There are 10 identifiable grades of bicolor in cats, plus several patterns with their own names. The cat labeled “bicolor” is the preferred pattern in show-quality bicolor purebred cats.
A low-grade spotting black-and-white bicolor cat is often known as a “tuxedo cat” or a “Billicat”. To be considered a tuxedo cat, its black coloring should be solid throughout, with white limited to the paws, belly, chest, throat, face, and possibly the chin: it should appear as if the cat were wearing a tuxedo.
Another type of black-and-white bicolor cat is nicknamed “cow cat” or “moo cat” (for a perceived resemblance to Holstein cattle) and includes the magpie, cap-and-saddle and mask-and-mantle patterns.
A cow cat does not have the solid black “jacket” of the tuxedo cat. Instead, it has big black patches over a mostly white body, often with a black mask over the head. Some owners attribute characteristics such as a love of water, big personalities and a playful nature to cow cats.
“Black Mask Cats” are so called because they look like they are wearing a black mask over their head. Likewise, “Kitlers” get their name from a black moustache-like marking over their faces, as shown in the cow-patterned cat to the right.
The Turkish Van (white and red) is one good example of a bicolor cat breed. The Van pattern is known to animal geneticists as the Seychelles (Seychellois) Pattern and is classified into 3 variants:
- Seychellois Neuvieme – white with colored tail and head splashes (classic Van Pattern)
- Seychellois Huitieme – white with colored tail and head splashes plus additional splashes of color on the legs
- Seychellois Septieme – white with splashes of color on the legs and body in addition to those on the head and the colored tail.
This is high grade white spotting of types 9, 8 and 7 on the bicolor chart above.