Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day 2026: When It Is & How Its Celebrated

We appreciate our feline companions every day, but did you know some kitties have actual holidays dedicated to them? (Black cats have both a day and a month!) One cat that has a day all to its own is the Tortoiseshell cat.

What exactly is Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day? What day does it fall on, and how is it celebrated? Let’s take a closer look at this holiday that's just for Tortoiseshell and celebrates these wonderful cats! And if you have one, you can celebrate the next time this day rolls around!

What Is Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day?

Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day came about in 2020 and was created by Ingrid King. King had adopted a Tortoiseshell cat in 2011 that, unfortunately, passed away at the end of 2019. To honor her cat’s memory and to bring awareness to Tortoiseshells, King decided to designate April 17^th as Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day.¹ She requested that people flood social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, with pictures of their beloved Tortoiseshell cats.

So, when April 17^th comes around again, post a picture of your favorite Tortoiseshell on social media to celebrate this holiday!

british fold tortoiseshell cat on a tree stump — Image Credit: Denys R, Shutterstock

What Is a Tortoiseshell Cat?

Tortoiseshell refers to a pattern on felines, not a breed itself. These kitties have a distinct coloring—a patchwork of brown, red, black, chocolate, amber, and cinnamon. These patches can be in all different sizes, from tiny specks to huge splotches. However, Tortoiseshells shouldn’t be confused with calicos even though both have multi-colored patterns. A Tortoiseshell cat will have a brindled coat that has no or few white spots, unlike the calico, which has plenty of white fur.

The coloring of a Tortoiseshell cat is a result of both developmental factors and genetics. The main color of a feline’s coat is created by a primary coat color gene; however, Tortoiseshells have two of these that are equally dominant. And as these two co-dominant genes only appear on the X chromosomes (of which females have two), there are only roughly 1 in 3,000 Tortoiseshells that are male instead of female.² It’s nearly impossible for a male Tortoiseshell to exist, as it would have to have an extra X chromosome in addition to its X and Y chromosomes.³

What Other Cat Holidays Exist?

There are so many you can celebrate each month, and several are dedicated wholly to cats. Just a few of these other feline holidays include:

January 2nd: Happy Mew Year for Cats
January 22nd: National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day
March 28th: Respect Your Cat Day
April 6th: National Siamese Cat Day
April 29th: National Hairball Awareness Day
June 4th: National Hug Your Cat Day
June 20th: National Take Your Cat to Work Day
July 10th: National Kitten Day
August 8th: International Cat Day
August 22nd: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day
September 19th: National Meow Like a Pirate Day
October 16th: Global Cat Day

And there are plenty more! So, even though you celebrate and appreciate your favorite feline all the time, you can pick one of the many holidays to love your cat just a bit extra.

You might also like: Ginger Cat Appreciation Day: When Is It, and How Is It Celebrated?

Final Thoughts

There is a wealth of pet holidays you can celebrate with your kitty, but if you have a Tortoiseshell, you’ll want to go with April 17^th, as it’s Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day. This holiday was inspired by a beloved Tortoiseshell that passed away and involves posting photos of your cat online for all the world to see and appreciate. You can also take the opportunity to celebrate your kitty on several other days if you’d like. There’s no lack of cat-related holidays out there!

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Sources

Featured Image Credit: monster_code. Shutterstock