One of the oldest breeds of cats, though not currently ranking high in popularity, the Tortoiseshell Shorthair demands a minimum of grooming in show cats and is also an excellent house pet. Nearly all are females. Males are a rarity and are usually sterile. For shows, the patches of red, black, and cream must be evenly distributed over the body and must not intermingle. The large, round eyes can be hazel, copper, or orange, and a blaze of red down the center of the face is preferred. Tortoiseshells are not easily bred to fit the standards, particularly since there are no males. Tabby markings and white hair are common faults.

The Tortoiseshell-and-white Shorthair, also called Calico Cat, differs from the regular Tortoiseshell Shorthair only in having white on its face, chest, and legs. This variation is, in fact, the most popular.