Last Updated: 2 years ago
There’s something about black cats that makes you think about witches and spooky houses.
It might be their bright yellow eyes, the air of mystery they carry, or the way black cats look at you as if they’ll reveal the secrets of the universe.
Black cats are common in all breeds and come in all sizes and temperaments. So, we’ll take a look at some of our favorites that look stunning in black.
Black Cat Breeds: A Closer Look at 18 Unique Beauties
Black cat breeds are more than just elegant and mysterious. They come in a variety of sizes, personalities, and coat types, each bringing its own charm to the feline world.
Each of these black cat breeds has its own allure and endearing qualities. Whether you’re seeking a playful companion or a serene lap cat, these breeds offer a range of options for every cat lover’s preference.
#1 Bombay
Are you looking for black cat breeds with green eyes? Then you can’t go wrong with the adorable and mysterious Bombay, the only cat exclusively in black.
Being a mix between American Shorthair and Burmese, Bombay cats have a deep black coat, similar to the black Indian leopard.
Interestingly, even their paw pads are black, something uncommon in other black cat breeds.
As a whole, Bombay cats are easy-going, affectionate, and bond strongly with their owners.
Since they’re a black cat breed with short hair, they shed very little and require minimal grooming.
But Bombay cats are so playful and mischievous that some people consider these black beauties an aggressive breed.
#2 York Chocolate Cat
Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard about the York Chocolate Cat. It’s a rare cat breed that was developed from a black and white farm cat in the 1980s.
While they aren’t as black as the other cats on this list, they’re far too cute to leave them out.
Unlike most farm cats, the York has a lustrous coat, medium-long fur, a fluffy tail, and piercing gold, green, or hazel eyes.
Their silky hair is soft to the touch and mat-resistant, so grooming is minimal.
Most Yorkie cats are chocolate brown, lavender, or a mix of these two colors.
They are affectionate, love to cuddle, and get along with other pets and children. But they can be clingy because they crave human attention and don’t like to be alone.
#3 Oriental
With their long heads, tall ears, and slender legs, black Oriental cats can seem quite spooky.
However, they are one of the best cat breeds for children despite their tendency to talk in a loud, raspy voice.
Oriental cats come in more than 300 colors and patterns, unlike the Siamese from which people developed the breed.
But we can all agree that black Oriental cats are stunning with their short black coat and cheerful disposition.
#4 Maine Coon
Maine Coons are remarkable with their weight of 9–18 pounds and length of 30–40 inches, and they hold a lot of records when it comes to size.
They’re one of the heaviest and biggest cats that won’t try to eat you but will happily purr while you pet them.
Like most breeds, Maine Coons come in a variety of colors and tabby patterns.
However, black, fluffy Maine Coons are magnificent with their lustrous coats, plumed tails, and big paws.
Maine Coons are also one of the best cat breeds for kids, single people, and families with dogs. They’re laid-back, calm, and affectionate without being too demanding.
#5 Persian
Still one of the most popular cat breeds, we can’t miss mentioning the cute Persian when we talk about black cats.
They are easy to recognize with their flat faces, plumed tails, and long fur that requires daily brushing.
While these fluffy cat breeds come in all colors, black ones are astonishing and never fail to impress with their silky fur, intelligent eyes, and mysterious facial expressions.
Interestingly, black Persians almost always have copper eyes that seem to pierce your soul.
Despite their witchy vibes, black Persians are such laid-back felines that people often consider them dumb cats. However, they are capable of learning tricks. They just don’t see the point.
#6 Chantilly-Tiffany
Often described as a moderate cat with no extremes, the Chantilly-Tiffany is another amazing black cat breed with yellow eyes that will melt your heart.
Common colors besides black include blue, chocolate, lilac, platinum, and silver.
Tiffany, for short, has semi-long fur with little or no undercoat that is silky and soft to the touch.
It’s an affectionate and sweet cat breed that thrives on human attention without being overly demanding.
However, these fluffy black cats can be a bit talkative when you ignore them for too long.
#7 Russian Black
Most of you are probably familiar with Russian Blues and their unusual coat color and soul-piercing green eyes.
But you probably don’t know that there’s such a thing as a Russian Black, developed from a Russian Blue.
Some cat clubs don’t recognize Russian Blues in any other colors, but some do accept Russian Blues in black and white.
Accepted or not, Russian Blacks are magnificent cats that can enchant you with their striking green eyes and mellow temperament.
They also have a soft, dense coat and don’t shed much fur, which makes them a hypoallergenic cat breed.
So, if you’re looking for black cat breeds with short hair, the Russian Black is an excellent choice.
#8 American Shorthair
One of the most famous United State’s black cat breeds is probably the sweet American Shorthair.
While most people think of tabby cats when you say American Shorthair, these cats come in a variety of colors, including black.
Known for their placid temperament, the American Shorthair is one of the calmest cats you can find.
They aren’t overly energetic, prefer to play on their terms, and are good at finding ways to amuse themselves.
Moreover, the black American Shorthair cat is one of the most trainable breeds. You can easily bribe these beauties to do your biddings with enough treats and love.
#9 American Curl
Another popular United State’s black cat breed that we have to mention is the adorable American Curl with their unique backward ears.
While American Curls are common in many colors and patterns, black ones never stop to amaze you with their long tails and walnut-shaped eyes.
They’ve also got a silky coat with long or short hair that’s perfect for petting.
Unfortunately, you’ll rarely hear people describe the American Curl as a lap cat.
They like to be around people, but prefer interactive play, jumping, and climbing more than sitting still.
#10 American Bobtail
While American Bobtails often resemble wild cats with stripes, they come in all colors and patterns.
So, we can’t leave them out when we’re discussing favorite breeds or the United State’s black cat breeds.
What makes the American Bobtail so popular (besides their stunning color and short tail) is also their dog-like personality.
They’re completely devoted to their owners and can follow you around the house all day.
Moreover, Bobtails like to play fetch, can be trained to walk on a leash, and enjoy puzzles.
Interestingly, while the American Bobtails look similar to the Japanese ones, they’re two distinctive breeds with unrelated breeding programs and different genetic mutations.
Unlike other breeds, American Bobtails make excellent travel companions because they’re highly adaptable cats with a strong love for adventures.
#11 British Shorthairs
With “shorthair” in the name, you wouldn’t expect these felines to be all that fluffy.
Sure, they don’t have the long, luscious locks of their Persian counterparts, but they still know how to bring on the floof.
British Shorthairs are some of the oldest cat breeds globally and the most pedigreed in the UK.
They are famous for their calmness, plush coats, and golden eyes.
The Blue British Shorthair was the most common, but breeders have developed other colors and patterns.
The CFA acknowledges the red, black, gray, silver, and cream solid colors and various tabby patterns.
You may sometimes mistake them for the Scottish Fold. But the Fold has folding ears while the British Shorthair’s ears are triangular and pointed.
#12 Japanese Bobtails
The Japanese Bobtail is another old cat breed that has been around since the 17th century.
It’s native to Japan and Southern Asia. Japanese Bobtails are a crucial phenomenon in Japan’s traditional folklore.
And like the American Bobtail, they feature a bobbed tail. And they come in a wide variety of coat colors, including black, white, and patterns.
There are long-haired and short-haired Japanese bobtails. The long-haired variety tends to have a silky and fluffy coat that’s often easy to maintain.
Japanese bobtails are friendly to their owners, strangers, and even to other pets.
And since they’re more susceptible to becoming obese, you need to engage them in physical activity frequently.
#13 Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex is not your typical-looking cat. It has a unique coal-black curly coat, large, high-set ears, an egg-shaped head, and a curved body.
The curl is a result of a genetic mutation. Cornish Rex cats originated in England in the 1950s, when an unusual cat was born among a barn full of cats.
This cat was crossbred with other cats, including the Siamese, to give it the look it has today.
Cornish Rex cats also resemble greyhounds due to their body shape, and they love playing various pet games such as fetch, acrobatics, and racing.
They come in solid colors as well as varying colors and patterns. The solid shades include black, white, orange, or blue.
And they also come in varying patterns. Before adopting a Cornish Rex, bear in mind that they sometimes suffer from hair loss and are sensitive to cold climates.
#14 Devon Rex
The Devon Rex are medium-sized, playful, and intelligent cats.
Sometimes they’re referred to as “alien cats” due to their unique body shape and appearance.
They look like the Cornish Rex, but they experienced different gene mutations.
Devon Rex cats can learn new tricks faster than most cats, but they can be a little mischievous, and motivating them is sometimes a challenge.
They are also known for occupying the top-most areas of the room or your house’s hidden sections, where a larger cat wouldn’t fit.
Since they only feature guard hair, Devon Rex require special care to protect their skin, but they’re not high-maintenance cats.
#15 Sphynx
Sphynx cats are friendly and adventurous by nature, and are characterized by a lack of hair throughout the body.
But some of them may have fine hairs that make their skin texture a little leather-like. Also, some may have whiskers, while others may not.
Their coats are colored just like the fur would be if they had fur.
This includes solid colors, tabbies, torties, and any other patterns you’ll find in furred cats.
Even though it’s associated with the Donskoy and Peterbald (hairless cats), the Sphynx cats we have today originated in Canada through selective breeding.
#16 Scottish Fold
The Scottish Fold cat originated in Scotland, and it’s famous for the genetic mutation that affects their cartilage, causing the ears to fold.
Newly-born kittens have straight ears, but the ears start folding when they are 3 to 4 weeks old.
The folding ears make them resemble an owl or a teddy bear. Scottish Fold cats are quite friendly to humans and other pets.
They can also be long-haired or short-haired. Besides the folding ears, Scottish Fold cats have unique and entertaining purrs and meows.
They come in varying solid colors, including black, as well as a mixture of different colors.
#17 Selkirk Rex
The Selkirk Rex is partly similar to the other Rexes due to the curly coat.
However, thanks to crossbreeding with British Shorthairs, Exotic Shorthairs, and Persian Cats, it has normal hair.
The hair is curly, more like the cat was hit by an electric shock, but it’s gorgeous and fun to brush.
But make sure you learn the correct combing technique and use the appropriate brush.
Selkirk cats are known to be clownish and playful, even in their senior years. This makes them an ideal family pet.
#18 Havana Brown Cat
The Havana Brown Cat is a rare breed considering not many people own them, and it’s one of the few cats that are all-brown.
It comes with various brown color variations, ranging from mahogany to brown-black colors, and irresistible green eyes.
The Havana Brown Cat resulted from breeding the Chocolate Point Siamese and the Black Domestic cats.
Havana Brown cats are sometimes talkative. I guess that’s because they retained some of the Siamese breed characteristics.
But overall, they’re adventurous, friendly, and easy to maintain.
Wrap-Up
In the past, people considered black cat breeds to be witches’ familiars, which didn’t end well for the cats.
While we know better these days, black cats still have one of the lowest adoption rates. Probably because people still consider them bad luck.
Fortunately, we, as cat lovers, know that black cats are one of the sweetest felines. So, you won’t regret it if you decide to get one of these black cat breeds.
I can also vouch that black cat breeds and white cat breeds are equally fun.
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