If you have been wondering what breeds you can find with the white and black color scheme, it turns out there are quite a few breeds capable of the bi-color pattern. The black and white can be a random pattern, or it can be the pattern known as a tuxedo, a design that resembles the tuxedo suit.
We have searched all over and have found 14 breeds that are capable of producing beautiful white and black cats.
The 14 Black & White Cat Breeds
1. British Shorthair Cat
The British Shorthair is a pedigreed version of the British domestic cat. The most familiar coat is British blue, but it is available in many colors and patterns, including black and white. It remains a popular breed and resembles the Chesire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.
2. Cornish Rex Cat
The Cornish Rex is a hairless cat, and it sports a thin coat of soft down that can be straight or wavy. These cats naturally like to stay indoors, and you can often find them by the furnace or radiators trying to get warm. Their thin coats come in a wide variety of colors, including black and white. These are very curious cats that enjoy the company of humans.
3. Cymric Cat
Cymric cats are very similar to the Manx breed but with long hair. Several experts protest that the Cymric is not a stand-alone breed but a long-haired version of the Manx. The Cymric is said to have originated in Canada, and it has no association with the Welsh, despite its name. This tailless cat is available in several colors and patterns, including black and white and tuxedo.
4. Domestic Longhair Cat
A domestic cat is simply one that has no lineage and is essentially a cat mutt. The Domestic Longhair is simply a long-haired version of this type of cat. The Domestic Longhair is available in any color and pattern and makes an adorable fluffy black and white cat.
5. Domestic Shorthair Cat
The Domestic Shorthair is another type of cat without a direct lineage or specific breed and is the most common type of cat in America. Like the Domestic Longhair, these cats are available in every conceivable color and pattern, including black and white.
6. Japanese Bobtail Cat
The Japanese Bobtail is a cat breed with a bobtail that resembles that of a rabbit. It’s native to Japan, but you can find them worldwide and in folklore and artwork. White calico is the most sought-after color pattern, but this breed is available in several other colors and makes a very cute white and black cat.
7. Maine Coon Cat
The Maine Coon cat is the largest domesticated cat breed in the world. This breed often weighs over 13 pounds and can reach 38 inches in length, including the tail. They are known as gentle giants and are easy to train. You can find Maine Coon cats in a wide variety of attractive coats, including black and white.
8. Manx Cat
The Manx cat is the ancestor of the Cymric breed. It’s a short-haired cat with a naturally occurring bobtail, long back legs, and a rounded head. They come in all colors and patterns, including black and white, and are excellent hunters, often chosen as a ship’s cat. There are plenty of tales telling how the Manx lost its tail, but it most likely occurs due to a dominant gene in the breed’s DNA.
9. Munchkin
The Munchkin cat breed is one of the more recent breeds and is instantly recognizable by its extremely short legs. The short legs result from a genetic mutation, which causes it to look like it has dwarfism. The Munchkin is considered the original dwarf cat, but there is controversy concerning its health and mobility issues. You can find the Munchkin in all colors and patterns, and is also available in long-hair and short-hair versions.
10. Oriental Shorthair
The Oriental Shorthair is a close relative to the Siamese cat and has the same head and body, but is available in a wide range of colors, including black and white. These cats remain playful until adulthood and enjoy playing games of fetch. Oriental Shorthairs prefer to live in a pair or group and enjoy human companionship.
11. Persian
Persian cats have long hair and a short muzzle. Selective breeding has allowed it to have plenty of colors, including black and white, that may not have been originally available. Unfortunately, this same breeding process has caused the breed to have an increasingly flat face that could be harmful to their health. In 2015, the Persian cat was the second most popular breed in America.
12. Scottish Fold
Another black and white cat breed is the Scottish Fold which has a natural genetic mutation that affects the cartilage causing the ears to bend forward, giving the cat an owl-like appearance. It has a reputation for being unusually loving and is, therefore, one of the most sought-after cat breeds. You can find Scottish folds in any color or pattern, including black and white, and the hair can be long or short.
13. Siberian Cat
The Siberian cat is centuries old but recently developed into a standard breed. It’s also known as the Siberian Forest Cat and the Moscow Semi-Longhair. It’s a medium-large cat that is hypoallergenic and known for their incredible agility and athleticism. They are available in many colors and patterns, including black and white.
14. Turkish Angora
The Turkish Angora is an ancient cat breed that originated in Central Turkey. Documentation of this breed goes back to the 17th century, and many claims it is the origin of the white color, as well as the long hair. The most popular color for this breed is pure white, but many other colors exist, including black and white.
Final Thoughts
We hope you have enjoyed reading about all these different cat breeds. If you want a white and black cat quickly and inexpensively, you can’t go wrong with the Domestic Shorthair or Domestic Longhair breeds. The black and white color scheme is prevalent in both species, and a trip to the local animal shelter will most likely have several you can purchase. If you are looking for something a little more exotic, any other breeds will do. We recommend avoiding the Cornish Rex if you live in a colder climate because they are very sensitive to temperature and have no means of staying warm.
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Featured Image Credit: Maria Wan, Shutterstock
The 14 Black & White Cat Breeds
2 Responses
My cat is black wwith a white tummy but it doesn't show her breed on here and I need to know what breed she is
Hi Hayden Parrish, many cats are a mix of breeds AKA domestic but you could try a DNA ancestry test: https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/are-cat-dna-tests-accurate/