Since tuxedo cats have been around since Ancient Egypt, they have had plenty of time to acclimate to humans while still developing unique personalities that can vary just as much as their coat markings.
What Are Tuxedo Cats?
Tuxedo cats are recognizable by their distinct coloring. The cats always have an impressive appearance thanks to their black fur and white chests that resemble tuxedos.
Although they are not a breed, tuxedo cats get their name from the unique pattern on their fur. Not all black and white cats are tuxedo cats, despite the fact that the classic formal wear colors of black and white are more commonly associated with them.
The same can be said for tuxedo cats. Instead of restricting patterning to black and white fur, breeders let a variety of gray and white or ginger tuxedo cats to enter the competition. A small number of white tuxedo cats have black undercarriages as well.
The cats can be of different breeds since the characteristic color pattern that defines a tuxedo cat A few cats that display this patterning include:
- Maine Coon
- American Shorthair
- Scottish Folds
- Norwegian Forest cats
Tuxedo cats have an equal chance of being male or female, in contrast to calicos and tortoiseshells, which are mostly female.
Watch Now: 8 Surprising Facts About Tuxedo Cats
- 01 of 06 Tuxedo Cats Are Actually Piebald / Instagram / @lillmanlulu_luigi_and_co Nope, that’s not a specific breed. Instead, the distinctive bi-colored (also called piebald) markings on their coats, which resemble tuxedos, are how they got their name. Tuxedo cats don’t have to be black and white, as we previously stated. Additionally, their coats can be short, shaggy, long, or silky because they can be a variety of breeds, such as Maine Coon, Turkish Angora, American shorthair, or British shorthair. For a brief science lesson, continue reading to find out why their coats are bicolored.
- 02 of 06 tuxedo cats receive their stylish dudser, coat patternsduring development, just like tortoiseshell and calico cats. @dada_kafei_me / Instagram But its not about genetics. For a long time, it was thought that their patterns were caused by “slow” or “sluggish” pigment cells, which left white patches in the places where they were unable to reach every part of the cat embryo before it was fully formed. According to a more recent theory, pigment cells move and multiply randomly during embryonic development rather than according to specific genetic instructions for pattern. Even if two tuxedo cats are cloned, their colors and markings will still be distributed randomly in either scenario, meaning that no two will have precisely the same pattern. The majority of calico and tortoiseshell cats are female due to a genetic link between orange and black coat colors and gender, but there is an equal number of male and female tuxedo cats. This is despite the fact that calico, tortoiseshell, and tuxedo cats all have similar marking formations.
- 03. of 06 Tuxedo Cats Have a Place in History @dodopaw / Instagram It may surprise you to learn that many famous people have had tuxedo cats as pets, including Sir Isaac Newton, William Shakespeare, and Beethoven. Who knows how far these cats’ inspirations have advanced art and science? Well-known cats in popular culture include Sylvester from Looney Tunes and the renowned Dr. Seuss), and Mr. Mistoffelees from the Broadway show Cats are all tuxies. Tuxedo Stan, a Canadian tuxedo cat, ran for mayor of his fair city in 2012. Tuxedo Stan made history in the worlds of cats and humans alike even though he was unable to assume public office.
- 04 of 06: Sparky the Tuxedo Cat Is the World’s Richest Cat / @boots_and_bear / Instagram In 1998, Sparky the Tuxedo Cat inherited a staggering 6 When his owner died, he inherited $3 million, making him significantly wealthier than any other cat and the majority of people. Continue to 5 of 6 below .
- 05 of 06: Tuxedo Cats Have Disappeared Where No Cat Has Ever Disappeared ? @milo thetuxedocat / Instagram Thanks to their luck and feline charms, tuxedo cats have visited a lot of locations that no other cat has ever been to before. For example, only one cat has ever reached the summit of Mount Everest, and you guessed ithe was a tuxedo cat. Despite the fact that his human carried him, it’s still quite remarkable, isn’t it? Simon, a tuxedo cat, served in World War II and was awarded a medal for his valiant efforts. He assisted the Allies by keeping rodents and pests out of British food supplies. Yes, there was a tuxedo cat that entered the White House. During his time as US president, President Bill Clinton owned a pet Tuxie.
- 06 of 06: There Are Several Myths About Tuxedo Cats / @theohiocitykitties / Instagram Certainly, tuxies are fantastic cats. Maybe this explains why there are a lot of untruths about them out there. MYTH: Tuxedo cats have specific personality traits. Some believe these cats to be exceptionally intelligent, devoted, or loving. Although many tuxies are all of these things, pattern has no bearing on a person’s personality. A cat’s personality changes over time due to both hereditary and environmental factors. MYTH: Tuxedo cats were worshipped in ancient Egypt. There’s a story that the majority of cats seen in tombs and artwork from ancient Egypt were tuxedo cats. There is no proof that tuxedo cats existed in ancient Egypt, despite the fact that it is well known that the Egyptians held cats in the highest regard and considered them to be gods. MYTH: Tuxedo cats have magical powers. Because of the colors of their coats, tuxedo cats are said to become almost invisible during a vernal or diurnal equinox. Some people think this phenomenon is real and happens because of the “magical powers” of light and shadow, completely ignoring the laws of physics. Actually, your cat is most likely hiding or possibly lost if they vanish. MYTH: Tuxedo cats are allowed at the Metropolitan Opera. They’re rumored to be attending since they’re “dressed appropriately.” ” Cute, but not exactly true. Although service dogs are always welcome at the Met, other animals are not allowed unless they are a part of the show, according to their accessibility policies.
FAQ
- What is the average lifespan of tuxedo cats? Tuxedo cats typically live 15 years or longer, just like most domestic cats.
- The value of tuxedo cats varies greatly depending on the breed. Your local shelter system has hundreds of mixed-breed tuxedo cats available for adoption at a low cost. Alternatively, you could spend $500 or more on a purebred cat with a tuxedo pattern.
- Why are tuxedo cats so intelligent? Although many of their owners believe their cats are exceptionally intelligent, there is no proof that tuxedo cats are any more intelligent than a typical domestic shorthair cat.
The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our
- Richard L. Mort, Robert J. H. Ross, Kirsten J. Hainey, Olivia J. Harrison, Margaret A. Keighren, Gabriel Landini, Ruth E. Baker, Kevin J. Painter, Ian J. Jackson, Christian A. Yates. Reconciling diverse mammalian pigmentation patterns with a fundamental mathematical model. Nature Communications, 2016; 7: 10288 doi: 10. 1038/NCOMMS10288.
FAQ
What are tuxedo cats descended from?
Although there is no such thing as a tuxedo cat breed, the bicolor (also called piebald) pattern arises more often in the following cat breeds: Domestic Shorthair, Turkish Van, American Shorthair, British Shorthair, Cornish Rex, Exotic Shorthair, Maine Coon, and Manx.
Did Egyptians have tuxedo cats?
There’s a rumor that most of the cats depicted in ancient Egyptian tombs and art were tuxedo cats. While it’s common knowledge that cats were highly revered and worshipped as gods by the ancient Egyptians, there’s no evidence that tuxedo cats were around in the time of ancient Egypt.
What causes tuxedo cat pattern?
Cats have color genes that can produce the tuxedo pattern in the right combination. Tuxedo cats have the genes to be black. They also have the white spotting gene, which masks the black color on some parts of the body. It does this by preventing the color-producing melanocytes from migrating to those areas.
What is the origin of the black and white cat?
A cat’s two-tone or piebald fur colour forms when their pigment cells fail to follow genetic instructions as they are developing in the womb, according to the results of a study published yesterday.