They’re a decorated war veteranĪ courageous tuxie named Simon served on board the Royal Navy sloop-of-war HMS Amethyst during the Chinese Civil War in 1949, helping to protect the British food supplies from mice and other pests. Sadly, Tuxedo Stan died a year after running for office, but not before he helped to raise funds for a low-cost spay and neuter clinic and inspire the creation of the Tuxedo Party, a political movement aimed at improving the welfare of felines living in the Halifax area. Now, granted, he didn’t end up winning, but he certainly helped to raise awareness for homeless cats in need of forever families. It may sound too good to be true, but this is one impressive story that actually happened! In 2012, a spirited and tenacious little feline named Tuxedo Stan ran for mayor of Halifax in Canada. Those that own tuxedo cats also often report that they are highly affectionate, with loud purrs that can be heard as far away as the next room and a penchant to curl up on the lap of those they love. Okay, so while the jury is still out when it comes to hard scientific data on this one, many experts agree that tuxedo cats mature faster than other cats and that more rapid maturation means they often show higher levels of intelligence when given cat puzzle feeders and other complex toys to engage with. They’re super affectionate….and intelligent Mistoffelees in the Broadway musical Cats and Figaro from the Disney film Pinocchio, the tuxedo cat has always had a special place in the heart of pop culture. Tuxedo cats have a rich history on the big and small screenįrom Dr Seuss’s the Cat in the Hat and Sylvester from Looney Tunes to Mr. Unlike the orange tabby cat who has a higher number of males or the chimera cat (tortoiseshell) and calico cat, most of whom are born female, the number of male and female tuxedo cats are equal. There are an equal number of males and females The earliest depictions of tuxedo cats date back to that time, with some pet parents going so far as to be entombed alongside their black and white feline friend. Tuxie’s were revered during ancient Egyptian times, with the gods believing they brought immense good fortune to anyone who was lucky enough to own one. Tuxedo cats were worshipped in ancient Egypt
Researchers now believe that pigment cells move and multiply in random ways during the embryo’s development, so a bi-colored coat may be less a result of slow cells and more a result of those cells not following any genetic instruction for what the coat color should look like.
For a long time, scientists believed that that the tuxie’s coat was the result of sluggish pigment cells that weren't able to reach all the parts of the embryo before it was fully formed, but a recent theory has come up with another idea. So, how exactly did the tuxedo cat come to get its markings? Well, it definitely has its genes to thank for its striking looks. And while we traditionally think of the tuxedo cat as being black and white, any cat whose coat is white with another color (orange or gray, for example) is considered a tuxie cat.
Just like the calico cat, the tuxie is not a breed in its own right but is rather a bi-color or piebald cat that is composed of two colors. To learn more about the best dressed kitty on the block, we’ve rounded up a range of fascinating tuxedo cat facts that reveal everything you need to know about the moggy behind the mask.