10 Fun Facts About Tuxedo Cats

Black and white or “tuxedo” cats may be one of the most common variations of cats out there, but those who love them know they’re anything but ordinary. In honor of National Tuxedo Cat Day, celebrated annually on January 29th, learn all about these dapper felines.

1. A tuxedo cat is not a single breed.
Formal in appearance, tuxedo cats are surprisingly not a formal breed. Any domestic cat that’s primarily black in color with white markings can be considered a “tuxedo cat.” The majority of tuxies are domestic shorthair cats, but the coat variation is also seen in Maine Coons, Persians, the Devon Rex, and even the Sphynx. So, a tuxedo cat can have short hair, long hair, curly hair, or no hair at all.

2. A tuxedo kitten is born when they run out of “ink.”
Early in gestation, a fetal kitten will begin to develop pigment cells along their spine, which will spread across their body to create areas of dark skin and fur. Sometimes, these pigment cells do not reach the lower extremities, chest, and face, giving the kitten those classic white “socks” and “mask.”

3. Tuxy kittens open their eyes before their littermates.
Another well-known but yet to be proven tidbit about tuxies is that, while kittens can open their eyes for the first time anywhere from one to two weeks after birth, it’s typical for tuxedo kittens to open their eyes an average of 24 hours earlier than their littermates.

4. Tuxedo cats are just as likely to be female.
While some cat coat variations are carried on the Y chromosome, causing the majority of ginger cats to be male, this isn’t so when it comes to tuxies. Tuxedo cats are just as likely to be female, even though many assume them to be male based on their fancy formalwear. Yes, girls can wear tuxes too!

5. Tuxy cats have multi-colored toes.
The soft pads on your cat’s toes, affectionately known as “toe beans,” can be pink or black, and will usually match the color of the rest of their paw. For two-toned kitties, this means pink or black toe beans - or a mix of both.

6. A Tuxy has the world’s loudest purr.
In 2015, the Guiness Book of World Records awarded a tuxedo cat named Merlin, of Torquay, England, for having the loudest recorded purr. They recorded his purr at 67.8 decibels, which is approximately as loud as a washing machine, a vacuum cleaning, or a flushing toilet.

7. A Tuxedo cat almost became the mayor of Halifax.
In 2012, Tuxedo Stan, a former stray, ran for mayor of Halifax, Canada with the help of his pawrent, rescue advocate Linda Felix. Though Stan was not legally allowed to run for office, he quickly became an international sensation and helped raise thousands of dollars for local stray cat programs.

8. Tuxedo cats are rumored to be highly intelligent.
While there has not been any scientific research on the intelligence of tuxies, those that love them often say that they’re significantly smarter than other felines, picking up skills like opening doors and escaping cages.

9. Tuxedo cats have rich and famous owners.
It’s said that many lottery winners, as well as famous composers like Mozart and Beethoven have owned tuxedo cats. It could be because tuxedo coat variations are very common in felines - or perhaps these cats do, in fact, bring their pet parents good fortune.

10. Black and white cats are most commonly passed over for adoption.
Okay, one last, actually-not-so-fun fact. Tuxedo and black and white coat variations are extremely common in cats, and this could be why they’re so often overlooked in shelters - because they’re seen as ordinary. But tuxy devotees know that every kitty is truly special. While there’s no guarantee that adopting a tuxedo will increase your odds of winning the lottery or becoming famous, they’ll be sure to purr, knead, and charm their way into your heart.