Tuxedo cats are beautiful felines in black and white. They are nature’s version of finesse and elegance. Certainly, tuxedos are always ready for the next party. So what makes a cat a tuxedo cat? Is it a cat breed? Is it a unique color pattern? Why are they called tuxedo cats?

The answer to the second question is that tuxedo cats do not belong to a specific cat breed. They just happen to have a very distinctive coat pattern. Indeed, tuxedo cats are bi-color cats. And to answer the third question, they are referred to as tuxedos because they seem to be wearing a tuxedo.

Tuxedo pattern

Okay, we’ve determined that tuxedos are not a cat breed. We’ve also established that their name comes from their physical appearance. But we haven’t explained what a tuxedo cat is. A cat is a tuxedo cat when:

She has solid black throughout her entire body (except for a few white patches).

The patches of white hair appear on her chin, chest, belly, and paws.

She has more black than white.

Now, this is a very important clarification: Not all black and white cats are tuxedo cats. In fact, tuxedos are just one of the several grades of bi-color cats.

There are many bi-color, black and white cats that are not tuxedos. Some of these cats, for example, may have more white than black, or be half black and half white, or have solid white throughout their bodies and just have a few small patches of black fur. These felines are not considered to be true tuxedos.

Famous tuxedo cats

Tuxedos are literary felines. They appear in Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, a poem by T.S. Eliot in which the story revolves around a tribe of black and white cats (also known as Jellicle cats). These cats are believed to be tuxedos.

Other famous tuxedos include Silvester the Cat (of Looney Toons fame), Felix the Cat (that wonderful, wonderful cat), and of course Socks, the beloved pet of former President Clinton and his family.

If you have a tuxedo cat, or know someone who does, you may find gifts that celebrate tuxedos, including artwork, calendars, plush dolls and many other items.

Claudia Escobar loves all things cats. For more on tuxedo cats and cat gift ideas, visit her site http://www.cat-lovers-gifts-guide.com. You are welcome to publish this article on your site provided you include this resource box.