The Bombay is calm, gentle and affectionate. This solid, medium-size cat was created in the 1950s by crossing sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs. His short, velvety coat is easy to care for. The Bombay breed is perfect for cat-lovers who secretly want to own an affectionate panther. Copper-eyed, black and short-haired, this cat has the exotic appearance of a tiny, black leopard. In fact, the breed derives its name from the Indian city of Bombay, which is also considered the land of the black leopard.
The Bombay is one of several breeds created to look like a miniature version of a wild cat. In the Bombay’s case, he is the Mini-Me of the black panther and does quite a good impersonation indeed. To achieve him, breeders took two different paths. In Britain, they crossed Burmese with black domestic cats. In the United States, where the Bombay’s development in the 1950s is generally credited to Nikki Horner of Louisville, Kentucky, the breed was created by crossing sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs. The Bombay is recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association, The International Cat Association, and other cat registries.