25 Top Black and White Cat Breeds | Best Short & Long Hair Types

Black and white cats are commonly known as tuxedo cats. This name often relates to the pattern that the black and white colors create in its coat. 

There are other patterns, so you can even hear black and white cats referred to as cow or piebald cats. They are sometimes also named Felix cats (perhaps after a famous cartoon cat) or magpies, after the common black and white bird. Black and white cat names are often creative and amusing, come to think of it.  

Many breeds have these color combinations if you’re looking for a cute black and white cat. In fact, black and white is statistically the most common form of bicolor cat on the planet. Here are some shining examples of the most beautiful, cutest, and adorable black and white cat breeds.

25 Top Black and White Cat Breeds

Tuxedo cats or other types of black and white cats are not specific to any one cat breed but can present in many different breeds. The colors black and white are fairly common for cats, and the combination presents an almost endless variety of patterns and styles.

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1. American Curl

The American Curl cat is so-called because of its ears that curl backward. It’s worth noting, though, that American curls without the distinctive “curl” do exist. At any rate, this is a cute and fuzzy cat with origins traced to California in the USA.

They are strongly connected to their humans and will follow them around incessantly. Their fur is fairly thick and silky, and they are commonly found in all types of patterns and colors, including solid, smoke, bicolor, and tortoiseshell. American Curls are considered a small cat breed.

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2. American Shorthair

This cat breed is one of the world’s most popular cat breeds. American Shorthairs are adaptable and robust, with long lives (up to 20 years), and were originally brought to the US on ships from Europe. 

American Shorthairs are distinguished from regular domestic shorthairs due to a few specific traits. They have round faces and short, thick fur, presumably adapted for cold. They are powerful and muscular cats, owing to their roles as rodent control on ships. They come in various colors and patterns, with black and white and tabby being fairly common. 

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3. American Wirehair

New York’s own American Wirehair is a surprisingly tough cat to come by. It’s a well-known cat, but pure examples are considered rare to acquire, making them an expensive and prized possession. 

Wirehairs are sturdy cats known for their “working cat” looks — their ancestors were employed to deal with NY’s rats. The wire in its name refers to the appearance of its fur, which may seem somewhat crinkly and dense. 

It seems that the dense nature of the fur worked as added protection during a tough fight.

Photo by Bhaumik Birje: via Pexels 

4. Arabian Mau

Arabain Maus are known for their playful and friendly personalities and are always up for a game or two. They are cats that require much attention but are incredibly beautiful and carry the additional kudos of being a 100% natural breed. 

Though originally from the desert regions of Arabia, they seem to be especially striking when in black-and-white variations. 

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5. Birman

The “Sacred Cat of Burma” could easily be mistaken for a Siamese cat. Like the Siamese breed, it usually has dark points around the face, ears, and blue eyes. So you could easily acquire a white cat with a black face and ears. 

Sometimes, the cat’s tail and legs are also dark or black, which contrasts beautifully with its “shoes” on its paws, which are always white. 

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6. British Shorthair

There is a key differentiation between a traditional domestic British cat and a British shorthair. The latter is pedigreed as such. It must feature a rounded face, a strong body, and thick, dense fur. 

It usually presents in blue, more specifically, “British Blue.” They do, however, sometimes come in bicolors. Though, in general, they tend to be expensive to acquire. Some reports suggest that British Shorthairs cost up to $2,000 for a purebred kitten. 

These cats are not the most enthusiastic cuddlers, but they will carry on the tradition of killing rodents around your house. They will also likely make a show of presenting it to you proudly. 

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7. Cornish Rex

Cornish rexes are another breed of unusual-looking but highly sought-after “weird” cat breeds in black and white. One of their unique aspects is that they have no hair except for some down hair. This hair often looks close-cropped, which makes the cat appear somewhat hairless from a distance.

In reality, the soft curls make these cats delightful to the touch. Like their Siamese predecessors, they are also playful and can be rather vocal when the mood takes them. A Cornish Rex in black and white is likely to present with patches of black on a predominantly white coat.

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8. Cymric

The name “Cymric” refers to Wales (“Cymru” in Welsh). In some circles, the Cymric is regarded as a variation of the Manx cat. The Cymric would be a long hair black and white cat, though, which seems to significantly differentiate its appearance. 

The thick long double coat looks great in black and white coloring. The cat can sometimes simply present with a mask over its eyes and ears. 

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9. Devon Rex

Known primarily for its huge and adorable ears, the Devon Rex looks striking, in part also for its short facial hair. This accentuates the eyes, which usually appear huge in its angular face. As for the rest of the body, the fur is soft and consists of guard, down, and awn hair.

Make no bones about it; this is one smart cat, able to learn tricks and often with a stubborn streak. They are affectionate and come in many different colors, black and white being an especially pretty variation.

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10. European Shorthair

You may feel like this is the default image of a cat that comes to mind when somebody says the word “cat”. Some believe that this breed may have been among the first to truly be considered a domestic cat, as its history is long enough to be traced back to Egypt. 

Personality-wise, they are adaptable and amiable and will get along with most other pets and family members. 

Tabby patterns are common in the breed, which invites opportunities for black-and-white variations. 

Image by Jessie Feross from Pixabay

11. Exotic Shorthair

One of the more unusual-looking cats on this list, the Exotic Shorhair’s solid-colored eyes and flat face make it especially adorable on the cuteness scale. They always seem surprised, one could say. 

The Exotic Shorthair is often likened to a Persian, save for the fact that its coat is shorter. The cat is similarly built, though, being roundish in appearance. 

The color pattern on this cat can be fun, especially when the mask, back, and tail are black.

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12. Japanese Bobtail

This cat of Japanese origin has a unique bobtail (much like a rabbit’s). That’s not the only thing that’s unique about them, though. For one thing, they like to chirp at their humans. 

Bobtails are very intelligent. They have been known to learn their own name and actually respond to it. They can also be taught to play fetch, just like dogs. Oddly, they seem to prefer to mix with other bobtails more than other cats or dogs. 

Japanese Bobtails come in long and shorthair varieties and can present in solid colors. But they look best in bicolor, like black and white. Once specific to Japan, it is now a popular breed in much of the cat-fancier world.  

Image by Aline (Алевтина) Mueller from Pixabay

You might enjoy reading my articles on beautiful cat breeds and long haired cat breeds.

13. Maine Coon

The majestic Maine Coon cat is one of the major superstars of Kittywood. This would be one big black and white cat. They are also unique in their personality. They love water, for example. 

These giant cats have thick, dense fur, including an especially thick collar. It remains silky throughout and presents in various colors. Tails are bushy, ears have distinctive points, and eyes are often expressively shaped. 

When staring at you, these cats often seem to be asking whether you need to be there. Actually, that might be the case with most cats, anyway.

Image by Kimberly Hawkins from Pixabay

14. Manx

If you’re looking for an unusual cat with a fun history, you might want to learn more about a Manx. Due to a genetic mutation, this breed has a naturally short or “stubbed” tail. Some have no tail at all.

That’s not where their unusual looks end. They have particularly long and powerful hind legs. When crouching, they look a little like rabbits. 

Manx coats come in both long and shorthair varieties and all colors, including black and white. Most common, though, are solid colors, tortoise, tabby, and calico.

Photo by Tranmautritam via Pexels: 

15. Munchkin

The utterly adorable munchkin cat or Sausage Cat is the little gem of the cat world. Although short, these cats are perfectly capable of as much mischief as cats with more regular builds. 

The short legs are a natural mutation, so they have adapted to live perfectly normally, other than a slight statistical proneness to arthritis. Many owners express partiality to white munchkins, but their black-and-white variations are equally adorable. 

Image by Paul Diaconu from Pixabay

16. Norwegian Forest Cat

Considered by many to be related to the Maine Coon, the Norwegian Forest cat likely made its way to the US on ships from Scandinavia. As its name suggests, it is a cat that is used to a harsh climate. Its thick, luxurious coat provides more than adequate protection from the elements. 

They are also really huge. These giant cats surprisingly love humans, though, despite occupying a large amount of space on the couch. This lush longhaired breed is sometimes black and white. Regardless of color, it has a majestic, impressive, and commanding presence regardless of its color. 

Image by Tania Van den Berghen from Pixabay

17. Oriental Shorthair

The exotic-looking Oriental Shorthair, with its triangular head shape and long body, seems to be one of the more unusual cat breeds regardless of what colors it comes in. In this particular case, the bicolor combo resulted from a cross with the more traditional American shorthair. 

Oriental shorthairs are somewhat related to the Siamese cat. They have distinctive green eyes and actually do come in a variety of colors.

Image by Michelle Raponi from Pixabay

18. Persian Cat

Persian Cats have an air of royalty about them and for good reason. Their coats are usually long and luxurious, and though they are common in white, they can also appear in various colors, including black and white. 

Another aspect of their “regal” reputation comes from their pedigree history. They were among the first cats to be officially pedigreed by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1906.

Most Persians today come with “flat” faces to some degree, but this was not always the case. The trademark scrunchy face didn’t actually become popular until the 1950s and is thought to be caused by an accidental genetic mutation.

Photo by Howcheng via Wikimedia

19. Ragamuffin

The plush collar and coat of a ragamuffin cat make it a gorgeous addition to any home. Ragamuffins are fairly heavy-set, in that they are “beefy” in appearance, yet soft and luscious because of that coat.

Interestingly, Ragamuffins were once thought to be related to Ragdoll cats. Ragamuffins typically come in solid colors like black or white. Remember to invest in a good grooming brush to keep this black and white long hair cat happy.

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20. Scottish Fold

The Scottish Fold is known for its distinctive ears, which fold. As a result, they seem to have an odd countenance, with a round curious face and nearly invisible ear. In some respects, they look like a cartoon drawing of an owl.

It’s worth knowing that the genetic mutation that causes the folded ears actually affects all cartilage in the cat’s body. Because of this, the Scottish Fold is susceptible to degenerative joint disease.

A longhaired version of this cat is sometimes referred to as the Highland Fold. Usually, they are present in solid colors, gray being common, but they can also be a fine black-and-white addition to your home.

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21. Siamese Cat

The legendary Siamese cat has a traditional look as a white cat with black or dark points in the face, ears, and paws. There is a fascinating science behind this Siamese coloring, which sounds like something out of science fiction. The Blue eyes stand out in this combination, too.

As the name suggests, the Siamese originates from Thailand, where they were treasured by royalty and citizens alike. 

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22. Siberian

Siberian cats are among the fluffy black and white cat breeds and are known to be incredibly affectionate. Their coat causes them to shed a lot, with special periods twice a year for molting. They come in almost any color but are incredibly beautiful cats regardless of the scheme.

Siberians hail from Russia. Their playful nature means they will require lots of playtime and stimulation. Invest in some good toys and some good grooming tools. 

Image by Carole from Pixabay

23. Snowshoe

You may not hear about Snowshoe cats very often, but these cats are exceptionally cute. They are known for having darker shades around their eyes and ears, sometimes resembling a mask. 

They are called “snowshoe” cats because they are born with white feet. The breed has some Siamese ancestry and, with those white paws, may well present as a “tuxedo” if the rest of the coat is black. 

Snowshoes like to climb on things, so a good cat tree would be a good investment here. Alternatively, if you love having cats jumping on your lap randomly, the Snowshoe is a good option for you.

Image by Margarita from Pixabay

24. Turkish Angora

When you really want a cat to talk to you, you should consider a Turkish Angora. It is also exceptionally beautiful and known for its pure white coat — well, mostly. 

Hailing from Turkey, these cats are also commonly known as Ankara. They are friendly, pleasant, and the only known domestic cat to have a place in a zoo (in Ankara, Turkey, where all of the specimens are white). 

To find one of these in black and white is somewhat unusual, but as a result, it would be a prized possession and highly sought after.

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25. Domestic Longhair & Shorthair

Let’s not forget about the ordinary domestic breeds when it comes to black and white cat types. Technically, these are two different cats, but for the sake of simplicity, let’s classify them together. 

These domestic cats have no direct breed heritage or lineage. They could be considered the “general cat” of the species, mixed to various degrees from various breeds along the way.

As a result, there is no limit to what colors or patterns they may come in. They are therefore considered a fine breed of black and white shorthair cat for this list.

Any White and Black Cat Breed is Beautiful

No matter which breed you choose, a cute black and white cat awaits you. Thankfully, it’s a very common combination that can appear in almost any type of cat. Why not consider visiting a shelter as your first stop on the way to a new adoptee? Chances are there’s a magpie, tuxedo, or Felix waiting for you.