Tuxedo Cats

Tuxedo cats are very elegant felines. They are definitely some of the best-dressed creatures I've ever seen. Indeed, tuxedos look like they're always ready to go the opera or a special gala.

As the name suggests, these kitties seem to be wearing a tuxedo. But what truly makes a cat a tuxedo cat?

First of all, a tuxedo-cat is a bicolor cat. But, these kitties only come in black and white. Interestingly, there are many variations of bicolor patterns (see below for more information). But a true tuxedo should be a mostly black cat with white fur on the jaw, mouth/throat area, chest, and paws.

Tuxedo felines are not a breed, but they may occur in different cat breeds. The tuxedo pattern occurs equally in both long hair and short hair cats.

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Coat Pattern

Other black-and-white bicolor coat patterns include the "masked cat" pattern ( also known as "mask-and-mantle" pattern). These cats seem to be wearing a black mask over a white face and/or a black mantle on their backs.

Another pattern is the "cow cat" – also known as the "moo cat". Cow cats, like the name suggests, look like cows. These cats don’t have one big patch of solid black. Instead, they show small patches of black over white fur.

Some black and white cats show patterns with swirls and stripes. Some even look like skunks. The amount of black and white may vary. For instance, some cats may have a mostly white coat with black swirls and stripes while others may show equal amounts of black and white.

These patterns, however, are not considered to be tuxedos.

Not a cat breed

Indeed, bicolor coats (including the tuxedo pattern) occur in several breeds, including:

• American Shorthair

• British Shorthair

• Manx

• Persian

Tuxedo morsels

Personality of the tuxedo cat

Of course, the personality of a cat depends on several factors, including breed and environment. However, many experts claim that these black and white kitties are very smart, even more so than other cats. One of my cat-loving friends (who owns a tuxedo) can attest to that.

In addition, several cat owners claim that tuxedo felines are very affectionate and tend to be more vocal than cats from other breeds and types. These cats, they say, make great companions.

Famous tuxedos

These kitties seem to be very popular. They appear in literature, movies, TV … one of the them even lived in the White House. Here’s a list of famous tuxedos:

• Socks – Chelsea Clinton’s world famous cat. He was born in March, 1991 and sadly passed away in February, 2009. After the Clintons left the White House, Socks moved in with Betty Currie, former President Clinton’s secretary.

• Sylvester the Cat – This cartoon cat, of Looney Tunes fame, became famous for his lisp and his peculiar expression "Suffering Succotash".

• Felix the Cat – A true star of the silent era (and beyond), Felix is one of the most famous cartoons worldwide.

• Mr. Mistoffelees – One of the felines in T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. By the way, Cats! the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber was based on this collection of poems. Mr. Mistoffelees is depicted as a magician in the musical version.

Tuxedos – Pop Culture

• Tuxedo kitties are also known as "Jellicle cats”, which was the name of the clan of black and white cats mentioned in T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.

• And as I said before, two tuxedo felines became very popular entertainers: Sylvester the Cat and Felix the Cat.

• Tuxedos have appeared in calendars, books and posters.

Pictures of tuxedos

--Tuxedo kittens. A mini gallery of lovely pictures of tuxedo babies.

Click here for more information on bi-colored cats and tuxedo-cats.

Gifts for tuxedo cat lovers

--Posters and art prints. You can find a wide selection of inexpensive artwork inspired by these black and white felines, including high quality posters and prints.

--Calendars depicting tuxedo cats. This is a fun and affordable cat lover gift.

--T-shirts. This is another inexpensive gift, which you can also personalize.

--Make your own gifts. Talking about personalizing gifts: Don't stop with t-shirts, you can also customize mugs, hats, and other items using pictures of your own tuxedo kitties.

Do you have a tuxedo kitty?

This is your chance to share your cat's story. You can share a picture, too!

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Related Topics

Black and white cats

Types of Cats

Tuxedo Gifts for All

Tuxedo cat names

Pictures of tuxedo kittens

Calico Cats - Beautiful Tricolor Felines

Calico cat pictures

Tortoiseshell cats

The Precious Tabby Cats

The Maltese Cat

Beautiful white cats


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