It’s time to take a tiptoe into the terrific world of tuxedos! Cats, that is. Those black and white beauties, (or sometimes gray and white, brown and white, orange and white, and even calico and white) who look as if they are one bowtie away from a fancy feline ball. Some might argue that the true tuxedo cat is black and white, but it’s important to note that style is the fashion choice over color when dealing with the dapper feline.
Tuxedo cats, first and foremost, are not a breed, but a coat pattern. As such, they can be long-haired, medium-haired, or short-haired. Typically, though as previously stated, not exclusively, they are black cats that have a white spotting gene that prevents the black from completely covering the cat. They most often have white on their chests and paws, and sometimes on their bellies and faces, as well. The odds of a tuxedo cat being male or female are even as both can equally carry the coat pattern. Two tuxedo cats can create an entire litter of tuxedos, though no two will be identical.
Those who are fortunate enough to have been owned by a “tuxie” would tell you that tuxedo cats are more intelligent and develop faster than other cats. Some have said that tuxedo kittens open their eyes 24 hours before other kittens, on average. These cats have been said to be more laidback, easy-going, and able to get along with other house pets, and are overall, friendlier than most. In truth, since tuxedos can be almost any breed, it really depends on genetics, although there are some very famous tuxedo cats!
Everyone, of course, knows about Sylvester the Cat from Looney Tunes and Felix the Cat from cartoons that have been around since before the 1920s. Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat” was a tuxedo cat. Figaro, the cat from “Pinocchio,” is another. And theater lovers would recognize Mr. Mistoffelees from “Cats” as yet another tuxedo cat. Oh, but those aren’t real cats, you might argue.
During World War II, a tuxedo cat named Simon helped to keep the mice and pests from the food aboard the “HMS Amethyst.” He was wounded in battle in a skirmish on the Yangtze River and was not expected to survive, but he pulled through and resumed his duties. He was awarded the Dickin Medal, the Animal Victoria Cross, the Blue Cross medal, and the Amethyst Campaign medal for his efforts.
Let’s not forget about the First Cat, Socks, who occupied the White House during the Clinton administration. Socks was a former stray who chose Chelsea in the cat distribution system as she was leaving her piano teacher’s house. He became the First Cat of Arkansas, then the First Cat of the United States, which goes to show you can never aim too high!
Oscar, aka “Unsinkable Sam,” was a lucky tuxedo cat that survived three sinking ships! When the German Battleship, “Bismarck” was sunk by the British in May 1941, the British Royal Navy found the cat floating on a board. They took him in and named him Oscar. When the British destroyer, “HMS Cossack” sank in October 1941, Oscar again transferred his residence to the British aircraft carrier “HMS Ark Royal.” After the aircraft carrier was torpedoed in November 1941, Oscar left life at sea behind and lived out the rest of his days in the UK, passing away in 1955.
Speaking of luck, in 1998, a tuxedo cat named Sparky became famous after he inherited $6.3 million when his primary staff member passed away, leaving him set for life in tuna and catnip!
Whether you are fortunate enough to share your space with a tuxedo cat, or simply admire them with their dashing coat patterns, I hope you enjoyed this little tiptoe through the tuxedos! And if this has intrigued you enough to learn more about these fabulous felines, then I salute you and wish you well in your quest! Here’s to those terrific tuxedo cats!
