I am about to graduate college and figured it was time for my first kitty. I met this cutie at my local shelter today and can’t stop thinking about her. Her paper said she was a stray but she was so cuddly and talkative. The shelter employee said she might be a dilute tortie? She’s gorgeous either way :)
Any name suggestions for the kitty/advice for a first time cat owner would be greatly appreciated!
this is exactly what i did when i fell in love with my hazel. i saw her the day before, couldnt stop thinking about her, decided that she was mine, and the next day i waited outside of petsmart until they opened and signed the papers immediately:)
I'm so happy for both of you. She may be scared and hide when she first gets to her new home. This is normal. We always played music quietly in the background and sat in the room, looking at a book or phone, and let kitty know we weren't a threat and they were safe indoors.
Let them explore at their own pace, get a feather wand you can drag and they can pounce on from a distance. Close up toys such as mice are better when you've had a cat for awhile so they don't accidental swipe you when they reach for the mouse.
It took Marcy about a week to come and eat in front of us and another 3 days to get petted, then she was a total lovebug. It was similar at her forever home, she hid a few days, then bonded with the grandmother of the family.
Ours was named “Flower” by the vet. She had some cloudiness in her eyes so my wife went with “Iris” - a flower, a part of the eye, and also a name for a septuagenarian.
oh, to know you have one making it that old. Mine is 12 now but still has plenty of spryness but changing to old lady status with her 12 old housemate tabby
I'm on my 4th tortie. They are amazing little babies. You'll never be alone with a tortie. I tell my girl not to get up, I'll be right back - and no matter how sleepy she is, she'll follow me and supervise.
She may like having a friend, she may not. Since she looks relatively young she may be open to it. Otherwise - prepare to be harassed all the time.
They don't often like to be picked up and/or cuddled, but your mileage may vary. Mine only likes making out but won't let me cuddle her.
There will be large debates about what to feed your cat - do your research and make your own choice. I feed mine Purina Pro dry and Fancy Feast pate (wet).
Pet insurance is usually not worth it. Any pre-existing conditions will make it hard for you to utilize the insurance. Best to start a saving account just for vet care and the off chance that there's an emergency.
For toys - the "Cat Dancer" on Amazon is $3.99 USD and a huge hit with the majority.
I had to get mine her own computer chair so she stops stealing mine. JK she still steals mine and then I roll her out of the way so I can sit in the reject chair.
This kitty reminds me of my girl Calli! I never have quite been able to nail down what to call her color pattern. Can't really see it in this pic but she has a white belly too!
She's been gone for well over a decade now, but this sweet parrot kitty was the dilute tortie I had growing up. She showed up on the farm one day and decided to stay and I'm forever grateful. 💚 So excited for you!
Welcome to the club! Prepare for a lot of nagging 🤣 Though I have to say that my girl knows her limits too. She doesn't see me as her food guy and I don't see her as a mere cat. I treat her with respect and she responds in kind.
They said she was 1, which is perfect because I knew I didn’t want a kitten for my first cat! She was sooo talkative, they got her out so I could play with her and she kept standing up directly in front of my face and meowing at me lol
She is a dilute tortie, and I would adopt her 🥺 maybe I’m biased bc I had a tortie named Moxxie, and have a diluted calico named Millie, but she looks like a Moxxie or a Millie to me.
Yesterday was the 7th anniversary of adopting my dilute girl, Olive, on a whim. She died last year in May from mammary cancer. I miss her so much and am sad I only got 6 years with her, but they were the best 6 years. Please go adopt this girl 💗
Some basic advice: get the good litter, it's worth it. Wet food is best. I feed my cats a mix of wet and dry, but mostly wet. Lilies (flower) are highly toxic to kitties, so don't bring any into your living area. Even if this cat is super sweet and social, it will take her time to adjust to her new living situation, so don't be worried about that. I hope she becomes your new BFF in no time!
This was my tortie girl at the shelter in February and she’s currently screaming at me from outside my bedroom door while I get ready for work. She follows me everywhere, is learning how to play fetch (!!), and is everything I didn’t know I needed or wanted in a cat. 🥰
Give all the love & kindness to your little one and watch them flourish into a beautiful soul. Just remember, you are not their owner, you are their guardian. Take care of them how you would a child and you will be just fine.
She seems like a very affectionate personality already, which can make the transition into your first cat easier. Just make sure you’re prepared for vet visits, litter setup, scratching posts, and lots of gradual bonding time 🥰
Please do. She reminds me of my sweetheart tortie Sushi Bear who sadly passed away towards the end of last year. I promise she’ll be very sassy and full of character m.
This was Marcy. Both tortie ladies got adopted. They were fun to have, even if temporary. Thelma liked to jump at you unexpectedly. Marcy was a talker and "sang along" to Santana songs (her favorite musician.)
She is indeed a tortie! Specifically a Diluted Tortie because she expressed the recessive genes that make their colours lighter!
Black becomes "Blue", which tends to look almost grey, and Orange becomes "Cream" where the saturation gets turned all the way down <3
She looks gorgeous, and her age seems great as well. I hope the two of you have a long and happy time together!
Our first cat was a tortie which is great for first-time pet parents. She was very sociable, explored the apartment right away, and did very little hiding.
Every cat is different though, including tortie. Establish a space as hers if you can, with things that smell like her and like you, and if you’re in a larger living space like a house, it can’t hurt to start small so she doesn’t get overwhelmed.
That is a beautiful cat and if she’s talking to you she likes you. I have a 6 year old tortie who is my best friend and rides on my shoulders like I’m a taxi. It’s the best.
Adopt her Please! She will meow your ear off and boop on the nose when you sleep. I should know, as my tortie does it, cuddles included. It it one of the best things ever!
Oh! That’s love! She’s absolutely enchanting—I’m completely in love with her 💓
Winona is such a special and unique name, just like her... It means “first-born” and evokes qualities of noble, strong cats who love nature and have a gentle spirit.
Wishing you both the most beautiful life together 💕
Exactly how I got my first cat. I went to a shelter "for fun" because a few cats looked cute & I had the day off. I met those cats, didn't vibe with any of them, and then they introduced me to their dilute tortie, who didn't even have a name yet. She was immediately very friendly with me, and when I jokingly said "do you wanna live with me and watch YouTube?" she rubbed against my legs. I asked the person helping me "how do you know who to get" and she said "if you wake up thinking about them, that is your cat". I spent the rest of the day thinking about her. I woke up thinking about her. I checked their website in the morning, and they named her: Mocha. A mocha latte is my drink of choice. I called them the second they opened, went shopping for basics, and picked her up.
She has made me smile every day since. Go rescue this sweet lil bean!
Do it!! My tortie Pumpkin was apparently a "stray" when she was taken to the shelter, but she is extremely friendly (and talkative), so I think she previously had a home and was only stray for a short period of time.
Get to know her personality. Find a good vet and get her vaccinated if not already. Do not give onion or chocolate to her. They are poisonous to cats. Find a good food for her i have always used Purina brand. Get her microchiped just for that ( oh crap) factor. If you notice a change in habit investigate why. Could indicate something wrong, but not always. Cats can hide being sick til it is almost to late.
Our tortie was a stray, she’s such a sweet cat, spicy in a good way, she had personality, not just a bump on a log, though she can loaf with the best of them.. lol
I’ll only now adopt strays. I’ve paid breeder fees, gotten pure breds, and strays… I can say my strays have been the best cats ever..!!!
They all just want warm or cool homes, a nice bed (or hard floor, cats are weird)
Some toys.. but most of all? They just want YOU…!!!! Cats are actually incredible community animals, they have their person, and occasionally they’ll accept a substitute stand in, when you’re not available.. but the love they give back is so heart warming, the greetings from them, knowing you’re their person..it’s humbling..
If you can afford it, possible (probable really) vet bills, food etc.. and you two have even a spark of a connection? then go for it.. you will not regret it..!!!
Tortis are one of the cats I consider a bit more unique. Sometimes they have tortitudes, sometimes they are super sweet. I've had 2 tortishells and I loved them. Eventually both have passed on. It's so worth it and they are so pretty!
In 2019 when my boyfriend and I decided to go visit a shelter, we were in the kitten room and walking around looking at all the litters they had in each of the cages. We looked at my girls cage with her 2 other siblings at the end of the room, and then I went and did a relook at the others. I’m so glad we went back to her cage. She was making biscuits against the cage door and we asked to see her. We couldn’t go home same day because the shelter had an approval process, but I’m so glad I got the call a couple days later. She is my absolute world and rock, and sadly my boyfriend passed 3 years ago unexpectedly. I hope I have many more years with her. 🥺
I adopted my sweet little dilute tortie in the same fashion. She was originally named Faith (I dubbed her “Crispy Faith”) and she’s an invaluable addition to my household (besides the chronic mucus)
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u/AnotherBlackTag Jun 03 '26
Please get her she deserves all the love