We have two black and white cats and a tabby. All are rescues and Drake the tabby is a hand-rear that we have had from approx. 2 weeks of age. Of the black/whites one is very aloof, the other very moody and Drake is a loony. Working with cats on a daily basis you tend to find that some are easier to handle than others, torties are usually naughty, Bengals often very difficult with black/whites and gingers usually placid but you always get exceptions! Cats that have been hand-reared are usually precocious and difficult, probably because they were never taught 'boundaries' by their mother. Feral kittens never seem to use that streak, Our Ixie who is sadly no longer with us; was hand-reared from 1 day old but was a real spitfire of a cat. Generally I think that breed/genetics may have a part to play in their temperament but more so their early experiences. Cats are very intelligent and don't forget bad experiences.

Does the breed affect behaviour?
 

I am a cat lover and have always had them in my life. I had a White cat and obviously she had skin problems as most White cats do but she was also an odd one. I had a tabby cat too which I find tabbys are usually selfish in nature. I now have a tortoise shell cat and I believe they are a spiteful type...I have come across a lot of them and obviously they are always female but also not very good if you want a cuddly cat. I have a black and White cat who is loving and gentle and every other black and White cat I have come across is the same. Do you think it's in their genes? Let's discuss.

I have two black cats who are really dopey, but very friendly & a bengal who is absolutely insane.

I have to say my mothers tortoiseshell cats are very unpredictable, they'll be purring one minute and biting the next.

That's what I find. My black and White cat falls off things and is very dopey. Never met a Bengal but very pretty. And yeah every tortoise shell I have met is exactly how you described...very likely to turn on you haha. I do wonder if it's genetics or just a coincidence...a lot of people say that with animals it's how they are bought up and not their breed.

My nan had a siamese and she was really nasty but she lived to 23. She'd swipe at your legs as you walked past though.

I had a wild ginger cat as a pet. He was found along with other kittens in an old house that was being done up.
He was always a temperamental cat though, could be fine as anything, then all of a sudden turn on you.

Loved him though.

Well with the bengal cross, that's actually got some blood from a non-domesticated cat, so makes sense they're psycho, the rest I couldn't tell ya. Growing up in the US, we had an aall black cat who was fairly intelligent and always managed to outsmart the dog (I suppose that doesn't say much though), and fiercely loyal to my mother. Her daughter was a really really stupid cat, grey motled, don't know what you call that, but it'd get it's head stuck in pots on a regular basis. I personally think the personality is dictated by the individual when considering domestic cats, perhaps with some tendencies based on 'breed' but the overall behavior is more individual. I haven't actually done any research into it though.

I have five cats, a grey torti, a black and white, two tabbys and a grey and white. The torti is unpredictable, the black and white is very stupid, the tabbys are both nervous and the grey loves to be stroked, doesnt like to be picked up thinks he is a lion and beats up on everyone else.

It does indeed! I have a burmese and he is very much like a dog!

Naughty tortes are called that for a reason hehe, my Bengal x is a nuttier! It also depends on the sex, males tend to be more affectionate and loving where as the females are usually more independent , want attention when it suits them and unpredictable http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png

Yeah I definitely think it does.

Funny what you're all saying about black and white cats, I thought it was just my cat that was kinda dopey. I won't go as far as saying stupid because she does things she knows are wrong and watches me to see if I catch her or tell her off! Having said that she is totally protective towards me and very territorial. I understand its because I had her at such a young age, the person I bought her from told me she was 8 weeks and when I took her to the vet I found out she was 4 weeks! So she really thinks I'm her mummy lol and acts as such.

My brother has a Bengal x and is also a nutcase. Climbs up everywhere but is also very intelligent.