The unconditional love of two tuxies
Double tuxedos and double the curiosity. Lily sits perfectly poised top of their tree scratcher while Penny takes in the moment from below.
Tuxedo cats are popular family pets and have made their way into pop culture: Sylvester from Looney Tunes and The Cat in the Hat, to name two. Known for their elegant black and white coats resembling formal wear, tuxedo cats or “tuxies” have been companions to historical figures like William Shakespeare and Mark Twain. The Waggett family of the Pine Bluff neighborhood in The Village at Castle Pines owns two, Penny (3) and Lily (2).
The classic look of tuxies features a solid black coat with white fur on the throat, chest and all four paws giving the appearance of socks or gloves. A tuxedo cat is not an official breed but a bicolor pattern. Because of this coloring, many breeds combine to produce the tuxie look, ranging from fluffy, round-faced Persians to large, regal Maine Coons, to American shorthair to domestic shorthair. Tuxies often have striking green, gold or hazel eyes.
Emma Waggett said her family has always owned or fostered cats. “We mostly appreciate the different personalities that cats develop; especially, their unconditional love, observing their often-peculiar routines and listening to their demands for food and attention,” said Emma.
Penny and Lily were found on the Affinity Ranch in Elizabeth where the ranch owner knew that the Waggetts were cat people and made the call. Penny was found abandoned with her siblings in a barn and Lily was found alone on the ranch. The cat duo immediately settled in to their forever home. Though their exact breeds are unknown, Emma feels strongly that the two are related.
Penny has long hair and a fluffy, bushy tail, while Lily has a sleek coat and a smaller bushy tail. Due to the neighborhood wildlife, both are indoor cats. Lily is more relaxed and enjoys sleeping in her cat tree. Penny is more of an adventurer and would love to sneak out if given the opportunity.
Tuxedo cats are loving, playful, intelligent and social and can get along well with people of all ages and other cats and pets. They are known to be talkative, using everything from soft chirps to boisterous meows. Penny is the loudest with her bossy meow when she wants to be fed.
Penny and Lily are interested in the birds and squirrels that visit the pine trees outside the family room window. Lily chirps at frequent visitor Steve, the hefty yard squirrel. “Some of these squirrels seem to perform for the cats and one might say they are even friends,” concluded Emma.
Emma in her home in the Village in 2023 spending a little quiet time with her cat Penny.
By Julie Matuszewski: photos courtesy of Emma Waggett
