Bombay cats are considered a rare pedigree breed, especially compared with more common cats like American Shorthairs or domestic shorthaired mixes.

How rare are Bombay cats?

  • Reputable sources describe Bombay cats as a rare or relatively rare breed, largely because there are not many active, registered breeders.
  • In the United States, experts note there are only a “handful” of Bombay breeders, and potential owners often face a 6–12 month waitlist for a kitten.
  • Registry data in the UK also shows low numbers: in 2023, only 160 kittens were registered for the whole Asian group, which includes the British-type Bombay, underscoring how uncommon they are as pedigreed cats.

Why Bombay cats are uncommon

  • Limited breeding programs: Few breeders specialize in Bombays, so fewer kittens are produced each year compared with popular breeds like Maine Coons or Siamese.
  • Not a natural landrace: The Bombay was deliberately created by crossing a black American Shorthair with a sable Burmese, and maintaining the desired “mini panther” look requires careful, selective breeding.
  • Lower public awareness: Many people simply look for “black cats” rather than the specific Bombay breed, so demand for official, registered Bombays stays relatively niche.

Pedigree Bombay vs. “bombay-looking” black cats

  • Many shelter or household black cats may resemble a Bombay—sleek black coat, golden eyes—but most are mixed-breed domestic cats without pedigree documentation.
  • A true Bombay is defined by specific breed standards (all-black coat including whiskers, copper-to-gold eyes, particular body type) and registration with a cat association, which is why they remain rare even though black cats in general are very common.

Getting a Bombay cat today

  • Prospective owners often need to:
    • Join a breeder’s waitlist and be ready for a several‑month delay.
* Travel or search more widely (sometimes internationally) to find a reputable breeder, and carefully vet breeding conditions.
  • Because they are relatively rare and purpose‑bred, Bombay kittens usually come with a higher price tag than many common breeds or shelter cats, often in the four‑figure range.

Bottom line

If the question is “are Bombay cats rare?” then the answer is yes: as a recognized, pedigreed breed, they are uncommon and can be hard to find, even though plenty of ordinary black cats may look similar at first glance.

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