If you’re thinking of adopting a feline companion, you may be wondering if the coat color influences cats’ personalities and whether tuxedo cats are more aggressive than pets with other coat patterns. The answer is a bit nuanced. Some studies suggest that gray and white and black and white cats tend to be a bit feisty, at least in the eyes of their human companions.
Others indicate that owners find bicolor cats generally quite tolerant. Ultimately, a cat’s breed and socialization are probably more powerful drivers of behavior than coat color alone. For example, a black and white British Shorthair cat that has lived with loving human companions since kittenhood is likely to prefer snuggles to tail thwacking.
Are Tuxedo Cats a Breed?
No. The phrase is used to refer to a bicolor coat pattern that is often described as resembling a tuxedo. Cats with the pattern usually have dark fur on their backs and white or light-colored fur on their chests and bellies. While many tuxedo cats have black and white coats, the pattern can also be found in other light and dark pairings. It’s relatively common, and several purebred and hybrid cats sport the famous combination.
In What Breeds Is the Coat Pattern Found?
Bicolor patterns can be found in several breeds, including Maine Coons, British Shorthairs, American Shorthairs, Norwegian Forest cats, and Sphynx cats. The sheer variety of species that can have the coat pattern also makes it difficult to say that tuxedo cats consistently demonstrate a particular personality trait, such as aggressiveness, as behavior and temperament in cats are primarily determined by breed.
American Shorthair cats are usually mellow and adaptable, while Norwegian Forest cats are playful and relatively quiet. Sphynx and Maine Coon cats become quite attached to their human companions, and most are pretty relaxed.
Are Tuxedo Cats More Likely to Be Male or Female?
The trait isn’t linked to sex in cats, so tuxedo cats are just as likely to be male as female. However, some coat colors do have sex-based associations. Orange tabby cats are often male, and tortoiseshell cats are almost always female.
What Are Some Common Signs of Feline Aggression?
Cats that are scared often have dilated pupils, tails that are wrapped tightly around their bodies, and flattened ears. Cats with tails and fur standing straight up can be on the verge of becoming aggressive. Defensive aggression usually involves behaviors such as crouching and hissing.
Chasing, tail thwacking, and growling are frequently associated with offensive aggression. Cats on the offensive sometimes block escape routes and use their paws to bat at whatever annoys them.
What Causes Aggressiveness in Cats?
There are several types of aggression in cats, including fear-based, territorial, and redirected aggression.
Fear-Based Aggression
Fear-based behavior can happen when cats become uncomfortable in new situations, and pets can become territorial when new animals become part of the family.
Redirected Aggression
Redirected aggression generally occurs when something is overstimulating a cat they can’t get to; loud noises are frequent culprits.
Play Aggression
Play aggression usually occurs in younger cats and often happens when chasing and pouncing become too enthusiastic. Cats can also become quite unhappy when parts of their bodies that are in pain are touched. This behavior often appears relatively suddenly and merits a prompt visit to the veterinarian.
They can also become annoyed when being petted in ways that don’t agree with them. Older cats suffering from feline dementia can also demonstrate these behavioral changes.
Is There Anything That Can Be Done When Cats Start Becoming Aggressive?
Aggression can often be headed off at the pass if the initial signs are recognized and the situation is dealt with before events become too heated. Allowing fearful cats space to remove themselves from stressors and time to calm down safely is often enough to get things moving in the right direction.
Cats showing physical signs of aggression can often be distracted, and hand clapping and other sharp noises often work. The point isn’t to scare the cat but to draw their attention away from the situation and allow them to focus on something else. Cats whose level of fear hasn’t risen too high can sometimes be tempted to head along happier paths with the help of toys such as teasers.
Are There Ways to Minimize Feline Aggression?
It depends largely on the cause, but here are some tips for dealing with aggressive felines.
Conclusion
There’s no clear answer regarding whether tuxedo cats are more inclined to feistiness than other pets. While some studies suggest that black and white and gray and white cats can be a bit aggressive under certain circumstances, at least as far as their human companions see things, others reach different conclusions concerning bicolor cats.
Several factors can influence a feline’s behavior, including their breed and individual experiences. Pedigree tuxedo cats are likely to exhibit the personality traits usually found in their breed, and cats can sometimes become aggressive out of fear or when overstimulated.
Featured Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock
