Black and white cats are incredibly popular throughout the Country, but are there any specific breeds that come in this wonderful hue? Keep reading to find out more.
Black and white cats have adorned our TV screens and book pages for years, from the Looney Toons Sylvester, Pinocchio's Figaro to our very own Felix. These monochrome kitties seem to have a personality all of their own and are well known for being mischievous. Some people even believe that they're more vocal and friendly than cats of other colours!
It's no secret that cats with this colour combination are loved around the world, but did you know that there's actually no such thing as a purely black and white cat breed? Currently, there are no cat breeds that are exclusively black and white - instead it's just a colour variation that's available in some breeds.
Types of black and white cats
The colour patterns on black and white cat breeds are actually known by different names, the most common pattern variations are as follows:
- Locket: mostly black with just a small bit of white, usually located on the stomach or neck.
- Mitted: black all over with only white feet which look like mittens.
- Tuxedo: black body with white feet, chest, stomach and nose which makes the cat appear like they're wearing a tuxedo.
- Bicoloured: half black and half white colouring.
- Magpie: white cats with random black spotting.
- Harlequin: similar to the magpie with random black spotting, but with a black tail as well.
- Cap and saddle: coloured head with a saddle patch on the cat's back, these felines might also have a black tail.
- Van: Splashes of black colouring between the ears with a black tail.
Black and white cat breeds
1. British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is an incredibly popular cat in England and where they're most commonly blue, but the breed can produce black and white cats too! Originally bred to keep rodents at bay in homes and on farms, Shorthair breeds have a thick, dense coat that was designed to keep them warm when living outside. They have kind, easy going personalities and get along famously with dogs and even children, therefore they're best suited to family life where they can get plenty of attention.
2. Cymrics
Cymrics are often thought to be a long-haired version of the Manx cat and much like them, they can be completely tailless. If this black and white cat breed has no tail whatsoever, the cats are referred to as 'rumpies', whereas if they have just a stump of a tail they are called 'stumpies'. The lack of tail is the result of a genetic mutation, which just happened to become a staple of the breed because of the remote location of the Isle of Man where they were bred. These black and white cats make kind and loving housemates but are very people orientated, so they're best suited to individuals that don't spend too much time out of the home.
Did you know? There's a legend surrounding the Manx/Cymric cat tails. The story goes that they were napping when Noah summoned the animals to the ark, then just as the door was closing, they woke up and bolted to the door! The cat just made it, but their tail got snipped off in the door in the process.
