Editing Bicolor cat

{{Short description|Cat having fur of two colors}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

[[File:Photograph of Socks the Cat- 07-13-1994 (6461517483).jpg|thumb|[[Chelsea Clinton]]'s cat [[Socks (cat)|Socks]]

(1989–2009) lived in the [[White House]] from 1993 to 2001. Socks was a bicolor cat with low-grade spotting, or ''tuxedo cat''.]]

A '''bicolor cat''' (also '''tuxedo cat''') is a [[cat]] with white [[fur]] combined with fur of some other color, for example, solid black, [[tabby]], or [[Point coloration|colorpointed]].<ref name="FIFe" /> There are various patterns of a bicolor cat. The coat patterns range from the Van-patterned, which has color on the tail and crown of the head, to a solid color with a throat locket or medallion.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} Bicolor coats are found in many [[cat breed]]s and are in [[Domestic longhair cat|domestic longhair]] and [[domestic shorthair cat]]s.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

Tuxedo cats have a low-to-medium grade white spotting limited to the face, paws, throat, and chest of an otherwise black cat. This nickname is used in the United States. {{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} Van-patterned cats have high-grade bicolor, which is typical for the [[Turkish Van]] breed. There are many patterns, such as "cap-and-saddle", "mask-and-mantle" and "harlequin" (also known as "[[magpie]]").<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://pethelpful.com/cats/Bicolor-Patterns-in-Cats|title=7+ Bicolor Pattern Variations in Cats (And Why They Occur)|website=PetHelpful |access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref>

Solid-color bicolor cats occur because there is a [[white spotting gene]] present with a recessive allele of the [[agouti gene]]. The agouti gene evens out the striped pattern within coat colors. In contrast, ''tabby'' cats have an agouti gene that produces striping of the coat. The [[Abyssinian (cat)|Abyssinian]] has agouti (ticked tabby) fur, giving the appearance of even color with color-banded hairs.

==Bicolor patterns==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2011}}
[[File:Bicolour cat diagram - 01 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Bicolor grade chart, ranging from 1 (solid colored) to 10 (solid white).]]
[[File:Bicolor pattern diagram.jpg|thumb|Bicolor pattern chart]]
Bicoloration in cats is graded from one to ten; with one being completely colored, and ten being completely white. There are also several patterns with their own names.<ref name="FIFe" />

=== Van pattern ===
[[File:TurkishVanRandomSpots.jpg|thumb|210x210px|Van-patterned red tabby-and-white [[Turkish Van]] cat]]
Van-patterned cats are bicolor cats,<ref name="FIFe">{{Cite web |last=Fédération Internationale Féline |author-link=Fédération Internationale Féline |date=2023-01-01 |title=Colour varieties with white |url=http://www1.fifeweb.org/dnld/std/GEN-WWHITE.pdf |access-date=2023-08-06 |language=en-UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806155731/https://www1.fifeweb.org/dnld/std/GEN-WWHITE.pdf |archive-date=2023-08-06}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=World Cat Federation |author-link=World Cat Federation |date=2021-06-28 |title=Glossary of terms - wcf en |url=https://wcf.de/en/glossary-of-terms/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |language=en-UK}}</ref> they are mostly white (generally more than 75% white). They have color around their ears and tail, separated by white coloring.<ref name="FIFe" /> They may have small (roughly coin sized) colored spots on and around their spine. The term ''Van pattern'' comes from the [[Turkish Van]] (named after [[Lake Van]]), which is a Van-patterned bicolor breed. The Van pattern is known to animal geneticists as the [[Seychelles]] (Seychellois) pattern and is classified into three variants:<ref>{{cite web |title=Seychellois |url=http://www.breedlist.com/seychellois-breeders.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704092221/http://www.breedlist.com/seychellois-breeders.html |archive-date=4 July 2014 |access-date=5 August 2007 |publisher=Fanciers Breeder Referral List}}</ref>
* ''Seychellois Neuvieme'' is white with colored tail and head splashes (classic Turkish Van pattern)
* ''Seychellois Huitieme'' is white with colored tail and head splashes plus additional splashes of color on the legs
* ''Seychellois Septieme'' is white with splashes of color on the legs and body in addition to those on the head and the colored tail

This pattern type has high-grade white spotting. The coat pattern ranges from seven to nine on the Bicolor grade chart.

=== Harlequin patterned ===
Another type of color-and-white cat is the harlequin patterned bicolor cat.<ref name="FIFe" /><ref name=":1" /> This coat pattern is sometimes referred to as a "cow cat," "moo cat," or "magpie" and includes the "cap-and-saddle" and "mask-and-mantle" patterns. The harlequin patterned coat is predominantly white (generally 50%-75% white)<ref name="FIFe" /> combined with colored markings on the cat’s body, including its head and tail. The coat does not have the solid colored "jacket" like the tuxedo coat. Harlequin patterns  have multiple, conjoined, or larger spots on the body and/or an extended head spot that reaches the face. Harlequin coats have large colored patches over a white body, with a colored [[mask]] over the head. Harlequin cats can be called "Black-mask cats" because they look like they are wearing a black mask over their heads.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

=== True bicolor pattern ===
[[File:Www.pratulums-bkh.de seal-point-white (cropped).jpg|thumb|301x301px|Bicolor patterned black colorpoint-and-white [[British Shorthair]] with symmetrical color distribution and a white blaze on its face]]
The cat labelled "bicolor" or "true bicolor" is the preferred pattern in show-quality bicolor purebred cats. Bicolor patterned cats have medium grade white spotting (generally approximately 50%-25% white).<ref name="FIFe" /> The cat registry [[Fédération Internationale Féline]] (FIFe) states that for a "standard" bicolor coat to compete in shows, "the color patches must be separated from each other, even in color and harmoniously distributed." {{citation needed|date=October 2024}} They also state "at least {{frac|1|2}} should be colored, but not more than {{frac|3|4}}; the rest is white."<ref name="FIFe" /> The [[World Cat Federation]] (WFC) allows an amount of color between {{frac|1|2}} up to {{frac|2|3}} for bicolor patterned cats.<ref name=":1" /> The [[Cat Fanciers' Association]] (CFA) says that "cats with no more than a locket and/or button [patch on chest] do not qualify for this color class."<ref name=":0" />

=== Tuxedo pattern ===
[[File: George, a perfect example of a tuxedo cat.jpg|thumb|A tuxedo patterned black-and-white cat]]
A tuxedo cat, [[Felix the Cat|Felix]] cat<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesprucepets.com/about-tuxedo-cats-554695|title=This Is What to Expect with Tuxedo Cats|website=The Spruce Pets |access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref> or [[Julius the Cat|Julius]] cat is a bicolor cat with low-grade white spotting (generally close to 25% white) in the coat. The term "tuxedo cats" is typically used for black-and-white colored cats, but tuxedo patterned cats come in all cat colors. They are called tuxedo cats due to the resemblance to [[black tie]] [[formal wear]], commonly known in the United States and [[Canada]] as a tuxedo. {{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

To be considered a true tuxedo cat, the feline's coloring should consist of a colored coat, with white fur limited to the paws, belly, chest, throat, and often the chin - sometimes the tail. Tuxedo cats can appear to have [[goatee]]s due to the black coloration of their [[mandible]], lower [[jaw]], and [[chin]]. White muzzles or a white coloring on their faces are a common attribute of tuxedo cats.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Syufy |first=Franny |date=21 May 2015 |title=About Tuxedo Cats |url=http://cats.about.com/od/coatcolorpatternstypes/p/profile-tuxedo-cat.htm |access-date=21 June 2016 |website=[[About.com]] |publisher=The About Group |archive-date=10 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810040256/http://cats.about.com/od/coatcolorpatternstypes/p/profile-tuxedo-cat.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Most tuxedo cats are also "black-mask cats" with a complete white blaze, a common name for felines who, due to their facial coloration, look as if they are wearing a black mask over their eyes, and often over their entire head. The ideal color distribution is symmetric, and the white areas are of modest size and limited to the desirable areas.
[[File:Chizhik Cat (cropped).jpg|thumb|301x301px|A [[Snowshoe cat|Snowshoe]] cat showing the Snowshoe pattern.]]
In most cat registries, the tuxedo pattern is not an official term used to categorise white spotting patterns in show cats. The [[Breed standard|standard]] or code used to indicate the white markings in the [[Snowshoe cat|Snowshoe]] cat breed is equal to the white spotting pattern known as "tuxedo" among tuxedo cat enthusiasts.<ref name="GCCF">{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Snowshoe cat breed |url=https://www.gccfcats.org/getting-a-cat/choosing/cat-breeds/snowshoe/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |language=en-UK}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=The International Cat Association |first= |author-link=The International Cat Association |date=2018-08-13 |title=Snowshoe Breed |url=https://www.tica.org/breeds/browse-all-breeds?view=article&id=880:snowshoe-breed&catid=79 |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=www.tica.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Genetics of coat patterns==
{{Main|Cat coat genetics}}

The basic colors and patterns of cat fur are defined by fewer than ten genes.<ref name="genome">{{cite web |title=Coat Colors & Fur Types |url=http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lalyons/Sites/color.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630145353/http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lalyons/Sites/color.htm |archive-date=30 June 2007 |access-date=5 August 2007 |publisher=Feline Genome project}}</ref> Cats with white color in their coats are thought to have a mutant ''white-spotting'' gene that prevents the formation of coat color in patches over the cat's body. This gene has been investigated in several species, particularly mice, and is [[Dominance relationship|co-dominant]] to normal coat color as it prevents the migration of [[melanocyte]]s into the developing hair follicles.<ref name="pmid11764276">{{Cite journal |vauthors=Yoshida H, Kunisada T, Grimm T, Nishimura EK, Nishioka E, Nishikawa SI |year=2001 |title=Review: melanocyte migration and survival controlled by SCF/c-kit expression |journal=J. Investig. Dermatol. Symp. Proc. |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=1–5 |doi=10.1046/j.0022-202x.2001.00006.x |pmid=11764276 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The genetics of this pattern are not as well understood in cats but at least some of the genes involved in melanocyte migration and survival may play a role similar as in other animals.<ref name="pmid16573531">{{Cite journal |vauthors=Cooper MP, Fretwell N, Bailey SJ, Lyons LA |year=2006 |title=White spotting in the domestic cat (Felis catus) maps near KIT on feline chromosome B1 |journal=Anim. Genet. |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=163–5 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2052.2005.01389.x |pmc=1464422 |pmid=16573531}}</ref>

Three genotypes possible with the ''S'' (white spotting) gene, with capital ''S'' standing for a wild-type copy and lower-case ''s'' standing for the mutant.<ref name="genome" />

* SS (two dominant alleles) results in high grades of white spotting (sometimes resulting in a solid-looking white cat or a white cat with just a few color hairs)
* Ss (one dominant, one recessive allele) results in medium grades of white spotting
* ss (two recessive alleles) results in solid color or low grades of white spotting (sometimes as little as a few white hairs)

The lack of tabby striping in bicolor cats is controlled by the [[Agouti signalling peptide|agouti protein]], which inhibits the production of [[melanin]] and thus prevents the formation of dark hair colors.<ref name="pmid9300652">{{Cite journal |author=Jackson IJ |date=1997 |title=Homologous pigmentation mutations in human, mouse and other model organisms |journal=Hum. Mol. Genet. |volume=6 |issue=10 |pages=1613–24 |doi=10.1093/hmg/6.10.1613 |pmid=9300652}}</ref> In agouti cats the gene is turned on and off as the hair grows, producing hairs with alternating stripes yellow and black.<ref name="genome" /> In domestic cats, inactivation of the agouti gene by a [[Deletion (genetics)|deletion mutation]] causes all-black coat color.<ref name="pmid12620197">{{Cite journal |vauthors=Eizirik E, Yuhki N, Johnson WE, Menotti-Raymond M, Hannah SS, O'Brien SJ |year=2003 |title=Molecular genetics and evolution of melanism in the cat family |journal=Curr. Biol. |volume=13 |issue=5 |pages=448–53 |doi=10.1016/S0960-9822(03)00128-3 |pmid=12620197 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Bicolored cat breeds ===
The bicolor coat coloration is not restricted to a specific breed of cat, as it can be found in many different types of pure-breed as well as mixed-breed domestic cats.{{Citation needed|date=June 2016}} However, some breeds have bicolor coats in their breed standards. These include the [[Ragdoll]], [[American Shorthair]], [[Manx (cat)|Manx]], [[British Shorthair]], and [[Turkish Angora]].<ref>{{cite web |title=CFA Breeds |url=http://www.cfa.org/breeds.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629034229/http://www.cfa.org/breeds.html |archive-date=29 June 2007 |access-date=5 August 2007 |publisher=The Cat Fanciers' Association}}</ref> The [[Turkish Van]] and [[Snowshoe cat|Snowshoe]]<ref name="FIFe" /><ref name=":2" /> cat breed are restricted to cats with bicolored coats.

In contrast, other common breeds of cat have specific coat patterns specified in their breed standards. Cats with such specific coat patterns include the [[Russian Blue]], which has a coat of one solid color.

=== Possible bicolor colorations ===
[[File:Kola, the Kupal Kat.jpg|thumb|Comparison of a black colorpoint-and-white adult (left) and kitten (right).]]
White spotting is not limited to solid color-and-white combinations, and can also occur with any of the [[Tabby cat|tabby]] patterns, resulting in tabby-and-white bicolor coats. [[Point coloration|colorpoint]] cats can have bicolor points (colorpoint-and-white), although this variation is not recognized for showing in some cat breeds. An example of a bicolor colorpoint cat breed is the tuxedo patterned colorpoint-and-white [[Snowshoe cat]].<ref name="FIFe" /><ref name=":2" /> The body markings of bicolor colorpoints become clearer with age, as the body fur of colorpoint cats darkens as the cats grow older and the white patches become more distinctively visible.

White spotting can also occur in combination with tortoiseshell coats, these are known as [[Tricolor cat|tricolor cats]], tortoiseshell-and-white cats, or [[Calico cat|calico cats]] (US English). Tortoiseshell-and-white cats can also be found in combination with a tabby or colorpoint pattern.

Bicolor cats that are black and white are sometimes called "magpies". The cream and white bicolor cat is the rarest of the bicolors, while the black and white or "blue" (grey) and white are the most common.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}
[[File:Tuxedo cat bi-color paws.JPG|thumb|A female bicolor patterned black-and-white cat with pink and black paw pads]]

=== Skin coloration ===
Bicolor may also appear in the skin color. This feature may be seen in bicolored hairless cats.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} [[Paw]] pad coloration may be black, pink, or a mixture of both. Paw pad coloration may match the pattern of a cat's coat that is nearby the paw. If the color boundary crosses the underside of the paw, the pads on either side may be different colors or even bicolored.{{Citation needed|date=June 2016}}

==In popular culture==
{{See also|Fictional cats}}

[[File:Tuxedo cat, front view.png|thumb|Domestic short-haired cat with tuxedo coat]]
''[[Jellicle|Jellicle cat]]'' is a tuxedo cat in the fictional tribe of nocturnal black and white cats described by [[T. S. Eliot]] in ''[[Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats]]'', which was first published in 1939.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats |url=https://archive.org/details/oldpossumsbookof00elio |url-access=registration | author=T. S. Eliot | publisher=Harcourt | year=1982 |isbn=978-0-15-168656-8}}</ref> In the musical ''[[Cats (musical)|Cats]]'', the character [[Mr. Mistoffelees]] is a tuxedo cat. Mr. Mistoffelees is a [[stage magician]] wearing a lacy [[Ruff (clothing)|ruff]] and [[bow tie]]. The character [[Bustopher Jones]] outfit consists of a tuxedo and [[Spats (footwear)|spats]]. The musical differed from the book in that the characters included cats with many different coat colors, rather than just bicolor cats, but it retains the repeated assertion that "Jellicle cats are black and white." Cats with these markings also played a starring role in the drawings illustrating ''[[The Unadulterated Cat]]'', a book written by [[Terry Pratchett]], with cartoons by [[Gray Jolliffe]].<ref>{{cite book |first1=Terry |last1=Pratchett |author1-link=Terry Pratchett |first2=Gray |last2=Jolliffe |author2-link=Gray Jolliffe |title=The Unadulterated Cat |publisher=Orion |edition=New |date=26 September 2002 |isbn=978-0-7528-5369-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/unadulteratedcat00terr }}</ref>
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Other cartoon bicolor cats include [[Sylvester the Cat]], [[Felix the Cat]], [[Tom Cat]] from ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'', Oggy from ''[[Oggy and the Cockroaches]]'', Blackie the Cat from ''[[The Cat that Hated People]]'', ''[[Ventriloquist Cat]]'', [[Krazy Kat]],<ref>''The Purrington Post'', 1 February 2018 - [https://www.thepurringtonpost.com/tuxedo-cats/ A Tribute to Tuxies and their 'Tuxitude', Famous Tuxies]</ref> Jess from ''[[Postman Pat]]'', [[List of Shrek characters#Kitty Softpaws|Kitty Softpaws]] from the ''[[Shrek]]'' spin-off ''[[Puss in Boots (2011 film)|Puss in Boots]]'' and [[Puss in Boots: The Last Wish|its sequel]], Disney's [[Figaro (Disney)|Figaro]], the Cat in the Hat from the [[The Cat in the Hat|Dr. Seuss book of the same name]], [[Beans (Looney Tunes)|Beans]] from Looney Tunes, [[Penelope Pussycat]], Sebastian the cat from ''[[Josie and the Pussycats (TV series)|Josie and the Pussycats]]'', and Chao from [[Osamu Tezuka]]'s [[Unico|Unico series]]. A bicolor cat named Mittens is one of the main characters in the 2008 Disney animated film ''[[Bolt (2008 film)|Bolt]]''. Aldwyn from ''[[The Familiars (novel)|The Familiars]]'' is a tuxedo cat, while Meowrice (voiced by [[Paul Frees]]) from ''[[Gay Purr-ee]]'' is a bicolor.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

A tuxedo cat is also the protagonist of the popular children's book ''Tip-Top Cat'', and another is the giant [[Kat Kong]] in the children's book of the same name. Bo, a character from the TV series ''[[Abby Hatcher]]'', is a "Fuzzly" who resembles a tuxedo cat. Tuxedos are one of the ten breeds of cats in the video game ''[[Minecraft]]''. Morgana, a playable character in the JRPG ''[[Persona 5]]'', is a bicolor cat.  Klonoa, the main character of the titular ''[[Klonoa]]'' games, closely resembles a tuxedo cat. Cait Sith, a playable character from the video game ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' is a tuxedo cat. Shade, one of the Cat Pack members and a character from ''[[Paw Patrol]]'', is a tuxedo [[Turkish Van]].{{cn|date=February 2025}}

=== Notable bicolor cats ===
<!--Do not add an entry here unless there is an article or article section about the cat.-->
*[[Félicette]], the first cat in space
*[[Palmerston (cat)|Palmerston]], a black-and-white bicolor who was Chief Mouser of the U.K. [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign & Commonwealth Office]], [[Whitehall]], London, 2016–2020* 
*[[Socks (cat)|Socks Clinton]] (1989–2009), the pet cat of the [[Clinton family|family of former US President Bill Clinton]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Bicolour cats}}

{{Domestic cat}}


[[Category:Cat coat types]]