The Bombay was developed in the United States starting in the 1950s, when Nikki Horner of Kentucky crossed sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs, aiming for a miniature black panther. The result is a medium, surprisingly solid cat with a short, satiny coat that is black to the roots, black paw pads and round gold-to-copper eyes.
Many Bombays are playful, curious and people-focused, and some learn fetch or harness walking. Pedigreed Bombays are rare, and most black cats listed under the name are domestic shorthairs who share the look. That means each cat's personality matters more than the label, and a Bombay-type cat in Albuquerque may be mellower or more independent than the description suggests.