what are black cats called

Black cats are simply called “black cats,” but they also have a bunch of fun nicknames and cultural names like “mini panthers,” “voids,” and, as a formal breed name in some cases, “Bombay.”

Common Names for Black Cats

• Black cat (the basic term for any domestic cat with black fur).

• Solid black cat or self-colored cat (used when the coat is entirely one color, including black).

• Black smoke (when the fur looks black, but the hair shafts are white at the roots).

Nicknames and Cute Internet Names

• Mini panther (popular nickname because sleek black cats look panther-like).

• House panther (another affectionate term used in forums and social media).

• Void / little void (very common in online cat communities for very dark, hard-to-photograph cats).

These nicknames are informal, but you’ll see them a lot in memes, forums, and pet communities today.

When “Bombay” Is the Correct Name

Sometimes people think all black cats are “Bombays,” but that’s not accurate.

A Bombay is:

• A specific cat breed created to look like a tiny black panther.

• Always solid black, including whiskers, nose leather, and paw pads, with copper-golden eyes.

So:

• Any cat with black fur → “black cat.”

• A pedigreed black cat with those specific traits and lineage → “Bombay cat.”

Little Story-Style Example

Imagine you walk into a shelter and see a sleek, shiny black cat staring at you with golden eyes. Staff might list her as a “black domestic shorthair,” but the volunteers call her their “little house panther” or “void.” If her papers showed she was a registered Bombay with all-black whiskers and copper eyes, then she’d officially be a Bombay cat, but to most people she’s still just their beloved black cat.

TL;DR:
Most people just call them “black cats,” sometimes “house panthers,” “voids,” or “mini panthers.” Only a specific purebred type of black cat is officially called a Bombay.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.