Mary Allen
Bred in the USA as a miniature black panther, the lively Bombay impresses with its deep black fur, bright eyes, and unique character. Learn all about the Bombay cat breed here.
Bombay cats are among the most popular pedigree cats among cat lovers. Here you will find the most important information about Bombay.
Origin Of The Bombay
American cat breeder from Kentucky, Nikki Horner, was such an ardent fan of the black panther Bagheera from The Jungle Book that she wanted to attempt a breed of cat that would combine the proud panther appearance with the affectionate domestic cat disposition united. With the Bombay breed, she succeeded.
In order to realize her dream of a mini panther with copper-colored eyes and a patent-leather-like coat, she first crossed a brown Burmese cat with a black American Shorthair in 1958. The first matings didn’t produce the cat she was hoping for, but Nikki Horner didn’t give up until she was able to produce a mini black panther in a cat’s body from the same mating. In 1976, this newly created breed was recognized in the United States under the name Bombay. It is named after the city of Bombay (now Mumbai) on the west coast of India.
The Appearance Of The Bombay
The Bombay is a medium-sized cat, muscular and heavy, yet delicate in appearance.
Their large, round, gold or copper-colored eyes contrast starkly with the pitch-black fur. When she strides through the room with her typical swaying gait, you could really think a mini panther is passing by.
Coat And Colors Of The Bombay
Bombay’s glossy black coat lies close to the body. Even in winter, Bombay hardly has any undercoats, which makes grooming very easy. As a rule, it is enough to gently brush out dead hair with your hand to help the cat groom it. Black is the only permitted coat color for Bombay.
The pads of their paws and the bridge of their nose must also be black or at least very dark brown. Kittens initially show shades in their fur and, like all cats, are born with blue eyes. In the first few months, however, they take on the typical copper or gold-tone that is prescribed for the breed via a light gray tone.
The Temperament Of The Bombay
As similar as the Bombay may be to its distant wild relative on the outside, its nature clearly bears the features of a loving and gentle domestic cat. The inquisitive Bombay is an easy-going family cat that likes to be close to its humans and follows them everywhere to be close to them. Even children or cat-friendly dogs in the household are not a problem for Bombay, as long as they always have the opportunity to retreat to a quiet place.
Bombays are extremely curious and intelligent. Once the cat has figured out how to open a door, no room is safe from it. Most Bombays also find clicker training exciting and, with a little patience, learn little tricks. Since Bombay is a very active cat, it needs enough opportunities to let off steam.
A secure balcony or secure outdoor area is desirable for the alert cat. If she gets used to a harness and a leash from an early age, the curious Bombay is also very happy to go exploring together on a leash. On the other hand, like most cats, they don’t like it at all, are loneliness and boredom. The Bombay is happiest with a conspecific.
Husbandry And Care Of The Bombay
If you bring a Bombay into your home, you will always have a small conversation partner. The black beauty is a real chatterbox. She purrs a lot and seems to really want to talk to her people. Their sounds are less like the typical cat meowing. The Bombay talks cooing.
Despite their elegant appearance and affectionate nature, Bombay is still an extremely rare breed that is rarely found outside of America. In Europe, there are only a few breeders who have taken on the breeding of the Bombay, since there seems to be no demand for the black panther in mini format.