“I’d love to own a panther.” This oft heard comment piqued the imagination of a prominent cat breeder, the late Nikki Horner, from Louisville, Kentucky. Ms. Horner set her sights on producing a copper-eyed black shorthaired cat with the exotic appearance of a "mini", or "parlor-panther." The black leopard of India inspired her choice of the breed's name. Ms. Horner began her effort in 1953 with the selection of a black American Shorthair male with deep copper eye color and a Grand Champion sable Burmese female. Through a long process of inbreeding and outcrossing and careful selection, she was able to consistently produce a black cat unlike any other.

Native Country

Breed Description

 
History

A black panther with copper eyes In 1958, in an attempt to create a black Burmese, Nikki Horner, an American breeder from Kentucky, crossed a sable Burmese queen with a copper-eyed black American Shorthair. The result was the creation of a "miniature black panther" (the name referring to the black panther of India). The breed was recognized by the C.F.A. in 1976 and by T.I.C.A. in 1979. The first Bombay, a female named Opium, imported to France arrived in 1989. Though highly popular in the United States, the Bombay is almost unknown in Europe.

This is a self-assured cat. Bombays are athletic, playful, curious, and remarkably agile. This highly social cat adapts easily to his surroundings and makes a good companion. Bombays can live with dogs, but do not always get along with other cats. Affectionate and extremely gentle, the Bombay loves to snuggle, though often restricts his affections to his owner. This cat does adjust well to solitude. Though less talkative than the Burmese, the Bombay has a rather husky voice. Care is simple.