#dilute tortoisehsell

[themissinglynx]

People get torties so wrong so frequently and don’t realize how diverse the pelt color can be.

Yeah. It’s a pelt color. Not a breed.

Shocker.

Oh, and calico tabbies are called calibies (sing caliby).

Also, I heavily simplified the brown tortoiseshell thing. If you want more detail, look that crap up. I’m too tired to explain.

I’m sleeping now.

[wallaceandpestle]

warrior cats beauty standards

frankly in a organized society as complex as Warriors there would definitely be things considered attractive, standards of beauty, clan aesthetics, etc. this includes physical cat features, general traits, objects, etc. 

thunderclan:

* thunderclan cats generally find that “big cat features,” resembling lions and panthers, are most attractive, and thus, are common and typical of thunderclan cats. this includes features like thick snouts, broad faces and noses, far-apart, smaller eyes, etc. seem to have “friendlier” faces, much more round. 

* wide paws with long claws are seen as signs of strength and prowess (good for climbing trees and navigating the forest)

* thunderclan cats are generally the biggest out of all of the clans, and appear to have the most muscle mass,

* but tbh they just have some of the thickest fur. they’re the only clan to regularly have a “winter coat” and a “summer coat,” the former much thicker and longer. fur is seen as especially attractive in the form of manes around the neck or fluff on the belly (the really plume-like tails are more riverclan reserved, however). 

* coat colors can vary, and from what we see in the books i cant really gather common traits (modern tc is so mixed with other groups anyways) but i like to imagine that colors are generally very saturated, somewhat brownish and earthy. brown and ginger tabbies are especially common, but tortoiseshells aren’t unheard of as well (tortoiseshells are more common than calicos). 

* cats aren’t dirty by any means (i mean these are cats we’re talking about, sharing tongues is a huge tradtiion) but thunderclanners can be seen visually “Carrying” signs of their environment. pelts flecked with moss and leaves, flowers in the ears of queens, mud streaked along the coats of playful apprentices. every single “crown” headcanon people come up with for plants are valid. all of them. 

* obviously every thunderclan cat has a different thing they look for in a mate, but stereotypical (straight) queen signs of attractiveness in toms includes a sense of duty to protect his family/clan, friendly and warm, etc. 

* thunderclan cats love foliage and trees. there aren’t a ton of wildflowers in the territory, with how wooded the land is, so instead they favor things like vines and bushes. bramble bushes have long been signs of strength and defense, while softer plants, like ferns and bracken, usually indicates a sense of family, familiarity, or comfort. 

* moss is like designer silk to these babes. 

shadowclan:

* think thunderclan, but sharper, sleeker, edgier, when it comes to faces. long, narrow snouts, sharp angles in cheek fur and ears and eyes, etc. eyes are often slanted, with very angular corners, while ears are generally very deep-folded (like they curve on the head a lot, with big folds on the sides, idk how to explain it lol). 

* coats can range from medium-short to long, somewhat wiry fur. almost wolflike in appearance, with the underbelly fur even brushing the ground. it’s generally accepted that the older a cat is, the longer his fur grows. 

* brokenstar cut his longer growing fur with thorns and burs and his own claws to maintain a sharp, clean look. long coats are somewhat associated with elders (and by extension wisdom, knowledge, etc), and he didn’t want that. 

* mustaches!!!! long fur on the muzzles, long whiskers, beards!!!!!!!

* for colors, almost all cats that aren’t brown or grey tabbies have white somewhere, in the form of a calico cat, a white chest and belly, white paws, etc. colors are a bit darker and desaturated from thunderclan. most calicos are dilute in some way (as in, they’re grey and cream instead of black and red). 

* long curvy claws here too, along with long teeth and fangs (goof for hunting). 

* the camp is kept as very secluded between thick pine trees, so there’s no weak spots, and little light let in as well. pine needles are the most common plant, so obviously they’re used for almost all purposes where they can be used. 

* mushrooms are very common around the camp, and have become a tiny little motif of shadowclan! most of the other clans dont get them, aside from small ones growing on tree bark (which they hardly notice,) so shadowclan likes to think it’s starclan’s little gift to them. just dont eat them. 

* cats are very methodically clean, although they never enter water. especially in the forest territories, most water is somewhat muddy (i mean they lived on a swampland). it’s perfectly safe to drink, but esteemed shadowclan cats probably wouldn’t want to bathe in it. 

* medicine cats keep herb gardens!!!! they’re signs of tenderness and clan growth and health, and warriors respect them, refusing to walk through them. apprentices get in big trouble if they trample them. 

* cats cant climb the trees, as they’re all confiers, and usually have too many branches close together, with thick pine needles difficult to manuever through, even for cats. but somehow the stereotype of glowing shadowclan eyes in the trees is a thing. shadowclan cats HATE this.

riverclan:

* riverclan cats are viewed as the most luxurious of all the clans, and they love it. plump, well fed bodies, long, sleek, shiny fur dripping down like waterfalls, beautiful, regal faces, are all the beauty standards of riverclan, and often other clans too. 

* i mean cats in general find riverclanners physically attractive, often. in the books we see riverclan involved in a lot of forbidden romances, but these take a much milder form all the time in thunderclanners eyeing the gorgeous riverclan she-cat, or windclanners gawking at the stregnth of that tom. 

* although, “riverclan crushes” dont usually extend past the physically, since most of the other clans agree that riverclanners let their good looks get  to their heads, and are stereotyped as cocky, arrogant, luxurious, demanding, etc. 

* it is true that they are very picky with their food - and they get a lot of it. some creative medicine cats and queens take the job of preparing fresh kill for the leaders to be extra tasty and well presented, whether that means serving it with flavorful herbs, or arranging flowers around it, etc. 

* many leaders joke about wanting *only the fattest, finest fishes.” it is true that riverclan is much more reluctant to share prey in the books, but in the clan itself, leaders obviously make sure everybody is fed. 

* dens, as well, are often decorated with flowers and herbs are stored in the nursery, to help calm queens with their scent. certain flowers symbolize different things, usually related to luck in some way. 

* riverclan cats are the only clan that regularly bathes in the river. it usually replaces “sharing tongues,” but cats get just as clean. 

* coats are long, healthy, and very smooth, sometimes even wavy. obviously cat’s cant do hairstyles, but the same attractive features in long human hair translates to riverclan cat’s tails, often like feather plumes (feathertail is the riverclan equivalent of naming your child after their beautiful luscious locks). 

* cats have big, big eyes, and small noses, with little delicate snouts and mouths (but really sharp teeth). riverclan is the only clan that regularly has flatter snouts, shadowclan occasionally has them but since riverclan has the least need to run around and be active, they can afford a more persian look. 

* ears are absolutely fULL of fur. 

* webbed feet for easier swming!! all cats have webbed feet to some degree but riverclan cats have it a lot.

* the main areas of long fur are congregated on the elbosw, ankles, tail, neck/chest, cheeks, and ears. the actual body has a very sleek and flat coat for ease in swimming. 

* colors are vibrant, usually cool-toned. brown and ruddy tabbies are less common than silver ones, and aside from those and tortoisehsells most cats are solid. exotic patterns, like leopard spots, colorpoint (siamese), ticked, persian, etc, are rare, but definitely possible (and very attractive) in riverclan. 

windclan:

* windclanners are the smallest of all the clans!! they’re just short and low by nature. 

* because they’re so small, windclan cats are very compactly built, as they have to fit a lot of muscle in a little space. they aren’t the strongest or heaviest in a fight, so they can’t pin down their attackers, but they have really long, strong legs. 

* windclan cats have such great legs because they have to run around the moor a lot. they have a really big territory, like it goes really far, but because it’s all just moor and fields the clans aren’t really jealous. they have to traverse all this territory multiple times a day, so they train for speed and endurance a lot, hence the powerful limbs. 

* long legs are tucked under the body when they sit/lay, like a rabbit! you ever seen a rabbit run??! the legs are all tucked under so they look really small, but when they get up they go on for miles. 

* good hunting abilities are very desirable in a mate. when a bunch of cats have a crush on the same one, they might engage in a “race” in front of them to prove their speed. cats woo their mates by sharing prey with them, and letting them have the first bites. 

* in terns of facial details, windclan cats dont have a lot of discernable features. they have generally shorter snots, but not compressed, as this makes it difficult to run and breath heavily. ears are small (and flattened against the face a lot), eyes and noses are big. 

* tabbies, especially brown and grey, are extremely common, and any other look is pretty rare for windclan. many cats felt an inherent unease about tallstar being leader, since he was black and white, very uncommon for windclan. 

* cats have the shortest fur, to keep away dust, sand, and grasses from getting stuk in their pelts. short/cropped tails are common as well. 

* cats love the feeling of being open, of sunshine and total exposure to the elements. sleeping under the stars together is very romantic for windclan mates. 

* dens are usually hollows in the sides of hills, often abandoned fox or badger burrows. whatever bushes are there are scraggly, and cats can’t really live in them, although their leaves are usually taken to be bedding for queens (other cats just forgo bedding entirely). 

* this is kinda gross but i imagine windclan woudlnt really have a dirtplace?? they pretty much live in a sandbox so there’s just certain areas of the territory they use. 

skyclan:

* so i havent read much of the books with skyclan so i cant say much. but from what i understand, as they have a long and sordid history of hardships, traeling, and fighting for their rights, skyclan cats value durabilty, resourcefulness, etc. 

* cats are taught from a young age to push through any pain they have, even if minor. medicine and herbs have become largely lost on the clan (i mean leafpool helps them but before that) so the mentality of “get over it, it doesnt hurt that bad” is taught in kits from a young age. 

* queens have lots of smaller litters, as when cats are hungrier, they tend to have less kits. so to make up for it, any she-cats able to have kits re admired for having as many litters as they can. 

* cats are physically very varied, usually on the thin side. durable, strong bodies are valued as they can survive harsher condition. cats are wirey and thinner, more spry and flexible than any other clan. 

[themissinglynx]

Warrior Cats Wiki Tortie Designs Ratings!

I was talking with a friend about the pixels drawn of torties on the wiki and just wanted to take a moment to appreciate each one. I’ll be judging them based on how realistic they are and how much I like them as a design.

To the person or people who drew/colored the pixels, this isn’t really a critique or bashing of your designs - a few of them I quite like! I’m just doing this for fun and to amuse myself for an hour and a half.

Alright, all the tortie kitties arranged by the Futhark, let’s go!

FIRCONE

this looks less brindled and more like an abuse of the airbrush tool. not bad otherwise. realism - 8/10 design - 6/10

FIERCE

the red part’s too gold and the brindling doesn’t look like brindling. realism - 4/10 design - 3/10

FINCHPAW

ewwwwwww..... that’s not how brindling/mottling works. at least it’s proportional to the amount of white. realism - 3/10 design - 1/10

FERNSHADE

the red looks too brown to be a proper tortoiseshell. not bad though. realism - 6/10 design - 8/10

ROBINWING

this is fairly pretty. but it’s not a tortoiseshell I mean, one could explain it away as a brown and cream silver shaded torbie, but that’s not what they were going for. still pretty. realism - 5/10 design - 10/10

REDTAIL

the ginger patches are too distinct for a tortoiseshell with no white. not a bad color combination, though. realism - 7/10 design - 6/10

CORIANDER

pretty good! just a little bit bigger dapples and it’s perfect! realism - 9/10 design - 7/10

CHERRYTAIL

ew. the dappling isn’t proportional and the red is too yellow. realism - 3/10 design - 2/10

HAWK

pretty, but not a tortie. just a pretty brown tabby. realism - 6/10 design - 9/10

HOPWHISKER

brindling is only on torties, not calicos. realism - 5/10 design - 7/10

NUTMEG (no not that one)

not bad. there could be a bit more red on the back though. realism - 8/10 design - 7/10

IVYTAIL

ewwww... she looks like a dog... realism - 2/10 design - 1/10

JUNIPER BRANCH

.......... this has to be a joke. realism - 0/10 design - 2/10

PEANUT

looks muddy. realism - 4/10 design - 3/10

PATCHKIT

not great. normally there’s more black than red, but the white should balance it out. realism - 3/10 design - 2/10

PETALDUST

hm! not bad! a little too even, but not bad! realism - 9/10 design - 7/10

POPPYFROST

*see her mother’s entry* realism - 5/10 design - 8/10

POPPYCLOUD

if there was a white belly, the dappled patches would be justified. all around, the colors are nice and with just adding white, they’d look more realistic. nice! realism - 7/10 design - 7/10

SUNSTRIKE

ignoring the mandatory “white spot on head”, this ain’t bad. the red just needs brightening up a little because again, it looks too brown. realism - 7/10 design - 6/10

SWEETPAW

she looks like a koi. why does she look like a koi? realism - 5/10 design - 4/10

SHELLFUR

ewwwwww realism - 1/10 design - 1/10

CINDERS

she looks like a dog. why? realism - 4/10 design - 6/10

SPARROW FUR

too small and too spread out of patches for a calico. that’s not a tortie. realism - 6/10 design - 4/10

SPOTTEDPELT

*see spottedleaf’s entry*

SPOTTEDLEAF

not bad, actually pretty close, but the the white on the back is what ruins it. realism - 7/10 design - 5/10

STORKKIT

this ain’t bad. that ginger patch looks a bit big though. realism - 9/10 design - 9/10

SORRELTAIL

that’s.... not how white-spotting works. the colors, while semi-unrealistic, aren’t unappealing. realism - 5/10 design - 8/10

SOL

not bad, not bad. the brindling looks very nice, but isn’t quite proportional to the amount of white. realism - 8/10 design - 9/10

SONGPAW

ah! a dilute tortoiseshell! not bad! realism - 9/10 design - 6/10

TURTLECRAWL

not great. almost has a persian look to her and I don’t like it. realism - 6/10 design - 3/10

TURTLEKIT

that’s not a tortie. realism - 4/10 design - 2/10

TURTLE TAIL

why does she look like a koi? realism - 6.10 design - 7/10

TWIST

again, ignoring the “mandatory weird white lightning mark”, this isn’t half-bad. just a little more black could do it. realism - 7/10 design - 4/10

TAWNYPELT

for the name “tawny”, why isn’t she tawny brown and tawny cream? nevermind, while this design looks nice, the proportions of white to dappled-ness isn’t quite equal, which knocks this design down a peg. realism - 7/10 design - 5/10

BUMBLE

that’s not how brindling works and the red is too brown. realism - 5/10 design - 4/10

BRINDLECLAW

looks more mottled, but not bad realism - 7/10 design - 9/10

BRACKENPELT

that’s not a tortie. realism - 3/10 design - 4/10

BETSY

WHY DO THESE CALICOS LOOK LIKE KOI?! realism - 6/10 design - 6/10

BLOSSOM

the tufts of other colors shouldn’t be there. otherwise a good design. realism - 5/10 design - 6/10

BLOSSOMFALL

ignoring the “integral to design petal white patches”, this isn’t a bad dilute tortoiseshell design. the red patches need to be larger to match the amount of white though. realism - 5/10 design - 6/10

MARIGOLDKIT

too bright and the patches are too distinct. realism - 3/10 design - 1/10

MILKWEED

IS THIS...?! NO. NO. AN ACTUALLY REALISTIC DESIGN?! NICE JOB WHOEVER DID THIS! ....and she’s not even described as tortoiseshell. classic. realism - 10/10 design - 9/10

MAPLESHADE

that’s not how white-spotting works... white can’t just appear on the back! realism - 4/10 design - 6/10

MALLOWTAIL

rather pretty. a little too brown though. realism - 6/10 design - 8/10

MOSSFIRE

looks like someone bleached out the red spots. pattern’s right, just not the color. realism - 3/10 design - 1/10

MOSSHEART

what’s with tortoiseshells and looking too muddy? realism - 4/10 design - 3/10

MOSSPELT

the red part looks a little too brown, the patches are too distinct for the amount of white given, and the white on the tail doesn’t really seem plausible, but overall, not a bad design. realism - 6/10 design - 7/10

MORNINGFLOWER

not bad, not bad. the red part’s just a little too golden though, but still, not bad. she looks like a brindled torbie. realism - 8/10 design - 8/10

LARKSPLASH

looks like she rolled in mud. realism - 2/10 design - 2/10

LARKSONG

well! a nice cat and a plausible one! great job, whoever designed this! realism - 10/10 design - 10/10

LEAFSHADE

...... this is not a tortoiseshell. realism - 2/10 design - 1/10

LEAFSTAR

BEHOLD, A BROWN AND CREAM TORTIE! once again, not intended to be a tortie.... hmm realism - 9/10 design - 7/10

OLIVENOSE

ooh! a dilute tortie! very cute! realism - 10/10 design - 9/10

DUSK NOSE

not bad, not bad at all. very stylized and close to realism, but not quite realistic. realism - 8/10 design - 10/10

DAWN RIVER

looks muddy. realism - 4/10 design - 3/10

DAPPLETAIL

this is actually a pretty nice design, but that’s not how white-spotting works and the cream is too light. if the black was gray or the cream was ginger, I wouldn’t complain. realism - 4/10 design - 9/10

DAPPLED PELT

not bad. not bad at all. realism - 9/10 design - 8/10

DEWY LEAF

barrel on legs here looks too brown. needs more ginger/red. realism - 7/10 design - 5/10