Cat breed · Shorthair
Bombay
Bred as a 'miniature black panther' — glossy black coat, copper eyes and a Burmese-derived love of people and warm laps.
Medium12–16 yearsUnited StatesCan suit apartments
Representative breed photography. Appearance varies within every breed.
Breed characteristics
- Group
- Shorthair
- Origin
- United States
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 3–5.5 kg
- Height
- 25–30 cm
- Lifespan
- 12–16 years
- Coat
- Short, satin, jet-black to the roots
- Temperament
- AffectionatePeople-focusedHeat-seekingPlayful
History
Developed in the 1950s–60s from black American Shorthair × Burmese crosses, named for the Indian black leopard.
Appearance
Medium, muscular, entirely black cat with a patent-leather sheen and striking copper-to-gold eyes.
Exercise and activity
Moderate; playful but also a champion lap-warmer.
Care and grooming
Minimal grooming; the black coat shows dust, so an occasional wipe keeps the shine.
Health considerations
- Generally healthy
- Burmese head defect in some lines (responsible breeders test)
- Obesity if under-exercised