This Tuxedo Cat Has Read Every Book in the Library and Found Most of Them Lacking

Here is a cat who has read every book in the library and found most of them lacking. This black and white tuxedo sits for his portrait in a voluminous black silk robe that shimmers in the dim light, its folds catching soft highlights. A wide lace collar, aged to a warm ivory, lies over his shoulders. One white paw delicately grips a long brown feather quill, as though he's paused mid-sentence in his latest treatise. His amber eyes and pink nose stand out against crisp black and white fur, and his expression is one of serene intellectual superiority.

Tuxedo cats aren't a breed but a color pattern: a mostly black coat with white on the chest, paws, and often the face, resembling formal evening wear. The pattern appears in many breeds and in everyday domestic shorthairs and longhairs. Owners frequently describe tuxedos as outgoing, vocal, and full of personality, though, like any cat, temperament depends more on the individual than on coat color. Like other cats, tuxedos benefit from mental stimulation such as puzzle feeders, window perches, and interactive play, especially if they live indoors. Regular brushing helps longer-haired tuxedos like this one keep their coats smooth and reduces hairballs.

With a quill in paw and a look like that, this scholar is surely composing a strongly worded essay. The likely subject: why breakfast should be served much earlier.