Black and White Cat Names: 107 Ideas for Dapper Tuxedoes

Black and white cats have charmed their way into people’s hearts from the very beginning. That distinctive blend of light and dark calls out for attention. Something about tuxedo cats inspires people. And the dazzling array of patterns you can find leaves the door open for inspiration when it comes time to pick out a name. Do you choose something that plays off the blend of black and white? Or maybe something more regal to match that stunning tuxedo? What about those silly facial features you often find? And, of course, you may be thinking along completely different lines. Not to worry – we have 107 black and white cat names to get your creative juices flowing!

Black and White Cats

Often called “tuxedo cats,” black and white cats carry black and white patterns through their coats. This happens courtesy of two different genes in the cat coat DNA. First, they carry a white-spotting gene (pretty easy to figure that one out). Second, they have a recessive copy of the tabby gene, also known as the agouti gene. This is the recessive gene that causes black cats. Put the two together, and you get a black and white cat.

Tuxedos are also referred to as:

• Bicolor cats
• Magpie cats
• Piebald cats

And while some purists in the feline world claim tuxedos MUST have a white chest and paws, not everyone agrees with the definition. If you have a black and white cat, you can call them a tuxedo (no judgement here).

Some people confuse tuxedo cats as a breed. It’s not. In fact, the black and white pattern shows up in many cat breeds, in both long and short hairs. They often come accompanied by striking green eyes. And, for whatever reason, tuxies tend to have outgoing, energetic personalities. They like to talk with you – something you’ll want to keep in mind when looking over black and white cat names.

Black and White Cat Popularity

However, the common black and white color pattern also make for equally common problems. Joining their black cat cousins, black and white cats represent one of the most common felines to end up as strays. You’ll find more tuxedoes in the feral cat population than you will any other coat color or pattern. Once in a shelter, these handsome felines often spend one-week LONGER on lists than other cats. The saturation works against them. It’s a catch-22. People love the piebald coloring, but there’s SO MUCH out there. If you’ve brought one into your home, you know how grateful that little bundle of personality is!

Jellicle Cats

Tuxedo cats maneuvered their outgoing personalities into the hearts of MANY historical figures. Ludwig van Beethoven, Sir Isaac Newton, and William Shakespeare all adored black and white cats. (Talk about spanning the spectrum!)

And there’s one more name people may or may not link with black and white cats: T.S. Eliot.

Eliot published a book entitled Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats – a cat lover’s poetry volume. It’s also famous for other reasons: the poems served as the inspiration for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats! And while the Broadway production only features three black and white cats, they overlooked one of the most critical poems in the volume (a travesty, considering it appears in the show):

“Jellicle Cats are black and white,

Jellicle Cats are rather small;

Jellicle Cats are merry and bright,

And pleasant to hear when they caterwaul.”

~T.S. Eliot, “The Song of the Jellicles”

EVERY tuxedo has the honor of serving as a Jellicle cat. This means, when you start looking for black and white cat names, you can choose from any of the cats in the poetry book. And Eliot covered every personality of cat. Honestly, though, if you have one of these adorable kitties in your household (or ANY cat), the book’s worth the read. It took some searching for me to track a hardcopy down, but I love it. (Incidentally, it’s the ONLY work of T.S. Eliot I like)

Black and White Cat Names

Black and white cats have the BEST personalities. And while they have bouncy personalities, you’ll find felines along the entire spectrum. This means you have your pick when it comes time to name your adorable tuxedo. You can elect the obvious route and play up the incredible bicolored markings (with PLENTY of options to choose from!). Or you can take inspirations from the fashion world, with high-class names and fancy labels serving as your black and white cat names. Maybe you want to look to the animal world. Other creatures share your tuxedo’s coloring, and people often laugh at the comparison. No matter where the creative wind decides to blow, we have 107 black and white cat names to get you started. Where you take the inspiration from there is up to you! And if you don’t see a name you want here, we have plenty more to search through!

Famous Black and White Cat Names

Black and white cats didn’t just inspire the creative genius of the past. Oh, no – tuxedo cats have continued to appear in television, movies, and even video games! Those punches of personality attract quite the following. And you can find inspiration for your black and white cat names among these famous idols:

1. Bustopher Jones: “Bustopher Jones in white spats.” Whether you’ve seen Cats on stage or watched the movie, you know the cat.
2. Cait Sith: If you’ve played Final Fantasy VII, you’ve encountered this character.
3. Cat: You won’t score points on originality, but The Cat in the Hat icon IS black and white!
4. Courageous: You need to go back in time a bit, but Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse charmed kids in the 1960s.
5. Diana: Fans of the anime series Jewelpet recognize this iconic black and white cat.
6. Fat Louie: Maybe not the most flattering name, but you know this kitty fit the part if you watched The Princess Diaries.
7. Felix: Felix the Cat appeared on television in the 1950s and early 60s.
8. Figaro: One of a few Disney cats without a speaking role, Figaro appeared in Pinocchio.
9. Jess: You need to skip across the pond, but the British series Postman Pat features a tuxedo cat.
10. Kuro: Anyone who reads the manga Cyborg Kuro-chan knows this black and white kitty.
11. Lucifer: Lady Tremaine’s cat in Cinderella is black and white.
12. Mittens: Her declawing story broke hearts on Bolt.
13. Mr. Mistoffelees: One of the most iconic Jellicle cats from Cats.
14. Socks: Who didn’t love this Presidential feline? Socks accompanied the Clintons to the White House and had THREE books written about him.
15. Sylvester: One of the favorite characters of Looney Tunes, he unsuccessfully pursued Tweety through cartoons.

Black and White Cat Names Based on Coloring

One of the best things about black and white cats is the unexpected patterns you get with the white-spotted and agouti gene mixture. No two tuxedo cats come out looking the same. You can get the dapper tuxedo look, precious white paws, or something closer to a Holstein – with everything in-between. So why not play up that unique coloring when you consider black and white cat names? You don’t have to go literal, either! There are so many options to choose from, especially when you consider the pattern your bicolor carries. Open your mind to the possibilities and let your imagination run wild.

16. Bandit
17. Barcode
18. Bull’s Eye
19. Checkers
20. Chess
21. Dice
22. Domino
23. Eightball
24. Harlequin
25. Marble
26. Motif
27. Piano
28. Pixel
29. Puzzle
30. Rorschach
31. Speck
32. Speckle
33. Splatter
34. Spot
35. Swirl
36. Twilight
37. Two-Tone
38. Yin-Yang
39. Zigzag

Black and White Cat Names Based on Clothing

Black and white cats play up the tuxedo name. So why shouldn’t you? Sometimes you see a feature of those black and white patterns that immediately brings an article of clothing to mind. Or maybe you’re familiar with tuxedo designers and want to name your feline after your favorite. Then there’s the fact that such dapper features immediately bring certain people or thoughts to mind. Once you start down the rabbit hole, it’s hard to back out! So take a look at your cutie, and then see what black and white cat names come to mind. You’ll find yourself surprised with your creativity.

40. Boots
41. Bowtie
42. Butler
43. Cummerbund
44. Fedora
45. Gatsby
46. Gucci
47. Jeeves
48. Oxford (You may or may not know this manner of tying a tie)
49. Patch
50. Patches
51. Phantom (As in, the Phantom of the Opera)
52. Pinstripe
53. Professor
54. Sneakers
55. Spats
56. Tailor
57. Tails
58. Tim Gunn (This fashion icon ALWAYS looks dapper)
59. Vintage

Black and White Cat Names Based on Facial Features

Many black and white cats end up with the cutest facial features. They aren’t always mustaches, but if you have a tuxedo with a recognizable variety of “facial hair?” How can you NOT choose a black and white cat name to celebrate it? Or maybe you want to go a little sideways and honor the look with a character who shares the same features? Either way works perfectly, giving your tuxedo a unique name that’s sure to charm.

60. Charlie Chaplin
61. Fu Manchu
62. Luigi (Yes, from the video game)
63. Mario (And where there’s Luigi, there HAS to be Mario)
64. Mustache
65. Soul Patch
66. Walrus
67. Wolverine (Whether you look at the comics or movies, this member of the X-Men carries a distinctive set of muttonchops)

Black and White Cat Names Based on Food

Have you ever noticed how many of our favorite foods and beverages come in black and white? And some make for adorable names – perfect for your tuxedo cat! You want to skip the risk of your adorable feline turning into a butterball as a result of having a sweet-sounding name (names often turn prophetic!), but the parallel is hard to resist. So why not consider some of these black and white cat names from the culinary world?

68. Almond Joy (Maybe skip Mounds – it sounds terrible)
69. Babka (Sweet, braided bread or cake)
70. Cappuccino
71. Chip (For a tiny spot of black)
72. Cookie
73. Cupcake
74. Ding Dong (If you’re kitty’s on the goofy side, it works)
75. Kit Kat
76. Klondike
77. Mallomar
78. Minty (You can find several different mints that use the black and white pattern)
79. Moonpie
80. Oreo
81. Truffle
82. Whoopie

Black and White Cat Names Based on Other Animals

Black and white colors and patterns aren’t unique to felines. You’ll see them crop up throughout the animal world. And people often see similarities in their tuxedo cats. So why not adopt those animals in your black and white cat names? It’s an interesting pathway to consider – and not one people remember. You may also look at some of the animals people tend to overlook!

83. Badger
84. Cow
85. Dalmatian
86. Lemur
87. Moo (Okay, not an animal, but it works)
88. Osprey
89. Panda
90. Penguin
91. Puffin
92. Tapir

Black and White Cat Names from Popular Culture

With so many black and white cats saturating the world of mainstream media, can you find more inspiration? Of course! Plenty of characters in books, television, and movies don the striking colors of black and white. And if you consider the tuxedo angle, you can find plenty of ideas for black and white cat names. It’s all in how much creativity you bring to the table. (Or, you know, how deep your geek level goes. For the record, mine’s at rock-bottom)

93. Alfred (Batman’s faithful butler is NEVER without his tails)
94. Beetlejuice (Have to repeat yourself? Maybe three times?)
95. Bucky Barnes (Officially, the Winter Soldier’s colors are black and silver, but it works)
96. Cary Grant (He NEVER looked less than his best)
97. Chilly Willy (While a penguin, Chilly Willy was popular in cartoon history)
98. Cruella (You may not like her dog-napping habits in 101 Dalmatians, but you had to love her style)
99. Fred Astaire (He always looked phenomenal)
100. Humphrey Bogart (Rarely did you see Bogart without his classic attire)
101. James Bond (I think you get this reference)
102. Jellicle (Why Not?)
103. Pepe le Pew (Not a great compliment, but this fan favorite from Looney Tune carried the black and white style)
104. Shamu (Also not the NICEST compliment, but the color scheme works)
105. Tuxedo Mask (Or Mamoru – they’re the same handsome character in Sailor Moon)
106. Venom (One the best antiheroes out there – and a personal favorite from the Marvel universe)
107. Zatanna (She’s a gorgeous member of the Justice League)

Our Tuxedo Cats

We happily share a home with two black and white cats. And their names? Yeah – WAY out of the box. (Not sure we could find the box if we tried) But you always have that possibility! Cat names come from personality traits, personal interests, or nothing in particular. Or a combination from every column. It’s completely up to you.

Squeak

Squeak spent the first week in the house with the title, “Little Bitty Kitty.” I knew the name wasn’t permanent, and I couldn’t seem to settle on anything that worked. I didn’t want a traditional black and white cat name, but my brain kept stalling.

Until one morning when I heard this bird-like sound coming from behind me. I looked over the back of the couch and saw him open his mouth simultaneously with the sound. It was little more than a tiny “meep.” There was ZERO resemblance to a meow or anything I’d heard a cat make. It was also the first time he’d made a sound since I brought him home. Before that, nothing emerged when he opened his mouth.

The tiny peeps and cheeps continued for the next two days, and I realized there was no other name. He became Squeak then and there. And he’s continued to make squeaky noises ever since.

Tonks

Oh, yes, I’ve read every Harry Potter book, including The Cursed Child play. Yet, by the time Tonks bulled her way into our lives, I didn’t have a single animal named for the series. (I know – for shame)

A police officer found her in a gutter and brought her in as a Good Samaritan. The little tuxedo proceeded to spend the day in my scrub pocket. Which turned out to be the ONLY way to keep her tiny lungs QUIET. Any attempt to pop her in a cage resulted in a screaming chorus you could hear from anywhere in the building. I wasn’t entirely ready for a new cat in the household, but…well, she SLEPT in my scrub pocket. (A word of warning: once you hold them, you’re sunk)

The intake staff named her Khaleesi (after Game of Thrones). The name had to go. While I’d read the books and watched the series, the name sounds identical to Calicivirus – a horrific respiratory disease cats contract when they don’t receive their FVRCP vaccine. Saddling her with that risk…nope, I couldn’t do it. Suddenly, Tonks popped up. I needed a Harry Potter name, and Tonks seemed perfect. She’s a spunky, outspoken character. When I held the little tuxedo up and said, “Tonks?” Her ears pricked up. Yup, meant to be.

A word of warning: names are PROPHETIC. If you haven’t read the books (you should – go pick them up), allow me to explain. Tonks gets into TROUBLE. So does my little black and white demon. Even when we shout “Nymphadora” (Tonks’s full name in the books) across the room. She’ll pause, look at us to acknowledge the name, then do whatever she wants. We should have gone with a more well-behaved character.

It’s Black AND White

Black and white cats represent the best of both worlds. They come in more patterns than you can dream up, with cheery personalities. And they deserve names to match that delight. You can look to ANYTHING for inspiration. They have clothing options, facial features, tuxedo inspiration, and so much more. You can draw on dozens of sources for your black and white cat names.

So which direction will you look for your tuxedo? Don’t fret too much, because you can’t go wrong with your little Jellicle!