Mary Allen
The Bombay cat is a purely black variant of the cross between a Burmese cat and an American Shorthair. The aim of breeding was and is, so to speak, the black panther in the home format.
Origin and Breed History
The corresponding breeding program began in the USA as early as the late 1950s. First of all, Burma cats that were as dark or black as possible were used, which in turn had only been bred from the Siamese relatively recently. Due to the point mutation, which creates the typical color pattern of a Siamese, a purely black cat could not succeed only on the basis of the Burma cat.
So one took black American Shorthair cats to get closer to the breeding goal. At least that is what the various reports suggest. Reliable documentation of the breed is not known. In connection with the one-sided fixation on the pure black coat color, there was an extremely small breeding base. This is possibly also the reason for the strikingly short stature of the Bombay cat.
Incidentally, the reference to Bombay simply sprang from the imagination of their breeders. The cats and even their early ancestors never had anything to do with India. In the USA, this cat was recognized as a breed by individual associations, for example by The International Cat Association (TICA) in 1979. It has not yet been recognized as a cat breed by the European-based Fédération Internationale Féline (FiFe). Bombay is rarely seen in Germany.
Description
The Bombay cat is a very small, shorthair cat. Their special characteristic is purely black, as possible pitch-black coat color. The eye color should be gold to copper. The fur is very short and fine, close-fitting, silky, and shiny. It has a very thin undercoat. The Bombay cat is one of the lightest pedigree cats. Otherwise, their TICA standard from 2004 is identical to that for the Burmese cat.
Teperament and Essence
The Bombay cat has a people-oriented, friendly, and lively nature. She is dear and seeks to be close to her people. The little black panther can develop a close bond here. The Bombay cat likes to play extensively. For this purpose, the trade offers a lot of suitable cat toys such as a game rod or a spring stick. This enables them to meet their need for exercise and play. Bombay cats like to move around in nature, but their urge to do so is not particularly strong compared to other cats. They like to “talk” to their people.
Attitude
The Bombay cat is a house cat for the apartment. It is undemanding and frugal with regard to its keeping conditions but needs an intimate relationship with its two-legged friends. The Bombay loves to experience things together with people or the animal partners in her family. She doesn’t necessarily have to be outdoors in order to feel completely comfortable, but she doesn’t want to be left alone for a long time. She is happy to have a suitable second cat by her side. Bombay cats are sociable and get along very well with other animal companions. However, both cats and dogs, for example, should have been used to each other with a little patience.
Upbringing
The Bombay cat is easy to train. If it comes from a reputable breeder who has looked after and socialized parent animals and kittens well, then it will fit into the rules and habits of its family by itself. With a little guidance, the breed will become house-trained quickly and easily.
Care and Health
Bombay’s silky fur should be brushed regularly. Some holders leather it to give it a particularly beautiful shine.
Diseases Typical of the Breed
Some breeds of Bombay cats suffer from inbreeding, which can lead to immune deficiencies, sickness, and shortened life expectancy of this breed of cats. A number of breeding-widespread hereditary diseases can occur in Bombay cats.
Nutrition / Feed
The Bombay is usually a problem-free border for a cat. In some animals of this breed, there may be an increased risk of allergies and intolerance, which would make dietary nutrition necessary.
Life Expectancy
A Bombay can live around 12 years.
Buy Bombay Cat
If you want to get a Bombay cat, you should make sure with the breeder that the parents and kittens grow up in good circumstances, especially with a close social connection to the human family. The issue of inbreeding is also crucial. You should look at the family tree: no ancestor should appear twice here. Good breeders also pay attention to it themselves and are at your side to advise you. Bombay cats kittens should cost around 500 euros.