Mary Allen
The Bombay cat is not native to India, despite its name. He has a completely different reason. And that has to do with the fur.
Don’t let the naming confuse you: Bombay cats have no relation to Mumbai (=former Bombay) in India. They are a cross between an American Shorthair and a Burmese cat (also called a Burmese).
Because they were counted among the Asian cats, the cats needed a suitable name after the first successful breeding attempts. The first breeder gave these animals the name of the Indian metropolis with good reason: India is one of the home countries of the black panther, and this is exactly what the Bombay cat is supposed to commemorate.
Where does the Bombay cat come from?
The aim of the first breeding attempts was to breed Burmese with a smooth, black coat instead of the typical brown. In addition, instead of brown, the eyes of this “new” cat should shine in gold or copper. The aim was to produce a miniature panther, so to speak, from breeding.
Panthers are nothing more than leopards with such heavy pigmentation that the original spots and rosettes can no longer be seen. The same was attempted with the breeding of the Bombay cat because the color black was not allowed in the Burmese cat.
Breeding turned out to be difficult because the Burmese were bred from the Siamese cat and the point variants (light, with dark shadows on the face, tail, and paws) were able to assert themselves again and again. Ultimately, Burmese cats that were as dark as possible were taken and mated with black American Shorthair cats that had the desired eye color.
Today’s Bombay is proof that the breed was successful, but it was a long time before it was recognized by the International Cat Association. The European counterpart, the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe), has not yet included these cats in the list of accepted cat breeds.
Bombay is still very rare even in the US and UK. And for one reason in particular: Because only completely black individuals are considered Bombay cats, there is only a small breeding base.
What does the Bombay cat look like?
The Bombay is a small to medium-sized, shorthaired cat breed that breeders and enthusiasts often liken to a panther. This gives you a good idea of what to expect from a Bombay cat. In detail, this cat breed looks like this:
The fur
The Bombay wears short hair. Ideally, the close-fitting coat of this breed shines in a deep black. It has the special shine of leather and feels like satin to the touch. The single hair is short and fine and forms only a little undercoat. Kittens, however, are brown and have a somewhat shaggy coat. This is completely normal, so don’t worry if your new kitten isn’t jet black yet and doesn’t have the desired silky-matt shine. With good care and feeding on species-appropriate cat food, it will soon grow into a miniature panther.
Apart from black, no colors are allowed in these cats. Any kind of fur markings is also undesirable. Sometimes a recessive Burmese gene will take over and the Bombay will be dark brown instead of black. Then, however, she is not allowed to wear her proud name.
The body
The body of this cat does not appear particularly delicate, nor does it appear particularly robust. Leg height and tail length are also unremarkable. Not only the fur but also the paw pads of the Bombay must be very dark to black.
The head
The special feature of this breed is the rounded head. The shape is visible from the front, from the back, and also in the profile. The snout is also rounded and adapts perfectly to the shape of the head. The end of the nose is slightly downwards and fits in with the beautiful curves of the head. The American breed is therefore often compared to Persians. In the European breed, the curves of the head are not as pronounced.
The cat’s ears are well set off from the head. They are wide at the base and show slightly rounded ends.
The eyes
The Bombay’s eyes are set wide apart and are large and round. The color varies between gold and copper. The deeper and shinier the color, the happier growers are. The rims of the eyes are jet black like the rest of the cat.
How big is a Bombay cat?
The cat grows between 30 and 50 cm long (excluding the tail). It is very small for a pedigree cat. In fact, Bombay is one of the smallest cat breeds in the world.
How heavy is a Bombay cat?
The female weighs an average of 4.5 kilograms, the tomcat manages 5.5 kilograms on the scales. What is striking about this cat breed is that it is thought to be lighter than it actually is due to its delicate physique.
As with all cats, pay attention to a species-appropriate and moderate diet with the Bombay. With the right cat food, you can avoid obesity in cats.
The temperament of the Bombay cat
If you love aloof, aloof cats, this breed is not for you. The Bombay is playful, very affectionate, and cheerful and shows it. She uses every opportunity to be with people, a fellow species, or the dog. She loves to play and cuddle.
Due to the mixture of American Shorthair and Burmese, which on the one hand are a bit reserved and shy, on the other hand very extroverted, demanding, and loud, Bombay has a very engaging character. Thanks to her Burmese heritage, she has no shyness or fear of contact, but thanks to her American heritage, she doesn’t demand your attention with her loud voice all day long.
Outwardly, this cat breed looks more like the Burmese than the American, but in terms of character, you can never tell which side comes to the fore more.
The breed is very smart and people-oriented. You can play tag and hide-and-seek with her, teach her various tricks and also give verbal instructions. Some cats then partially (depending on their mood) perform them like a dog.
Fans rave about the mesmerizing golden eyes. It is not for nothing that Bombay is one of the cats with the most beautiful eyes of all. With these, the cat sometimes stares at its owner until it has gotten its way. From this, you can conclude that the cat needs a lot of attention and demands it. There is no quiet television or computer work when the cat needs or wants something.
What’s interesting about this cat is that she doesn’t necessarily choose an alpha in the family. She doesn’t seem to make much of a difference between family members but gives her all – even the dog – her love. She accompanies her people around the house and watches their every move because belonging is one of their basic needs.
Experienced owners also describe Bombay as being particularly fond of children: after a short period of getting used to it, the small child is also an accepted member of the family. As already mentioned, the Bombay cat, like many Asian cats, gets along very well with a dog, sometimes even better than with their conspecifics.
The correct posture of the Bombay cat
If they get enough attention and don’t have to be alone a lot, Bombay is also suitable for keeping in the apartment. But then there should be plenty of play and fun: scratching posts, toys and activities are a must.
Of course, she also loves controlled exercise on the balcony or terrace. If you have a garden, it is sure to be the highlight of your Bombay life. Depending on which character is dominant in her heritage, you should be near her when she’s running loose so she doesn’t run away or even let strangers lure her in.
A second cat or dog is certainly good for your social life, but you have to be careful here: some of your own kind will not be accepted by you.
This breed takes time and patience to learn family rules. It would be a pity to give up too soon on this intelligent animal because it has great potential for the perfect family cat. Of course, the right attitude also includes a well-thought-out diet with species-appropriate, healthy cat food with high meat content.
What care does the Bombay cat need?
As mentioned, the cat has short hair. The coat therefore only needs to be combed or brushed a little. As with many cat breeds, Bombay does its own cleaning. If the leather look of the black fur is important, the cat can rub it with soft leather. Excess hair also gets caught.
Incorrect cat food can not only affect their health but also lead to a dull coat and abnormal shedding. It is best to get advice from experts on species-appropriate nutrition. A healthy, perhaps somewhat more expensive, cat food is also part of the loving care of an animal.
Of course, care also includes routine check-ups at the vet, regular deworming if necessary, and the necessary vaccinations. Hopefully, you can look forward to good health for your cat.
What are the typical diseases of the Bombay cat?
This cat is not prone to typical diseases of the musculoskeletal system or organs. With the right cat food, she will stay in good health for a long time.
As with all breeds, hereditary diseases can creep in and reappear in purebred breeding. Reliable breeding is therefore particularly important for the health of the animal.
Genetic disposition sometimes leads to an immune deficiency or to certain allergies, which can often be brought under control with appropriate nutrition and good care.
How old does a Bombay cat get?
As with other cat breeds, the average life expectancy is 12 to 14 years. With the right care, regular visits to the vet, and cat food that is appropriate for the species, Bombay can also reach a higher age.
How much does a Bombay cat cost?
Getting hold of a Bombay cat is not that easy. The breed is little known and therefore very rare. If you find a breeder, you will have to pay around €500 for a kitten.
Be sure to speak to the breeder about possible genetic issues. You can then have confidence if he knows about risks and how to minimize them when breeding. The pedigree of the cat reveals a lot about parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents and thus about possible inbreeding.
However, we strongly recommend that you do not limit yourself to purebred kittens. Think about adopting a kitten from a shelter or from a litter of wild cats and giving them your love and care. If you want a black cat, you’re sure to find one at an animal shelter nearby.
What Makes the Bombay Cat So Special?
The vocalization of this cat breed does not sound at all like the usual “meow” that we know from our house tigers. The Bombay cat often “talks” to you through a sort of warble.
Another distinctive feature of this cat breed is its rarity. Hardly any other breed is so uncommon despite its striking beauty.
Black cats that cross our path from the left have long since ceased to be classified as bad omens. In the case of the “Little Panther,” the exact opposite is the case.