History of the breed
The creation of the Bombay breed was carried out by a breeder from Kentucky, Nicky Horner, for more than twenty years. She crossed sable-colored Burmese cats with American Shorthairs, which had glowing yellow eyes and a black, glossy coat. In 1976, the woman concluded that she had achieved her goal and introduced her miniature panthers to the world. The new breed was immediately approved by the CFA Association. Today these cats are recognized by almost all organizations.
But why did the breed get such a name? In fact, it has nothing to do with the city of Bombay (now Mumbai), or even with India. The name simply gives cats a certain flavor. Indeed, in the vicinity of Mumbai you can meet real black panthers.
Video
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The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase Bombay cat is that it probably comes from Bombay, in India. However, it is not. The breed was developed with the direct participation of breeder Nicky Horner, who had a soft spot for panthers and dreamed of breeding a cat breed similar to them. This woman lived and worked not in India, but in the USA (Kentucky).
External description of the breed
The Bombay cat is very graceful in appearance. But it is much heavier than it looks. The weight of an adult animal can reach 3-5 kilograms. That is, it is a medium-sized cat. The body is slightly elongated, the chest is wide, and the shoulders are powerful. The animal's muscles are strong and its bones are massive. The neck is quite thick and arched. The paws are small and rounded. All limbs are proportional, with strong muscles and broad bones. The tail is medium (not thin and not long), gradually tapering towards the tip.
The Bombay's head is also average, with pleasant rounded lines. The muzzle is quite wide and short, the transition to the forehead is very pronounced. The chin is strong and the cheeks are full. The nose is short and small, with a noticeable stop. The ears of this breed are set quite far apart. They are wide at the base, and rounded at the tips and slightly inclined forward. Bombays also have round and large eyes, which, due to their brightness and shine, resemble stars, gold or copper coins.
Diseases
Bombays may suffer from various diseases. For example, heart defects with genetic determination, defects in the structure of the skull and spinal canal. By the way, many bloodlines have a deformation of the skull. A common defect is difficulty breathing through the nose, which is a consequence of the stop being too pronounced for this breed.
Bombay cats are generally in good health, and if cared for properly, they can live up to 20 years. In addition to cardiomyopathy (enlarged walls of the ventricles), problems with breathing and gums, they may experience obesity due to too good an appetite, or a disorder of the digestive system.
To understand that a cat has a heart disease, it is enough to notice that it is drowsy, breathes quickly, has a rapid heartbeat, and sometimes faints. If such signs occur, you should immediately consult a doctor. If treatment is started on time, the animal’s condition can be significantly alleviated and its life extended.
The specific structure of the cat's nose is such that Bombays often have runny noses and lacrimation. On the advice of a veterinarian, the nose can be washed with a special solution, and the eyes can be instilled with drops.
Bombay cat personality
This breed has a bright not only appearance, but also nature. The Bombay cat is by no means a couch animal. This is an excellent companion, a true friend and a full-fledged family member.
These cats are very affectionate, they don’t even mind cuddling in their master’s bed. Bombay people are cheerful and balanced. They are calm about new places, people and, in general, any changes in life. This breed is also distinguished by its ability to control its emotions, so these cats are not capricious or hysterical if they don’t like something.
Standards and characteristics of the Bombay breed
The Bombay inherited the best qualities from its parent breeds. People are attracted to him by his appearance, his good-natured expression, and his overall appearance.
Wool, color
Bombays have black wool, shiny, as if varnished, tightly fitting to the body, shimmering in the light. There is almost no undercoat. The standard color is completely black along the entire length of the pile. Kittens may have spots on their fur, but this goes away with age. The nose, pads and toes should be black.
The Bombay cat has black, shiny fur.
Breeding the Bombay breed is quite a difficult task. There can be only one black kitten in a litter, the rest are with the dominant “Burmese” gene, which is why the fur takes on a clay-brown hue, also called “sable color”. To obtain pure color in all offspring, Bombays are crossed with the Burmese breed. For both, the “black” gene is dominant. But the breed is rarely crossed with the American cat, since this has a bad effect on the physique. The beauty of the sable-colored Bombays was also appreciated. They were allowed to participate in the TICA show, but there they are still listed as Burmese.
Exterior
The body is dense, strong, of medium size; in males the dimensions are slightly larger. Bombays have a well-developed muscular frame. The length of the paws is proportional to the tail and body.
Characteristics of the Bombay cat
The feet have a rounded shape. Representatives of the breed have five fingers on the forelimbs, and one less on the hind limbs. The Bombay cat inherited a strong, medium-length tail.
Table. Dimensions of Bombay cats
| Height at withers, cm | Weight, kg |
| 25–30 | Female - from 3 to 6 Male - up to 6.5 |
Head
The Bombay has a pleasantly rounded head. The muzzle is wide, with widely spaced eyes, well developed, with smooth outlines. If you look at a cat in profile, you can see the stop of the nose. But this does not make the expression on his face arrogant. A high-quality representative of the breed will not have a broken foot: there should be only a slight depression on the bridge of the nose. The nose may be slightly flattened, the tip somewhat rounded. The ears are medium in size, wide at the bottom and tilted forward, making the cat look alert. The tips at the top are slightly rounded.
The Bombay has a rounded head, a wide muzzle, and wide-set eyes.
The unclear formulation of head shape standards allows judges to judge exhibition specimens in their own way. Therefore, classic representatives of this type of cat with longer muzzles can occupy both first and last places.
Eyes
Bombays have round eyes. Based on the color of the iris, they are divided into two types:
- British (golden or copper shade);
- American (light brown or orange tint).
American Bombay cat
There is a tendency for cats between 3 and 5 years of age to lose color or become greener. Kittens' eyes are first blue, then gray.
Differences in standards concern not only the shape of the head, but also the color of the iris. The winners of exhibitions usually have a golden hue.
Crossbreeding
The standards allow crossbreeding with the following breeds:
- American Shorthair;
- Burmese sable.
American shorthair cat
Defects
Disadvantages of the breed that may result in disqualification are considered to be:
- a sharp bend of the nose, which causes breathing problems and increased lacrimation;
- curled tail;
- malocclusion;
- color of the skin of the feet and nose other than black;
- unusual number of fingers;
- spots and other color imperfections.
The Bombay cat should have black nose and paw pads.
Communication skills and relationships with people
Sociability is a typical Bombay cat personality trait. And it’s not surprising, because the breed was bred specifically for close proximity to humans. These cats not only quickly and easily get used to people, but also take part in family life with pleasure. Therefore, they do not tolerate loneliness well, although they can entertain themselves for some time.
The Bombayite himself chooses who will be his master, to whom he becomes very attached. It is his pet that will obey, respect and follow him everywhere. If necessary, the cat can even accept the nomadic life of the owner in order to be with him all the time.
But even in a large family, a mini-panther will not cause problems. She loves affection very much and happily climbs into a person’s arms or lap. Moreover, a Bomber can sit for so long. If a cat of this breed wants affection, he will openly declare it. The pet will not hide from children and guests. He can easily find a common language with them. But usually Bombay residents show cold, polite disdain towards strangers, without aggression or excessively intrusive curiosity. An animal can play with children with pleasure, but it will not tolerate limitless familiarity. If a child crosses the boundaries, the Bombay cat will simply run away and hide, but will never bite.
Colors
According to the standard, the coat color should be black: completely from the tail to the ears. Kittens are allowed to have small spots, but they should disappear with age. In addition to the coat, the paw pads, nose, and all the fingers should be jet black.
The photo shows a Bombay cat during a hunt.
Expert opinion
Dusheba Vera Ivanovna
In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.
A kitten “for the soul”, i.e. with certain defects that do not allow him to take part in exhibition events, and without a pedigree, cost from 10,000 rubles. Sleek show-class babies cost much more: from 50,000 and above.
When planning to buy a kitten, contact official nurseries or breeders whose reputation is not in question. The baby can be reserved in advance, but picked up no earlier than 12-16 weeks after he was born. The baby should be sociable and playful and eat well. Be sure to observe the behavior of his parents: a lot will become clear to you. And don't forget to pick up all the documents!
Activity
The Bombay cat is a very active, nimble and self-confident animal. It loves to get attention, poke its nose in and have fun in every possible way. Therefore, the pet must be provided with a large number of toys. Particular attention should be paid to devices for the development of intelligence and physical activity (labyrinths, cat trees, etc.).
Mini panthers love to spend time with their owner. Therefore, they get great joy from playing together and learning tricks. Of course, such a pet will not be able to bring slippers in its teeth, but smaller things are easy.
Bombay cats also have a well-developed hunting instinct, despite their aristocratic appearance and grace. These amazingly active and dexterous animals are excellent at catching mice when necessary. Some individuals even eat them with pleasure.
Kitten cost and choice
The average price is 10-60 thousand rubles. depending on the category. Show kittens are more expensive, but pet-class animals are cheaper. The difficulty of choosing lies in the fact that only after they finally mature, Bombays acquire their main features, and at first the kittens may be of uneven color, with blue or gray eyes. Much later, the animals become coal-black, and the shade of the eyes changes to amber-gold. This is why breeders often offer older kittens to make it easier to evaluate all their characteristics. This usually happens by 4 months.
When purchasing a kitten from a breeder, it is important to pay attention not only to the accompanying documents, but also to the character and behavior of the animal. The desire to play, lack of fear towards humans, good appetite - all this testifies in favor of the animal. Also, a self-respecting breeder will not sell a kitten before they are at least 12-16 weeks old, since it is at this point that the main external signs are formed. You need to book a kitten in advance - breeders with a good reputation have a waiting list of 6-12 months.
If you want to find a kitten cheaper, you should look at advertisements on the Internet, where offers are published even for 100 rubles. Often people who move to another country give away an animal for practically nothing. Owners do the same if they suddenly develop an allergy to wool. Therefore, with the right skills, finding a kitten at an affordable price is quite possible. However, Bombays are less common in shelters - they are purebred animals that cost a lot of money, and are rarely thrown into the street.
Attentive care and care will help you make friends with the Bombay cat, and he will certainly reciprocate the owner's feelings.
Photo gallery of Bombay cats:
Content Features
The Bombay cat is a very interesting pet, but it can have health problems. This breed is prone to diseases such as obesity, watery eyes, breathing problems and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Some of these ailments affect all cats with nose stops. For this reason, you will have to be a frequent visitor to the veterinarian so as not to miss the development of the disease. This is the main feature of care. The Bombay cat not only needs to be taken to the veterinary clinic regularly for examination. You will also have to periodically trim the nails, clean the ears and wash the eyes with a special lotion.
It should be noted that Bombays love warmth and are afraid of drafts, since they lack undercoat. For this reason, they love to bask in their master's bed. If this arrangement does not suit you, then you will have to organize another cozy place for your pet. Fresh air will not harm this breed, so you can walk it, but it is better on a harness. During the cold season, it is not recommended to take the animal outside, because it can simply freeze. It is worth remembering that the miniature panther is a homebody by nature, so it is better not to overuse walks.
Character and behavior
The Bombay cat is a very balanced and peaceful creature. From her ancestors she inherited such traits as restraint, calmness, non-conflict and contact. All family members are her best friends. She does not single out a leader for herself, but on the contrary, she herself strives to take the dominant place in the house, but she does this very gently and unobtrusively.
She is quite a talkative person: her voice is an opportunity to convey her desires to others and share her problems. Females are more “chatty”, and their purring is much more melodic and gentle than that of males.
They get along well both in an apartment and in a private house. They don’t need a lot of space, but their own play corner is desirable. Buy a small play complex with pipes and shelves of different heights - this will be quite enough. In the warm season, it is advisable to take the animal for a walk. If you teach your pet to use a leash from early childhood, you will not have problems in the future.
Name the cat who always wanted to live together
BasilioLeopold
Bombay cats quickly establish contact with other cats and dogs, sometimes even becoming truly friends. But birds and small rodents are prey for them, so don’t be surprised why your cat sits for hours near a cage with a parrot, not taking its eyes off it.
Cats of this breed are lenient towards children: they can tolerate pranks for quite a long time, but at a certain moment they can crack their paws.
Bombays always run to meet guests, but at first they treat them very, very warily: after sniffing their hands, they won’t allow themselves more. And if a person has bad intentions, they will immediately feel it and will behave even more carefully and may show aggression: start hissing at the guest and hiding from him in a secluded corner.
Young Bombay residents are very inquisitive and love to stick their satin nose into all the nooks and crannies of their home, but with age they become more sedate, choosing an observation post somewhere on the windowsill or the back of the sofa, and observing those around them from there.
Grooming
In general, the Bombay's fine and short coat does not cause problems. It is enough to comb the animal once a week with a rubber brush to remove lost hairs. Some pets get great pleasure from this, believing that they are simply being caressed and stroked. Some owners of a black Bombay cat additionally “polish” it with a suede cloth. It easily removes stuck dust particles from the fur, giving it an incredible shine.
The coat requires special attention only during the first molt. It starts at about a year old. The owner’s task is to help the young mini-panther get rid of its teenage brownish fur. Careful and frequent brushing will help you quickly achieve a flawlessly black silk robe.
As for swimming, the Bombay is calm about water procedures if he is accustomed to them from childhood. It is recommended to wash such cats once a month using special shampoos. Usually the signal for taking a bath is dull fur.
Features of feeding
Adherents of natural nutrition for Bombay cats create their own diet. But veterinarians insist that the menu be based on meat products. They can be supplemented with cereals, fruits, vegetables and other ingredients that are allowed for cats. You can feed Bombay cats with ready-made dry food. But it should only be of high quality, with a high content of meat products, essential vitamins and minerals. You need to feed your pet approximately at the rate recommended by the food manufacturer. Typically, an adult healthy animal is given food twice a day.
It is worth noting that Bombays are unusually voracious cats that love to eat their fill. Stealing food and stealing food from the table is a common occurrence for this breed. However, it is important to monitor the amount of food taken so that the animal does not overeat. Otherwise, this risks obesity, which negatively affects health. If the cat has gained a lot of weight, you will have to go to the veterinarian so that he can select a diet.
Mr. Cat recommends: proper nutrition and health
It is enough to feed the Bombay 2-3 times a day, doing it at the same time. For this breed it is better to use premium dry food. A combination diet will not work, although you can sometimes pamper your cat with steamed lean meat. At the same time, the Bombay loves to eat, and if its diet is not controlled, it gains weight and becomes slow and lethargic.
You need to monitor the portions and vitamins that the animal receives. Protein should make up at least 80% of the daily diet, and it is better to allocate up to 20% for fiber. Don't forget that cats need vitamins. Specific medications are prescribed by a veterinarian; it is worth consulting with him on this issue.
Due to the characteristic structure of the nasopharynx (the absence of a clear transition between the forehead and nose), Bombays are characterized by diseases associated with the respiratory system and increased lacrimation. Such an animal is not allowed to be exhibited.
Buying a kitten
If you decide to keep a Bombay cat at home, then you should take the choice of a pet seriously. Today, cases of fraud involving this breed have become more frequent. Often, ordinary black yard cats are sold under the guise of purebred babies. By the way, the cost of a Bombay varies from 20 to 120 thousand rubles. It all depends on the character and exterior qualities.
If a kitten is purchased for exhibitions and high-quality breeding, then it must be taken only from a trusted nursery that has documented permission to produce offspring of this breed. Only official breeders can guarantee the purity of a cat, for which a lot of money is paid. But there are very few nurseries in Russia that cater specifically to Bombay residents. Therefore, most likely, you will have to sign up in advance to purchase a kitten.
Diseases
Artificially bred Bombay cats are in good health, but are susceptible to hereditary diseases. One of them is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Hereditary include possible deformities in the skull area.
Watery eyes and gum inflammation are also common in Bombay cats.
A pronounced “stop”, which is associated with a curvature of the nasal passage, leads to a runny nose and stuffy nose. Therefore, the cat must be protected from drafts.
Owners' opinion about the breed
In general, Bombay cat owners leave very positive reviews of this breed. Owners of miniature panthers note that they are very clean, smart, affectionate and strongly attached to all family members. The happy owners do not note any shortcomings. The only negative is the unusually high price of a purebred kitten.
However, do not forget that not everything may be so rosy. Bombay is definitely not suitable for those people who prefer peace and quiet. The animal loves to meow loudly and have fun in every possible way, especially with the participation of the owner. You will also have to carefully monitor your diet and regularly visit the veterinarian, not to mention the high price.
If the shortcomings of the breed do not frighten you and you want to have a miniature black panther at home, then you can safely get a Bombay cat. She will perfectly complement the exotic interior of the apartment, become a devoted friend and bring joy to the whole family.
Advantages and disadvantages
Depending on the breed, each cat is individual. In addition, price, care features and other factors influence the decision about whether to buy an animal. The future owner needs to carefully consider his choice, taking into account the pros and cons of the breed.
One of the advantages is the beautiful appearance of the Bombay - a miniature panther will live in the house. At the same time, you will not need to constantly collect wool around the apartment, since the animal practically does not shed. An easy-going character and the ability to learn will help discipline the cat, and it will not jump on the table, cause mischief, or ignore the tray.
Representatives of the breed are undemanding when it comes to care and nutrition, so even a busy person can own a Bombay.
The only negative aspect that can be highlighted is fraud, which is often encountered when selling Bombays. Sometimes people offer offspring from yard black cats, presenting the kittens as representatives of the Bombay breed. Therefore, it is better to purchase a purebred kitten from a nursery. If, nevertheless, you have your eye on an animal based on an ad, it is better to study the reviews about the seller.
