Black and White Cats: What Breed of Cat is Black and White?

Cats come in all shapes, sizes, breeds, and colors, but perhaps the most eye-catching variety is the black-and-white cat. Black and white pets are often called “bi-color “or “piebald” pets and are said to be affectionate, intelligent, and full of personality.

When most people think of b&w animals, they may think of the Tuxedo. But, depending on who you talk to, not all Tuxedo pets are necessarily b&w. For instance, some pet enthusiasts consider animals with orange, white, gray, or white variations of Tuxedos.

Whether or not you agree with the definition of a Tuxedo, we do know that some b&w animals have color patterns that resemble a Tuxedo: A white chest and belly, black body, and variations of b&w on the face, nose, tail, and paws. b&w pets are not considered a distinct breed, but some pet fanciers consider them to have some unique characteristics.

What’s unique about b&w animals is that they come in many pattern variations and are present in many different breeds, ranging from the Maine Coon to the Cornish Rex.

Black and White Cat Breeds

Since b&w pets are not considered an actual breed, they are seen as various pets. For example, Tuxedos and b&w pets can be found in several breeds, including:

• Domestic shorthair
• Domestic medium hair
• Domestic longhair
• Turkish Angora
• Maine Coon
• Persians
• British longhair
• Oriental Shorthair
• Cornish Rex
• Scottish Fold
• Norwegian Forest

You may notice that most b&w animals in most households tend to be of the domestic kind, with varying hair lengths. Also, these pets are known as bicolor or pie-bald and come in various patterns of b&w.

Are All Black and White Cats Tuxedo Cats?

Not all b&w pets are considered Tuxedo pets, and this is because Tuxedos must have a certain color pattern, and not all Tuxedo pets are b&w. Several other varieties of b&w animals have their names, such as the Harlequin or the Magpie pet. Here are a few definitions of each type:

• Tuxedo. Tuxedo cats have a white chest (that looks like a tuxedo), white paws, and a belly, with optional patterns on the face. The rest of the body can be black, orange, or gray.
• Tuxedo Tabby. The Tuxedo Tabby, also known as the Brown Mackeral with Brown Field Tuxedo Tabby, is a tabby pet with the signature white tuxedo marking on the chest, paws, and face.
• Smoke Tuxedo. Instead of a black hair coat, Smoke Tuxedo pets have a blue and “smoky”Ы coat color with Tuxedo markings.
• Magpie. Magpie pets are mostly white with random black spots on their bodies, paws, and tails.
• Harlequin. Harlequin are similar to the magpie, with random black spots, but have a solid black tail.

READ MORE: Norwegian Forest Cat vs. Maine Coon

Do Black and White Cats Have Certain Coat Patterns?

Several types of coat patterns are common in b&w pets.

• Cow pattern. These pets have markings that resemble dairy cows and are mostly white with black spots or patches.
• Blanket pattern. This pattern is found in white with a big blanket patch over their backs and shoulders.
• Mohrenkopf. This pattern is found in b&w pets with a white body and black head.
• Cap and saddle. These pets have white fur and a black patch on the head and back.
• Van pattern. These are pets that have black ears and tails.
• Locket pattern. These are black pets with a small patch in a locket shape on their chests
• Tips pattern. These pets are black pets with white paws or toes.
• Skunk/Thai pattern. These pets have b&w colors like a skunk, with a black body and a white stripe running down their backs.

What are the Personalities of Black and White Cats?

Some people claim that b&w pets, and Tuxedos, have special personalities. For example, a common notion is that they are very intelligent and somewhat sassy but affectionate, playful, and full of personality. These traits can describe any type of pet, no matter the breed, and many cases are not limited to Tuxedos. However, a study of pet owners in Britain suggests that b&w pets, including white pets and tortoiseshell, are most likely to get grumpy than other varieties. ^[1] The same research also found that b&w animals were more independent and preferred to be affectionate with their humans on their terms.

One of the issues with studies such as the one described above is that a pet’s early life plays an important role in the development of a personality, perhaps more so than color pattern or breeding. For example, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, young kittens don’t fear humans or other pets if they are exposed to them and socialized between 3 and 9 weeks; if socialization during this period is absent or delayed, kittens can grow to be fearful and timid. ^[2] However, this doesn’t mean there is no hope for kittens who have lacked socialization, it just might take a bit longer to earn their trust the affection.

Live all felines, b&w pets all inherit personality and physical traits from their parents. If one or both parents are affectionate and outgoing, chances are their kittens will be too. On the flip side, if one or both parents are timid, fearful, or skittish, their kittens may inherit these traits too.

Despite popular views about the personality of b&w pets, many factors make up a pet’s disposition, including genetics, environment, physical development, and socialization. One thing is for sure, animals are unique creatures and each has his/her unique personality.

READ MORE: Most Affectionate Cat Breeds

Are Black and White Cats Usually Male?

Although the more famous b&w pets in television and movies are male, such as Sylvester the Cat in Looney Tunes or Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, there is no evidence to suggest that Tuxedo pets are usually male. B&w pets might look bigger and more masculine, but in reality, there are an equal number of males and females.

This is in contrast to Calicos and Tortoiseshells, which are typically female, and orange tabbies, which are typically male. Calico pets, for example, are predominantly female because their coloring gene is located on the X chromosome, and females have two XX chromosomes, giving them the genes needed to have their distinct tri-color coat.

Black and white pets are not usually male but are equally represented among the sexes.

Famous Black and White Cats

In addition to Sylvester the Cat, Felix the Cat, and the Cat in the Hat, there have been some fairly famous b&w pets across history.

• William Shakespeare, Isaac Newton, and Beethoven are said to have Tuxedo.
• Chelsea Clinton’s b&w pet “Socks” lived in the White House during her dad’s presidency. Socks was an adopted stray kitty and served as the First Cat in the U.S. between 1993 and 2001.
• A Tuxedo named “Tuxedo Stan” from Halifax, Canada, ran for mayor in 2012 (but never officially took office).
• Actress Audrey Hepburn’s had a Tuxedo named Tilly who became a celebrity in her own right, frequently seen in photos and interviews with the actress
• One of the richest acts in the world was a Tuxedo named Sparky who inherited 6.3 million dollars when his owner passed away.
• Simon, a ship’s cat of the British vessel HMS Amethyst, was the only feline in the Royal Navy to receive a Dickin Medal (the Victoria Cross for animals) for wounds sustained in combat and his service to the crew.

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