this post was submitted on 14 Jan 2026
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That's a sea turtle in your photo and not a tortoise.
Anyway, rather they continue to argue with me, why don't you just ask OP what they meant?
Here, I'll do it for you... @stringere@sh.itjust.works What did you mean by your title? Can you settle our debate?
I'm aware. It's also the one the tortoiseshell pattern (in general, not just for cats) is named for. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortoiseshell
And frankly, it doesn't particularly matter what OP meant. Doesn't make it correct. Tortoiseshell cat fur is a specific pattern.
This entire argument was me just trying to explain what OP meant. So yes, it matters.
You're an ass. Blocked.
OP used a word with a specific meaning. Someone pointed out that that word doesn't apply here. You come in to say that we're wrong for pointing out that word doesn't apply and keep digging in to say why the word doesn't mean what it means.
One of us is an ass for sure.
I used tortoiseshell as an adjective to describe the pattern on her belly. I was not seeking to be scientifically or taxonomically correct. I was using a word to vaguely describe the coloration of her fur.
The argument just seems like petty pedantry.
Lol, months later. You posted to a cat community, don't get upset when people call you out on using cat terms incorrectly. The better response is to learn and not repeat the mistake. Calling it petty pedantry is absurd.
Tortoiseshell in the context of cats has a specific meaning. if you don't care to learn what that meaning is, it's easy to just not use the term.
pedant /pĕd′nt/
noun
It was 't a mistake. I used an adjective which describes the pattern on my cat. Your argument is entirely pedantic.
You used an adjective that describes a pattern that isn't on your cat. That's not a minor detail of your post. You're the one trying, and failing, to be a pedant.