Nikki Horner is given credit for developing this breed after hearing many people stating that "I’d love to own a panther". So from her Louisville, Kentucky home she set out to develop a Panther like cat. Her goal was on producing a copper-eyed black shorthaired cat with the exotic appearance of a "mini" or "parlor panther".

So she started her development of the breed in 1953 by selecting of a Black American Shorthair male with deep colored copper eyes and a Grand Champion Sable Burmese female. After a long process of breeding she became able to consistently produce a black cat. The Bombay achieved CFA Championship status in 1976.

Bombay’s are very unique cats. Many Bombays can be leashed trained and love to play "fetch". The Bombay is very outgoing and are very intelligent. They love to greet visitors ( they sure will not hide ) to your home and interact well with children. Bombays get along well with other pets. Bombay’s are true lap cats, they love to sit on their owners laps and are perfectly content to sit that way for hours. They even go so far that they love to be carried and will frequently sit or ride on their owner’s shoulder. They are not as vocal as some breeds but, are very opinionated ( they will have a say on how the household is ran ). They are an active breed.

The Bombay’s body is of medium length, presenting a lithesome appearance. The head is rounded with a short muzzle. The Bombay’s coat is short, flat, gleaming, and black to the roots, hence it’s Panther looks. Even the paw pads are black. Another one of the great draws to the Bombay is copper penny eyes. The Bombay is a very muscular cat and you may be surprised at how much they weigh.

Since the Bombay comes from a blending of two very different breeds, it is very difficult to breed a show quality Bombay.