Tux is almost exclusively a name for black-and-white cats — animals whose coat pattern genuinely resembles a tuxedo. It's a descriptive name that works because the visual metaphor is precise and funny in the right way: the cat isn't wearing formal wear, but it really does look like it is. At rank 1031, Tux is a niche but coherent choice that signals an owner who noticed something specific about their pet and named it accordingly.
The Tuxedo Cat Tradition
Tuxedo cats — black with white chest and paws — have their own naming sub-culture. Tux, Tuxedo, Penguin, and Domino all describe the same coat pattern in different registers. Tux is the most economical version: one syllable, immediately clear, no ambiguity. Linux's mascot Tux the penguin adds a secondary tech-culture association that makes the name feel slightly more layered for owners in that world. Browse pet names for the full list of coat-descriptive names.
Sound Fit
Single syllable with a sharp X ending — phonetically, Tux projects well and is impossible to mishear. It also doesn't resemble any standard command, which is a practical advantage. The main downside is that it only makes sense if the cat or dog actually has the tuxedo pattern. On a solid brown Labrador, Tux reads as a non sequitur rather than a clever observation.
The Limitation
Tux is a description, not a personality. If you want a name that works regardless of coat color and has some depth beyond the visual reference, Felix or Oreo cover similar territory with broader applicability. Oreo in particular has the same black-and-white specificity with wider name recognition.