Superstition aside, you've decided you want a black cat. Here is information and a list of the various black cat breeds for you to pick from. Decide what features and personality attributes you want in your cat.
Bombay Cat
The Bombay cat is the only breed of cat that is all black. There are no other recognized deviations; the coat must be black to the roots for the cat to be a true Bombay. Although these cats are aloof and independent in nature, they are friendly towards all family members and like to play. They crave affection and attention but only on their terms.
They have a rounded face with pointed ears, and they are very muscular and heavy set in the body. Their eyes are generally orange, but the British breed has golden or green eyes.
This breed was created by Nikki Horner in the 1950s. She wanted to create a small panther-like cat, and after a few attempts, she created what is now recognized as the Bombay cat with its rich eye color. They were named after Bombay, India, which is considered the land of the black leopard.
Persian Cat
Persians have a regal air about them. Their nature is a lot more placid than other cat breeds. The inbreeding and attempts to meet competition requirements means that the Persian cat is very docile. However, there are Persian cats that are more lively, particularly the Chinchilla cat. They don't have the flat face that most other Persians do. Grooming is a daily must with a Persian cat as their coat will turn knotty very quickly.
The Persian cat has a rounded head, flat face, and short ears. Generally, they have a bigger jaw, with some Persians having an overshot jaw from inbreeding. They often have eye discharge, and they may have breathing difficulties because of the shape of their face. Their coats are extremely furry, and their tails are bushy.
Persians have been shown in competitions since 1871 when they appeared at London's Crystal Palace. However, they were first seen further back with the first sightings around the mid 1500s in Europe. They originated in Persia (now Iran) and Turkey. Their coat was thought to have grown longer as an adaption to the cold mountain areas of Persia.
American Shorthair and British Shorthair
With variations in their coat texture, these two breeds are together in this section because they are very much the same in nature having been bred from a wide gene pool and being very hardy stock. They are healthy, robust and playful with no genetic defects like other breeds. This breed is the type you would see on the street; in other words, your general moggy.
The British Shorthair is native to Great Britain. The American Shorthair is thought to have been introduced via the Mayflower ship.
Other black cat breeds:
American Curl/LH
American Bobtail/LH
Cornish Rex
Chausie
Cymric
Japanese Bobtail/LH
LaPerm/SH
Maine Coon
Munchkin
Manx
Norwegian Forrest
Scottish Fold/LH
Oriental Longhair
Oriental Shorthair
Sphynx
Turkish Angora
The breeds in this article are the most popular, and profile cats you are more likely to recognize.
