Bombay cats are reminiscent of little panthers: the completely black cats move lightly through everyday life, but are much more trusting than their role models in the wild – because if Bombay cats love something, then it’s stroking and attention.
Size: medium
Weight: male/female 5.6 kilograms/5.5 kilograms
Life expectancy: Up to 20 years
Coat color: black
Special features in appearance: Reminiscent of a small panther, bright gold to copper-colored eyes
Breed type: shorthair breed
Country of origin: United States
Recognized cat breed by WCF, TICA, CFA
The nature of the Bombay cat
The Bombay cat is an exceptionally friendly and lovable cat that enjoys spending time with its people and can also be very affectionate. She needs a lot of attention and is also suitable for apartment keeping due to her human-related character. Here, however, it is essential to ensure that there are enough employment opportunities.
In addition to her friendly nature, she is also extremely patient and is usually ideal for a household with children. Because children and Bombay cats usually complement each other very well. The Bombay cat also gets along well with dogs compared to other cats.
The little cat is also extremely intelligent and curious. She enjoys learning new things – including how to open the door. So their intelligence is not always to the delight of the owner. Nevertheless: If you enjoy teaching your cat new things, you will be very satisfied with the Bombay cat, who is enthusiastic about learning.
The coat of the Bombay cat hardly needs any care: the little panther usually knows how to care for itself. However, since Bombay cats really enjoy attention, you can still engage in grooming to improve your relationship. Since the cat tends to be overweight, you should pay attention to its diet.
History and origin
The foundation of the breed was laid in the 1950’s when a lady named Nikki Horner from Kentucky wanted a small panther as a pet and promptly bred “her own breed”. The cat should look like a small version of its wild relative, but its character should be gentle, fond of children and easy to care for. To breed her dream cat, Horner crossed Burmese cats and American Shorthairs. With a lot of work and breeding skill, the Bombay cat was created within ten years, which was recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) in 1970. In 1976, The International Cat Association (TICA) also registered the black cat breed.
Since there are still not many specimens of the breed, care must be taken during breeding to avoid incest, which is why one of the two original breeds is crossed alternately every three generations. Incidentally, the black cats got their name from the Indian port city of Mumbai, which used to be called Bombay.
Interesting and worth knowing
In the film world, there are numerous black cats with bright eyes that look very much like a Bombay cat. However, whether the various cats are actually Bombay cats is unknown.
