Black is a coat color, not a breed. So a list of black cat breeds only works if it separates breeds built around a black coat from breeds where black is one option among many. Of the eleven breeds below, the Bombay is the one most clearly tied to a solid black coat in the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) standard. The Persian and Maine Coon both have documented solid black color classes, and the remaining eight can carry black within a wider palette of colors and patterns.
How color and breed fit together
A breed name describes a set of physical traits defined by a registry’s standard. Coat color and pattern are separate descriptors, and the standard decides which colors are acceptable for that breed. Registries also use different words for the same color. CFA material notes that some registries call black in an Oriental “ebony,” so a color term on one registry’s paperwork may not match another’s.
How to read the comparison
Three questions help separate these breeds at a glance:
- Coat length: short, long, or both varieties exist.
- Texture and silhouette: for example plush, dense and close-lying, soft and wavy, or heavy.
- How central black is: whether black is the defining color of the standard, or one color among many.
The descriptions below come from CFA’s breed directory and breed profiles, viewed in October 2026, and from CFA breed standards compiled for 2024–25. Revision dates differ from breed to breed, so check the current standard before relying on a specific color class. “Not stated” means CFA’s published material for that breed does not give the detail.
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At a glance
| Breed | Coat length and texture (CFA) | Black in CFA material |
|---|---|---|
| Bombay | Short, dense, close-lying | Black is the breed-standard color; a mature cat should be black to the roots |
| American Shorthair | Short; stocky build | One of a wide variety of colors and patterns; not the defining color |
| British Shorthair | Plush coat; length not stated | One of several colors; exact black class not stated |
| Cornish Rex | Short; soft, wavy, curly | Many colors offered; black class not stated |
| Maine Coon | Long; large and rugged | Solid black color class listed |
| Norwegian Forest Cat | Heavy coat; length not stated | Black class not stated |
| Oriental | Longhair and shorthair varieties | Solid-color standards; black may be called “ebony” |
| Persian | Long and full | Dense coal-black solid division in the standard |
| Scottish Fold | Coat not described; folded or straight ears | Black class not stated |
| Sphynx | Hairless | Not stated; skin pigment language not described |
| Devon Rex | Not stated in CFA profile | Not stated |
The eleven breeds
Bombay
The Bombay is the clearest match for a sleek, solid black cat. CFA describes its coat as dense, short and close-lying, with gold-to-copper eyes. The breed was developed from American Shorthair and Burmese ancestry. Its look is often described as a miniature panther, a comparison used by enthusiasts rather than a CFA term.
American Shorthair
CFA describes the American Shorthair as a stocky working breed available in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Black is possible within that range, but it is not the breed’s identity, so a black American Shorthair is one expression of the breed rather than its signature look.
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British Shorthair
The British Shorthair is a stocky, sturdy cat with a plush coat, and it appears in several colors. The plush silhouette pairs naturally with a black coat, but the specific black class belongs to the breed standard, not to the general breed description.
Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex stands out for texture. CFA describes a short coat that is soft, wavy and curly, a contrast with the plush and long-coated breeds on this list. The breed is offered in many colors, but CFA material reviewed for this article does not state which black classes apply.
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Maine Coon
CFA classifies the Maine Coon as a longhair breed that is large and rugged, with many colors available. Its profile lists a solid black color class, which makes it one of the more direct black-coat options among the longhairs in this list.
Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat is recognized in CFA’s breed directory, and CFA describes its heavy coat. The breed’s black color class is not stated in the material cited for this article, so treat it as a question for the current standard rather than a settled fact.
Oriental
The Oriental comes in longhair and shorthair varieties, with many possible colors and patterns. Its color material recognizes solid-color standards, and black is sometimes called “ebony.” Anyone reading registration papers should check which term the registry uses.
Persian
The Persian has a stocky body and a long, full coat. Its CFA standard includes a dense coal-black solid division, which makes it one of the clearest examples of a long-coated black cat.
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A long coat needs a grooming routine. CFA material does not set a brushing schedule for the Persian, and it does not establish breed-specific grooming needs for the other breeds here. A cat grooming brush is one common tool for the job, but ask a veterinarian or breeder what routine suits your individual cat.
Scottish Fold
The Scottish Fold is recognized in CFA material, and the breed comes in folded-ear and straight-ear varieties. Folded ears are not required for every Scottish cat, and the black class is not stated in the material cited here.
Sphynx
The Sphynx is a recognized breed in CFA’s directory. Because it is hairless, its color language differs from that of furred breeds. Skin pigment is not described in the material cited for this article, so this entry does not describe its coloring beyond the directory listing.
Devon Rex
The Devon Rex is recognized by CFA. Its official profile is the place to check coat and color language, and the material cited for this article does not provide those details.
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What the breed name does and does not tell you
A breed standard describes what a show cat should look like. It does not predict the coat of a particular cat, even within a breed where black is the standard color. To learn a specific cat’s color, ask the breeder or shelter for registration paperwork, or ask a veterinarian to record the coat and color at a visit. For care, health and temperament decisions, rely on a veterinarian and on breed-specific primary sources rather than on a general breed profile.
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