Bombay Cat: Origins, Character, Adoption

Nicknamed the "lounge panther" for its glossy black coat and sinuous gait. Sweet, affectionate, and playful.

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Bombay cat

It has an unmistakable glossy black coat reminiscent of a panther. Its name, Bombay, pays homage to the Indian city of the same name and evokes its resemblance to the black leopard found there. Let's find out everything there is to know about this wonderful cat.

He loves life indoors and adores resting near radiators because he's decidedly sensitive to the cold. Despite his appearance resembling a powerful panther, he's a friendly, affectionate, sweet, and playful cat. In short, a perfect companion cat!

Origins

The breed has recent origins, dating back to the 50s when Nikki Horner, an American breeder, mated a female American Burmese with a male American Shorthair. The crossbreeding continued for a long time until she finally achieved the cat she had always wanted: the Bombay.

The breed didn't immediately gain recognition, and even feline associations took a while to recognize it. It was officially recognized in 1976 by the Cat Fancier's Association, and three years later by the International Cat Association.

Appearance

Resembling both the Burmese and the American Shorthair, it has an unmistakable, short, glossy black coat that lies close to the body. Here are its main physical characteristics:

  • short, black coat, without undercoat;
  • round, well-spaced eyes of gold and copper color;
  • short nose;
  • muscular build and medium size;
  • ears with rounded tips;
  • rounded head;
  • weight between 2 and 5 kg approximately
  • sinuous gait like that of a panther.

 

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Character

They love staying indoors, partly because they can't stand the cold. They're affectionate and friendly, hate being alone, but at the same time, they don't enjoy the presence of other felines. They have a sweet temperament, are curious, intelligent, and love playing with children, as long as they avoid excessive shouting, which bothers them. The same can be said of older cats, with whom they get along particularly well. While they tend to be even-tempered as adults, they're much more lively as kittens. The Bombay cat is also very curious, loves exploring its surroundings, discovering new games, and making new friends. Overall, they're a very active, sociable, and even easy-to-train breed.

Cure

This is a cat that enjoys good health but can suffer from some pathologies including:

  • hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • breathing difficulties
  • overweight because he tends to eat a lot
  • watery eyes.

To avoid problems it is important to subject him to regular veterinary visits and administer quantities of food not excessive, favoring meat and fish.

As for the fur, just brush it every now and then.

Adoption

If you prefer adoption to purchasing, we recommend you take a look at the website Catland where you can find several ads for cats up for adoption, including some Bombay breed specimens.

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