An active, curious cat, the Bombay loves watching the world around and can be so affectionate that they demands time with their parent.
The Bombay’s characteristic walk has the appearance of a sway, resembling the Indian black leopard.
Weight range:
Male: large: >5 kg.
Female: medium: 3-5 kg.
Eye colour:
Copper, Gold
Expectations:
Life Expectancy: 9-13 yrs.
Social/Attention Needs: Moderate
Tendency to Shed: Low
Coat:
Length: Short
Characteristics: Smooth
Colours: Black
Less Allergenic: No
Overall Grooming Needs: Low
Club recognition:
Cat Association Recognition:
CFA, ACFA , TICA
Prevalence: Rare
The Bombay is a medium-sized cat and feel considerably heavier than they appear.
This breed is stocky and somewhat compact, but is very muscular with heavy boning. The Bombay is round all over. The head is round, the tips of the ears are round, the eyes, chin and even the feet are round.
The coat of the Bombay is short and glossy. When the coat is in proper condition, its deep black lustre looks like patent leather.
The Bombay has a characteristic walk, the body appears almost to sway again, reminiscent of the Indian black leopard.
Personality:
Younger Bombays are active, curious cats and adapt very easily to change. At any age, they love to look at the world around them and their favourite place may often turn out to be a window where they can observe the world outside. These cats are very affectionate and will, at times, demand time with their parent.
The Bombay is well known for jumping on a person's lap and spreading their beautiful body across the newspaper the person is reading. However, as they get older, some Bombays can become a bit too placid, preferring to watch rather than get involved in activities.
Living With:
The Bombay is a very solid cat both in looks and feel, and has great strength. They are good climbers and jumpers and should have cat trees and perches. The Bombay is a sturdy, stocky cat and you might have to watch their nutrition carefully to prevent obesity, particularly if they do not get enough exercise.
While adult Bombays are placid, they also tend to be very kittenish and love their daily play time. They love being adored by their parent and having their stomach rubbed and being petted. A daily petting session is a must for any Bombay.
History:
In the late 1950s, American breeders desired a cat that had the structure and appearance of the Burmese but wanted the cat to be a deep, glossy, patent leather black. Hopefully, this breed would remind one of the Indian black leopard. To this end, a breeding programme began using the Burmese and a black American shorthair with bright, copper eyes. The resulting cat was named the Bombay to remind people of the Black leopard, which they doe resemble.
The Bombay was recognised for the show bench in the late 1970s. While still not common, Bombays are crowd pleasers at every show where they are exhibited.
