Now, with that being said, it's not hard to understand how tuxedo cats got their name. These cats are the epitome of formal elegance, with a solid black coat and white fur on the throat, chest, paws and stomach. Some tuxedo cats even wear a white or black mustache to add a touch of elegance.
Perhaps the rarest and most beautiful of all is the tuxedo cat "wearing" a fur bow tie. Known as "black ties", these charming felines are considered to be good luck charms, especially in terms of wealth and luck.
What do tuxedo cats look like?
A tuxedo cat can also be described as a two-tone cat. While tuxedo cats don't have to be all black and white, they must have a magpie colouring to be included in the category.
Tuxedo cats have a coat that is one colour with various markings of another colour (usually white). Most often, tuxies have white paws, white breasts, white whiskers, and white bellies.
These markings have been linked to the white spot gene (also called the S gene). As the tuxedo pattern shows, white markings can take on many different shapes, ranging from a simple white spot on solid fur to the predominantly white pattern seen in the Turkish Van breed for example.
While you are probably more familiar with shorthair tuxedo cats, they can also have long hair. This type of coat is a genetic trait that can affect all multi-coloured breeds, even breeds known for their distinct appearance like the Norwegian Forest Cat, Persian Cat, and Manx.
What is the personality and temperament of a tuxedo cat?
According to many cat owners and tuxedo cat lovers, these friendly felines have an easy-going temperament. They have also been described as playful, chatty, loyal, and dog-like.
Tuxedo kittens were born in formal wear, as beautiful as they can get. Even as kittens, they are friendly, easygoing, and more laid back than other kittens.
Another interesting feature of tuxedo kittens is that they tend to grow faster than other cats. It usually takes one to two weeks for kittens to open their eyes after birth, but newborn tuxedos open their eyes, on an average, 24 hours earlier than other cats.
It's important to remember that tuxedo cats are not a breed in their own right, so it's hard to say if all tuxedos fit this description.
The genetics of black and white cats
A cat’s black and white coat is the result of the combination of different genes. The white spot gene called the S gene is responsible for the appearance of white markings on a coloured coat. Thus, its action “transforms” a black coat into a black and white coat.
On the other hand, it is not this gene that is responsible for the white coat of an all white cat: it only causes white markings which can be more or less extensive, but not an immaculate dress.
Two copies (or alleles) of the S gene are present in every cat, and each of them can take two different forms: either an S-form or an s-form. Therefore there could be four potential combinations for the same individual: SS, Ss, sS and ss. Overall, there is a link between alleles and the amount of white in the coat: it is higher in SS than in Ss or sS, while ss have no white markings.
Besides the S gene, there are other genes which can then contribute to a black and white cat’s coat. For example, some genes can influence the white marking’s location, the number and / or extent on the coat. Nevertheless, there is still a part of randomness, which means that two genetically identical cats do not necessarily have the same markings in the same places. This is one of the reasons why there are all kinds of bicolor coats, with varied patterns.
If you are lucky enough to have a tuxedo cat, congratulations! You now know a little more about your feline friend and the origin of its unique colouring.
Want to discover more about the tuxedo cat? Here are 10 fascinating facts about these gorgeous and elegant felines.
