance.

Conformation

The Tortoise-shell is rather a smallish cat; but allowance must be made for the fact that the immense majority of Tortoise-shells are females, which in all the cat families are smaller than the males. The bodies are rather long, giving the animal the graceful turn of the tiger or leopard.

Tail

The tail is long, thick at the base, tapers toward the end, and has an upward curve. Patches of color on the tail should be as distinct as they are on the body.

Coat - Color And Quality

The Tortoiseshell in color is black, red, and yellow; the less black the better. The three colors should be distinct, in well-defined patches, with sharp lines of demarcation between them. The color should be rich and deep, and any blur in the marking or intermixture of the color becomes a weak point in it. The hair should be short, lie close to the body, silken in texture, and have a glossy or brilliant appearance. According to the markings, a Tortoise-shell may be a very homely animal or a most beautiful one. Any white absolutely disqualifies the animal. There is a popular superstition that Tortoise-shells are all females; but this is not the case, for while females are in the majority, males are often to be found, and sometimes are grand, beautiful, large animals.

Fig. 11. - Tortoise-shell Cat.

Merits

The Tortoise-shell is one of the best of hunters of all the families of the cat, is a most patient mouser, and is brave to the extreme. It is not over-affectionate, and sometimes even sinister and most ill tempered in its disposition.

The Tortoise-Shell-And-White

Another variety of the Tortoise-shell which is frequently seen is one in which there is an intermixture of a certain amount of white, which is usually seen in a blaze on the face, a white breast, and white forelegs and hind-legs, the latter not usually having so much as the former.

Head

The head is small, broad across the forehead and between the eyes. It is round above and depressed toward the lips.

Eyes

The eyes are orange-yellow, full, large, round, and lustrous.

Ears

The ears are medium in size, narrow and round at the apex, and broad at the base, giving them a conical form. They should be well set and erect.

Form

The body is long and narrow, crested by a long, slender, and graceful neck. The shoulders are sloped in harmony with the lithe body, which, with the shortish legs, gives this cat the typical feline gait.

Tail

The tail is thicker than that of the Tortoise-shell - especially so at the base - although some Tortoise-shcll-and-White Cats have a rather thin tail. The thick tail is, however, preferable. The tail should be marked with black, red, and yellow blotches, and not white.

Coat - Color And Quality

The hair is somewhat coarser than in the pure Tortoise-shell. More white is allowable in the Tortoise-shell-and-White than in the Black-and-White Cat. If the white is entirely distinct, with a clear line of demarcation between it and the black, yellow, and red, as exists between these latter colors, a considerable amount of it is permissible, and adds to the beauty of the annual.

There should be no approach whatever to the Tabby bands or the brownish and grayish color of the Tabby. It is a curious fact that the male kittens from the Tortoise-shell-and-White Cat usually come a Red Tabby, or a Red Tabby and White. A good strong blaze on the face, four white feet, a white breast - but the latter not surrounding the neck like a collar - is very popular, and is called "Dutch-rabbit markiugs." These cats, however, should have good, distinct Tortoise-shell markings over the back and tail.

Fig. 12. - Tortoise-shell-and-White.

Size And Condition

The Tortoise-shell-and-White is decidedly larger than the Tortoise-shell in size, and is lithe and elegant in its motion. It is especially beautiful when young, but is apt to become lazy when old - the more so the more white there is in its markings. These cats are excessively cleanly, and vain of their white, spending much of their time in keeping themselves clean.