Glossary

Tuxedo cat

A black cat with a white chest, belly and paws, so named for resembling a formal suit, found in many breeds and in mixed-breed cats.

Also called: tuxedo, tux cat, black and white cat

A tuxedo cat is black and white in a particular layout: black on the back, head, ears and tail, and white on the chest, belly, paws and often the muzzle. Some have a white blaze on the face or a small white moustache. The look suggests a dinner suit and bow tie, which gave the cat its name.

Tuxedo is a coat pattern, not a breed. It is a form of the bicolour cat, produced by the white spotting gene acting on a black coat. Tuxedos appear in many breeds, including the American Shorthair and the Maine Coon, and in countless mixed-breed cats. The amount of white varies from a few spots to a large patch, and cat associations grade it with terms such as bicolour, harlequin and van.

Because black-and-white coats are common, they say nothing about a cat's temperament. Some shelters report that black or dark-coated cats wait longer for adoption, though evidence is mixed. A tuxedo kitten needs the same care, vaccinations and neutering as any other cat. Bright-white patches may sunburn on the ears and nose of cats that sit in strong sun, so ask your vet if you have concerns.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Bicolour cat A cat whose coat combines white with one other colour, in patches of varying size, from a few spots to mostly white. Calico A cat with large patches of white, black and orange, a coat pattern that occurs almost only in females. Van pattern A coat that is almost entirely white, with colour limited to the head and tail and sometimes a few small spots on the body. Domestic shorthair The everyday short-coated cat of no particular breed, the most common type of pet cat in the world and in shelters. Moggy A British word for an ordinary non-pedigree cat of mixed ancestry, usually short-haired and often a tabby.

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