Tortitude is a real thing - Multicolored Cats Might Be More Aggressive Than Other Cats, Study Finds

[AngryOldDem]

33. Our Tortie was the exception to this.

And the vets she saw always commented on how sweet and calm she was.

Pepper was not aggressive, but the affection was doled out on her terms. She didn't like to be held much, unless she was in the mood. But when she was ready to give affection -- it was loud purrs, "making biscuits" on my stomach, and lying on my chest as I watched TV. Those times were rare, and I learned to appreciate them. She "adopted" my oldest son, and would sleep on his chest and let him carry her around on his shoulders. Whenever he came home, she was his shadow.

A few years after we adopted Pepper, we got a Dachshund puppy. Pepper was surprisingly patient. She would give Heidi a few gentle swats when she had enough of the play, and then would go off to a place where Heidi couldn't reach her. Eventually, they reached a detente and were able to be in the same room without the dog going nuts. The only time I remember Pepper being aggressive was when we were babysitting my daughter's cat over one summer. That cat (just out of kittenhood and much, much younger than Pepper) stayed pretty much in one room, but toward the end of her stay she started to venture out and got into it one day with Pepper. Fur flew, and the other cat hid until it was time to go home. This was Pepper's house.

But Pepper was the sweetest, most docile cat I'd ever known. We lost her to a blood clot three weeks ago today, and God, do I miss her.