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Tuxedo cat

A tuxedo cat is a domestic cat with a black-and-white bicolor coat pattern that resembles formal evening wear.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

A tuxedo cat is a domestic cat with a distinctive black-and-white bicolor coat pattern that resembles formal evening wear. It is not a separate breed but a coat pattern that can appear in many breeds and mixed-breed cats. The term is commonly used in Canadian English, where 'tuxedo' also refers to formal evening wear.

Definition

A tuxedo cat is a cat with a distinctive black-and-white coat pattern. The name comes from the visual resemblance to a formal tuxedo suit.

Appearance

The classic pattern includes a dark coat with white on the chest, belly, paws, and often the chin or muzzle. Some cats have more or less white than others, and the markings are not perfectly uniform.

Genetics

The tuxedo pattern is associated with white-spotting genetics, often described as piebald or bicolor colouring. It can occur across many breeds rather than being linked to one specific breed line.

Use of the term

In everyday English, 'tuxedo cat' usually means a black-and-white domestic cat with the formalwear-like pattern. In feline classification, it is a descriptive term rather than an official breed category.

Key facts

  • Tuxedo cat refers to a coat pattern, not a separate breed.
  • The pattern is a type of bicolor or piebald colouring.
  • Tuxedo cats are most often black and white, but the term is sometimes used more broadly for other dark-and-white combinations.
  • The amount and placement of white markings can vary between individual cats.
  • The pattern can appear in many different cat breeds and mixed-breed domestic cats.
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Canadian context

The term is commonly used in Canadian English, where 'tuxedo' also refers to formal evening wear. Canadian shelters and cat owners use it as a descriptive colour pattern for domestic cats, not a breed name.

Frequently asked questions

Is a tuxedo cat a breed?
No. A tuxedo cat is a coat pattern, not a separate breed.
What colours does a tuxedo cat usually have?
Tuxedo cats are usually black and white, with white markings on the chest, belly, paws, and sometimes the face.
Can tuxedo cats belong to different breeds?
Yes. The pattern can appear in many breeds and in mixed-breed domestic cats.
Why are they called tuxedo cats?
They are called tuxedo cats because their black-and-white markings resemble formal tuxedo attire.
Is the tuxedo pattern always exactly the same?
No. The amount and placement of white fur can vary from cat to cat.

References

  1. The Cat Site — https://thecatsite.com/c/what-breed-tuxedo-cat/
    Supports: Tuxedo cats are not a specific breed and are a black-and-white pattern.
  2. Catster — https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/what-breed-is-my-tuxedo-cat/
    Supports: The tuxedo coat is a bicolor pattern found in short- and longhaired cats.
  3. Litter-Robot — https://www.litter-robot.com/blog/7-tuxedo-cat-facts/
    Supports: Tuxedo is not a breed; it is a bicolor or piebald pattern seen in multiple breeds.
  4. Petful — https://www.petful.com/cat-breeds/tuxedo-cat/
    Supports: The pattern is a coat pattern, not a breed, and is associated with white-spotting genetics.