Mini panther, maximum cuddles.
Bombay
Felis catus
Also called Parlor Panther, Asian Self (black), UK type
From United States (Louisville, Kentucky), from sable Burmese x black American Shorthair crosses; a separate British type, the black Asian Self, came from Burmese x black domestic shorthair matings123
At a glance the quick version
Wikipedia gives males 3.5-5 kg and females 2.5-3.5 kg; PetMD gives 7-12 lb (3.2-5.4 kg) overall; Hill's says males can exceed 12 lb. Known for feeling heavier than they look.
Coat and looks how to spot one
short, close-lying, glossy black coat
A compact, muscular cat that surprises people with its weight when lifted. Nearly everything about it is rounded: the head, ear tips, chin, feet and the large eyes, which shine gold to deep copper against the coat. The short, satiny coat is black right to the roots and has a high gloss often compared to patent leather, and the nose leather, paw pads and whiskers are black too.12354
Personality what they are like
Bombays are warm, outgoing cats that want to be where their people are, often greeting visitors as though the guests came just to see them. They mix the easygoing nature of the American Shorthair with the curiosity of the Burmese, happily taking over laps, shoulders and beds. CFA sums them up as part cat, part dog and part clown.1245
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Kittens and young adults are busy and inquisitive, while mature cats become calmer and like to watch from a perch. They still enjoy daily interactive play, climbing and jumping, and many love to fetch.154
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Very easy care. Shedding is light to moderate; a rubber curry brush or soft brush every week or two keeps the coat gleaming, with occasional baths if needed. Expect a little more shedding in spring and autumn.214
Home where they are happiest
Settles well as an indoor cat. Offer cat trees, window perches for watching the world and a range of interactive toys.35
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A complete, balanced cat food suited to life stage, fed in measured meals about twice a day rather than free-feeding, with fresh water always available. Keep an eye on portions if the cat is not very active.45
Company who they like around
Strongly attached to its family and not happy being left alone for long. Generally good with children and friendly with guests.143
The story where it all began
The Bombay was created by Nikki Horner, a breeder from Louisville, Kentucky, who wanted a small domestic cat that looked like the black leopard of India. She began crossing sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs in the 1950s (TICA says 1953, other sources 1958), and after early attempts that did not work out, her programme succeeded from 1965. The name nods to the Indian city of Bombay (now Mumbai) and the black leopards of the region. CFA accepted the breed for registration in 1970 and granted championship in 1976, and TICA followed with championship status in 1979, helped along by breeders Herb and Suzanne Zwecker. In Britain a similar-looking black cat developed separately from Burmese and black shorthair matings and is shown as the black Asian Self. The breed has remained uncommon.12356
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The breed has been nicknamed 'the patent-leather kid with the new-penny eyes'.1
- 2
Its walk has a slight sway, which is said to mimic the gait of a black leopard.5
- 3
It is often called the 'Parlor Panther'.3
- 4
The coat, nose leather, paw pads and whiskers are all black.4
- 5
Bombays can learn to walk on a leash, ride in a backpack and perform tricks with positive reinforcement.4
- 6
A Bombay feels much heavier than it looks when you pick it up.5
- 7
It is one of CFA's rarer breeds, so kittens can be hard to find.2
Recognised by the official bits
- CFA
- Accepted for registration in 1970, championship status in 19762
- TICA
- Championship status in June 19791
- GCCF
- The UK type is recognised as the black Asian Self within the Asian group, which had championship status by 20036
- FIFe
- Preliminary recognition only3
Popularity Rare: FIFe registered only 13 Bombay kittens in 2024, under 0.1% of its registrations3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Bombay. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Nail trimevery 3 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- Litter scoopevery day
- Litter changeevery week
- PlayAbout 30 minutes of play a dayevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 11every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- TICA - Bombay tica.orgused for history, creator, recognition, coat, eyes, temperament, activity, grooming, fun facts
- CFA - Bombay cfa.orgused for history, CFA recognition dates, temperament, grooming, rarity
- Wikipedia - Bombay cat en.wikipedia.orgused for two types, dates, FIFe status, weight, lifespan, popularity, nickname
- PetMD - Bombay petmd.comused for weight, height, lifespan, activity, grooming, diet, fun facts
- Hill's Pet - Bombay hillspet.comused for weight, lifespan, temperament, activity, diet, gait
- GCCF - Asian gccfcats.orgused for UK Asian Self (Bombay) recognition and history
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.