Tuxedo Cats: Everything You Need To Know About These 'Well-Dressed' Felines
Is there anything more charming than a tuxedo cat? These cats are so-named because their two-tone coloring makes it look as if they're wearing a spiffy tuxedo. And they aren't just popular pets full of purr-sonality, tuxes are also pop cultural icons. Read on for some truly fascinating facts about the most stylish cats around plus photos that will make your day just a little bit brighter!
1. Tuxedo isn't a cat breed
Unless you get your cat from a breeder and know its pedigree, it's likely your tuxie is a domestic longhair or domestic shorthair cat with a bicolor coat. A bicolor coat refers to any two-color fur on a cat, whether the cat is a fancy breed or adopted from a shelter.
While a black-and-white cat is, of course, most closely associated with the tuxedo, there are tuxedo cats in other color combinations, including gray-and-white and orange-and-white. And no two tuxedo cats ever have the same pattern!
2. Tuxedo cats are found in many cartoons
If you grew up watching cartoons, you probably saw a lot of tuxedo cats. Sylvester from Looney Tunes, Tom from Tom and Jerry and Felix the Cat, to name just a few iconic examples, are all tuxies.
Wondering why this is? Well, Felix was created way back in 1919, during the silent film era, when even cartoons were black-and-white. Felix's tuxedo made an instant visual impression on the screen. There's also just so much goofy personality that comes with a cat that appears to be wearing a suit, so it makes sense that more cartoon cats would be tuxies over the years.
3. There's a grading system for tuxedo cats
While all tuxedo cats get an A+ in our book, it may surprise you to learn that there's actually a way to grade your tuxedo cat's coat. Experts report that the gene that produces the bicolor coat leads to different grades of white spotting, from 1 to 10 — 1 being the most white and 10 being the most black. Typically, tuxedo cats get a low grade from 1 to 4, as they have less white than black in their coats. The white parts are usually found on their chests, bellies, paws, tails and/or faces in varying degrees, while the majority of the body is black or another color.
4. Tuxedo cats have been in some surprising places
Cats have a way of showing up in the places you'd least expect them — especially if they're tuxedo! In 2012, a tuxedo cat named Stan ran for mayor of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Well, sort of — he couldn't formally run because he lacked a birth certificate, but it's the thought that counts, right? His candidacy was meant to raise awareness of the feral cat population in Halifax, and was a product of the Tuxedo Party of Canada, a political party created just for the occasion. Stan may not have become mayor, but he won a lot of media attention, including endorsements from Anderson Cooper and Ellen DeGeneres.
Terrific tuxedo cats
No matter what kind of tuxedo your kitty has, you have to admit it's pretty special. We think they're the cat's meow!
For more cat cuteness to brighten your day, check out these stories:
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Valerie Bertinelli Gives Us the Dirt on Her Cats — “He’s Annoyed by Everybody Except Me”