Tuxedo cats?

nurseangel

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Jul 6, 2007
Messages
10,132
Purraise
4,820
Location
1 Happy Place
My aunt asked me if Marshmallow was a tuxedo cat. Well, he is black and white, but he looks rather more like a cow kitten than a cat wearing a little suit. I wish I could post pictures of him, but you know how hopeless I am with the pictures.
I thought all black and white cats were tuxedo cats, but my aunt says no. Is she right? (Darn, I hate it when she's right!)
 

misty8723

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
7,688
Purraise
8,129
Location
North Carolina
I've heard tuxedos are mostly black with white paws/legs, bellies, chests, and possible markings on face. I've always called my Swanie a Tuxie, because he fits that definition.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

nurseangel

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Jul 6, 2007
Messages
10,132
Purraise
4,820
Location
1 Happy Place
Marshmallow is more like Molly, except he has more black than white. Thank you all for your help. My brother and his wife have promised to take pictures and post them for me when my SS present arrives. Maybe I can coax them into taking some cat pictures as well, since I've never been able to post pictures of Siamie, Daisy, or Marshmallow.
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
I really dislike the term "tuxedo" cats. The PROPER name for cats with white and another solid color is BICOLOR. No matter what percent of color and white there is.

The only one that the show cat fancy uses that is an exception to Bicolor is "Van" - where 90% of the cat is white and the color is on the head and tail. Otherwise they ALL are Bicolor cats.
 

Asteria

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
1,944
Purraise
16
There's a classic tuxedo pattern, as Feliz shows off beautifully.

I love tuxedos. Felix is soooo gorgeous. (
)

Edit: A cat can be the proper "bicolor" and still be an affectionately termed "tuxedo" too, though, right?
I don't see anything wrong with that.
 

nekochan

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2006
Messages
2,760
Purraise
22
Location
Chicago, IL
Tuxedo is really an "unofficial" term referring to any cat who looks like they are wearing a tuxedo.
Bi-color is the "techical" term for all cats who are two colors including black/white. So a tuxedo cat is really a bi-color but "tuxedo" is more of a descriptive term...

My cat Sneakers is definitely a "tuxedo" cat. I like to say that she has a 3-piece suit because if you look at the markings on her chest it looks like she is wearing a vest or waistcoat as well!
She got a bow-tie for Xmas one year to go with her suit:

 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
I get the impression that a lot of people think its a "breed" of cat - not a color. And because bicolors can come in black/white, red/white, blue/white, then they should be called BICOLOR and not "tuxedo".

I guess its due more to me showing cats for a long time - I prefer to use the proper names for colors.

Its my pet peeve
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

nurseangel

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Jul 6, 2007
Messages
10,132
Purraise
4,820
Location
1 Happy Place
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

I get the impression that a lot of people think its a "breed" of cat - not a color. And because bicolors can come in black/white, red/white, blue/white, then they should be called BICOLOR and not "tuxedo".

I guess its due more to me showing cats for a long time - I prefer to use the proper names for colors.

Its my pet peeve
Sorry, I did not mean to offend. I did not think that tuxedo cats were a breed. Marshmallow is a DLH. But I do think the term tuxedo is cute.
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
You didn't, just kinda bugs me when people use that for their black& white cats. Yes it does look like a tuxedo, but I still would rather hear bicolor. BTW Ling is a black & white bicolor but you could call her "tuxedo" with her markings.
 

nekochan

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2006
Messages
2,760
Purraise
22
Location
Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

You didn't, just kinda bugs me when people use that for their black& white cats. Yes it does look like a tuxedo, but I still would rather hear bicolor.
When I say "tuxedo" I don't think of it as a color, I think of it as a description of the cat. Like how I sometimes call white dogs with large black or brown spots "cowdogs."

It's a description of how they look, not a statement of color or breed.

I mean-- isn't "wearing a tuxedo" an accurate description of Sneakers' appearance?
If I just told people I had a bicolor cat they would not be able to picture her unless I wrote a lot more describing her appearance, but if I say "tuxedo" people immediately have an idea of how she looks.
 

missymotus

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 8, 2005
Messages
9,234
Purraise
254
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

I get the impression that a lot of people think its a "breed" of cat - not a color. And because bicolors can come in black/white, red/white, blue/white, then they should be called BICOLOR and not "tuxedo".

Thought I'd find you in here GK
agree with your posts, they should be called bicolours.
 

jessy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 14, 2005
Messages
1,257
Purraise
16
Location
Essex, UK
This thread just reminded me of my beautiful bi-colour or tuxedo cat, whichever you prefer, Villy, she sadly passed away in August
:-(
I miss her so much.
 

goldenkitty45

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
19,900
Purraise
44
Location
SW Minnesota
One more funny comment before you guys drive me nutz


My first cat was a "grey" tabby and white. When I took him to one of my first shows, the judge that judged him had this to say (maybe this is why I want to use the correct term).

Diane had him out on the table and was telling the audience that he was a BLUE tabby - not a "grey" tabby. She hated when people used grey to describe the blue cats (she was a Russian Blue breeder). And her other comment was "and I hate when people call them Smokey". I never told her that when Mitten first came to our house we were calling him Smokey!


So I got educated real quick on the proper color names for cats.
 

fifi1puss

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 2, 2007
Messages
2,150
Purraise
13
I love me tuxies.
I personally think they need to look like they are wearing tuxes to be called that as a descriptive wording. Some that people call tuxedo cats (like i've seen on petfinder) are really not IMHO. If they have more white than black on the head and shoulder it looks like they are wearing their "shirt" over their heads.
Very sloppy tux wearing kitties.


Just as a response to those that show their cats, I can understand the peevishness. I also understand that they are not a breed, but it is a way to describe the pattern of their coat. Not b&w striping, not b&w circles, but b&w tuxedo looking. If my cat were to be lost I would gladly give them any description that would help. Being a bi-color b&w would not narrow the field very much being that their are TONS of b&w cats out there. But if I tell people they are wearing a suit that narrows the field a bit.


The photo of the tux with red bowtie is soooooo super adorable.
 
Top