Origins

The Bombay cat was originally created in 1958 when a breeder from Kentucky (USA) deliberately bred an American shorthair with a Burmese for the purpose of creating a domesticated cat that resembled a wild panther. The offspring of this breeding did indeed resemble the black leopard of India. The name came from the Indian city of Bombay (now Mumbai).

Characteristics

The Bombay is a muscular yet agile cat with a black coat. The heads of Bombay cats are rounded and wide with a short tapered muzzle. The eyes are rounded and set wide and have golden or copper coloured eyes, and their ears are broad, slightly rounded and medium sized and, like the eyes, set wide. The Bombay has a coat that is short, satiny and tight to the body. Bombay cats do not require grooming, although petting the cat will keep their coat shiny and will also remove dead hair. A rubber brush can help when the cat sheds larger amounts of fur (uncommon). If the cat is fed a balanced diet, the coat will shine and the cat's naturally energetic personality will become evident

Personality

Bombay cats crave affection; while this can be said of most felines, the Bombay will, if pleased by the amount of affection being given, purr loud enough to be heard over 15 feet away indoors! Bombay cats are quiet and watchful, prefer the indoors and can be affected by loud intrusive noises. An uncommon side effect of loud noises in Bombays can result in them losing fur from their stomachs and near their tails. Should this occur, simply keep the cat indoors or away from loud noises for a short period and make sure they have somewhere they can hide. Preferred locations noted from experience are:

1. behind chairs
2. behind cupboards
3. anywhere small that is difficult to gain entry to, including
   • behind TVs
   • inside cabinets
   • underneath small tables

Bombay cats are by nature lap cats; they are almost heat-seeking in their lifestyle and are known to jump up their owner's backs and rest around their neck if they feel they are being ignored. While Bombay cats will tolerate other breeds of cat, they are dominating over them and will not take well to being treated as a subordinate by other cats. Bombay cats seem to get on exceptionally well with dogs due the the heirachical nature of dogs, which the Bombay will exploit to the full. Both males and females are excellent pets.

These cats are smart, agile and inquisitive. They will often seek out human interaction. Visitors to the home are best advised not to hide things in pockets or packages that the cat might find interesting, as Bombays will investigate packages and will commonly chew through carrier bags and containers to get at meat. This can lead to problems as they will seek out chicken bones, which have been known to cause damage to their throats after getting into a poorly secured bin containing chicken bones. These cats are head-bumpers and nose-rubbers, Some can be very "talkative" and have distinct "voices". These cats love nothing more than to be held and fussed over.

Quiet, sensitive, reserved and intelligent, the Bombay is suited to life in a quiet home, where it is affectionate to the whole family.