They have also been described as playful, talkative, loyal, and dog-like. Though they may not be particularly rare, if you’re lucky enough to find a black cat with a tuxedo color pattern at your local animal shelter, don’t pass it by! Personality And TemperamentĪccording to many cat parents and tuxedo cat lovers, these friendly felines have an easy-going temperament (let’s call it tuxitude!). But, much like Tabby and Ginger cats, tuxedo cats seem to be friendlier and more attached to their owners than other felines. Of course, we know breed plays more of a role than coloring when it comes to the personality traits of a cat. Tuxies can be long haired or short haired, purebred or mixed breed.

Tuxedo cats can be found in a variety of different breeds as well, including Maine Coon, British Shorthair, Scottish Fold, American Shorthair, and Turkish Angora. You’re just as likely to find a female tuxedo cat as a male. One thing calicos and torties have in common that tuxies don’t is that most are female. Today, however, researchers understand that pigment cells multiply and move randomly throughout embryo development – they don’t seem to follow any particular set of instructions when it comes to coat color. The previous theory suggested that slow pigment cells weren’t able to reach all parts of a tuxedo kitten embryo before it was fully formed. Though it was long believed a bicolor cat was the result of a “sluggish” pigment cells, researchers now have a different theory that explains the tuxedo cat’s dapper coat coloration. Much like Calico and Tortoiseshell cats, Tuxies owe their bicolor coat to genetics. Something all tuxedo cats DO have in common is, of course, their unique appearance. It’s important to remember that tuxedo cats are not a breed in their own right, so it’s difficult to say whether all tuxies will fit this description. These good-natured felines are friendly and affectionate – they’ve even been known to get along well with other pets (including their arch-nemesis, better known as the canine). When it comes to personality, many tuxedo cat owners comment that their cats are almost dog-like in nature. Outdoor cats, on the other hand, tend to live much shorter lives averaging about 5 years. Like all cats, the average tux generally lives somewhere between 10 to 20 years when kept indoors. Known as “black ties,” these charming felines are though to be lucky charms, particularly in terms of wealth and good fortune. Perhaps the rarest and most handsome of all is the tuxedo cat “wearing” a furry bow tie. Some tuxedo cats even sport a black mustache for an added touch of dashing charm. These cats are the picture of formal elegance, having a solid black coat with white fur on the throat, chest, paws (socks), and belly.

That being said, it isn’t much of a stretch to see how tuxedo cats got their name. It’s probably safe to say you don’t picture a cat. When you hear the word “tuxedo” you probably picture an elegant black-tie affair – a regal dinner attended by gentlemen in crisp black suits and ladies in flowing ball gowns.

Grey tabby kitten pink nose