The Bombay cat breed was created to resemble a small black panther.
American breeder Nikki Horner developed the breed in the United States during the 1950s. She crossed sable Burmese cats with black American Shorthairs, then selected kittens with the desired combination of a completely black coat, copper-colored eyes, and a compact, muscular body.
Bombay cats are domestic cats, not miniature wild panthers. Their coat is short, close-lying, and glossy, while their rounded head and prominent eyes contribute to the panther-like appearance. The breed was named after Bombay, the former name of Mumbai, as a reference to India and the black leopard imagery associated with the region.
The Bombay is sometimes confused with any black domestic shorthair. Breed standards, however, require a particular body type and eye coloration, not simply black fur.