The name, the cats, the beginning.
TortCat LLC was founded in Connecticut in 2026. The name is a tribute to our tortoiseshell cats — two beloved companions named Kira and Mika, who have since passed, and whose memory inspired everything here. Their spirit lives on through our two current cats, Nami and Haru, who supervise every packing session with varying degrees of interest.
Behind the name is a lifelong passion for Japanese pop culture — manga, anime, and the collector community that surrounds both. TortieCatMerch exists because that community deserves a seller who approaches it with the same care a collector would.
We are small by design. Every item is personally sourced, honestly described, and packed by hand. No warehouse, no automation, no shortcuts.
What we stand for.
These are not aspirations. They are the minimum standard we hold ourselves to on every order, every listing, every communication.
- i. Honesty in every listing. Flaws are photographed and disclosed. Condition is described as a collector would describe it — not as a seller trying to close a deal.
- ii. Care in every package. Items are wrapped, padded, and packed to survive shipping. We treat every order as if it were going to ourselves.
- iii. Respect for the community. The anime and manga community is the reason this business exists. We price fairly, respond quickly, and never take the trust of collectors for granted.
- iv. Authenticity in everything. From the merchandise we carry to how we run the store — no imitations, no shortcuts, no work we are not proud of.