The Bombay Cat

Nope, the Bombay cat does not originate from Bombay. This mini black panther is the cutest thing ever. Here's the first in our series of cat breeds. Stay tuned

Imagine a jungle-like cat roaming in your apartment, free and outgoing, with those golden eyes following you everywhere you go. It’s like having a little leopard in your home, jet black, sleek but oh so friendly and affectionate. The Bombay cat is a mysterious one for sure but a common pet in both the US and the UK.

First and foremost, nope, the Bombay does not have its origins in Bombay or what is known today as Mumbai. It is a result of the vision of a breeder from Louisville, KY, Nikki Horner, who wanted to create a cat breed reminiscent of the Indian Black Leopard. She wanted something tame to cuddle but something fierce like the leopard of the Indian jungles. Bagheera comes to mind obviously, and who isn’t a Jungle Book fan? She wanted something that would not tear off both her arms. And it worked. The cross between the Burmese and the Black American Shorthair led to the emergence of the Bombay in 1965 in the US, of blackhaired, golden-green-eyed kittens. It was also bred in the UK, FYI, as a result of a cross between the Burmese and Black Domestic Shorthairs. They might appear similar to a Burmese but they are slightly larger in size.