Is My All-Black Cat a Bombay Breed?

While all Bombay cats are entirely black, not every black cat is a Bombay. This is because color alone doesn’t determine a cat's breed. Bombay cats, like all purebred cats, trace their lineage to either the same breed or a crossbred ancestor that meets breed standards. This is where the history of the Bombay breed becomes particularly fascinating.

In 1953, the same year Dwight D. Eisenhower was sworn in as U.S. president, Nikki Horner embarked on creating a new cat breed in Louisville, Kentucky. Horner bred a black American Shorthair with a sable Burmese female, with the aim of producing a cat with a specific set of traits. She sought to recreate the shiny black coat, copper-colored eyes, and robust yet graceful physique of an Indian black panther—on a much smaller scale.

By the 1960s, Horner's cats had firmly established the traits they are now known for, including a strikingly black coat. Even the paw pads of a Bombay cat are black, creating a stark contrast with their dazzling gold- or copper-toned eyes. This led the Cat Fancier's Association to describe the Bombay as a "patent leather kid with new penny eyes."

Although the Cat Fancier's Association, the largest cat breed registry in the world, officially recognized the Bombay breed in 1970 and granted it championship status in 1976, the number of Bombay cats remains relatively low today.

People who are familiar with Bombay cats describe them as affectionate, loving, and a bit dog-like in their playful behaviors. Bombays have been known to enjoy activities like fetch and walking on a leash. They typically weigh about 12 pounds (5 kilograms), though males may grow larger and sometimes show a panther-like hypnotic sway in their walk.

In addition to the American Bombay, which is typically the result of a Bombay-to-Bombay or Bombay-to-Burmese breeding, there is a British Bombay variety that results from breeding Burmese cats with British Shorthairs. The American Bombay (often just called "Bombay") is recognized as a distinct breed and is certified to compete in official championships by organizations like the American Cat Fanciers' Association, the Cat Fanciers Association, the Cat Fanciers' Federation, and the International Cat Association. As of 2020, the British Bombay is still considered an experimental breed.