Family-Friendly Feline
High Kitty I.Q.
Best Couch Cuddler
Looking for a loving lap cat with wild cat looks? I’m the breed for you! We Bombays were bred to look like black jungle cats, and our all-black everything (fur, nose, paw pads) and our copper eyes have earned us the nickname “patent-l
eather kid with the new-penny eyes.” We’re also called parlor panthers, but don’t worry – I’m a cat that’s all domestic! I’m gentle and easygoing, which makes me great with kids and other furbabies. I’m also super friendly and will greet you at the door and follow you around everywhere you go. I don’t need a ton of activity (I’m happy snuggling on the couch) but I’m smart and inquisitive so I love playtime with my
humans – I get to exercise my mind and spend time with you! I don’t shed a lot and my black coat will stay furbulously glossy with weekly
brushings. I do need attention though – lots of it – and I won’t be happy in a home where my humans are gone for too long. I may look wild but I’m a big
sweetheart and I would love to find my furever home with you!
关于我
Personality
Easygoing
Friendly
Playful
Coat Details
Type
Short and Flat
Texture
Sleek and Glossy
Colors
Black
Pattern
My Many Looks
My Breed Characteristics
Furbulous Fact
There’s a reason we Bombays are big-time lap cats. Yes, of course it’s partially because we love our humans, but we also love the heat that we get from your lap! We are known to always seek out the warmest possible spot, whether that’s on top of our humans, in a particularly toasty sunbeam, or next to a heater or fireplace. We will also burrow under blankets on your bed, so don’t be surprised if you find me all tucked in!
As I Grow Up
As you can see, we Bombays age pretty gracefully. Here are a few key milestones in my growth & development to be aware of as I grow up from a kitten to an adult and senior!
History of My Breed
We Bombays are a very young breed, but we’ve certainly made a splash! Despite what our name may lead you to believe, we don’t come from India – but from Lexington, Kentucky instead. In the late 1950s, a human cat fancier named Nikki Horner decided she wanted to create a domestic cat that looked like a mini version of an Indian black leopard (and that’s why she gave us the name Bombay). She began a very selective breeding program that started when she crossed a black American Shorthair with bright copper eyes with a Grand Champion sable Burmese cat. We weren’t just bred for our exotic parlor panther looks – we were also bred to have very specific personality traits. We get our easygoing and gentle nature from the American Shorthairs, and our intelligent, affectionate side from the Burmese. It took a while to get us absolutely prrrfect, but eventually the breed standard all-black Bombay with the copper eyes was accepted by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 1970. The International Cat Association (TICA) followed in 1979, and today we are recognized by all cat registries. Today, my breed has two types: the American Bombay and the British Bombay. American Bombays are the original parlor panthers – the American Shorthair/Burmese cross – developed by Nikki Horner. American Bombays have yellow to orange eyes (with copper being the ideal color). British Bombays are a cross between Burmese and British Shorthair. The two types of Bombays aren’t that different in appearance or temperament, but some British Bombays have green eyes. The British Bombay also has a slightly puffier coat where American Bombays have a very flat coat. Whether American or British, we Bombays are relatively rare cats, but we always delight our fans at cat shows and – for the humans lucky enough to get their hands on one of us – we make the prrrfect family pet!
Care Tips
from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1
Grooming your Bombay is a breeze.
Bombays don’t need much in the way of grooming. All your Bombay requires is a weekly brushing with a rubber curry brush, daily tooth brushing with a vet-approved cat toothpaste, and nail trimming twice a week.
2
Keep an eye on your Bombay’s heart.
Bombay cats are known to develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a thickening of the heart muscles. I recommend Bombays have an examination by their veterinarian every six months with yearly or every other year echocardiograms to monitor heart changes.
3
Clean your Bombay’s eyes regularly.
Bombays are known to have excessive tearing from their eyes due to their shortened faces. I recommend cleaning around their eyes daily with a warm washcloth then drying well to prevent matting of the fur. If your cat starts to show any symptoms of eye irritation, colored discharge, or foul odor then I recommend having them evaluated by your veterinarian.
Training Tips
from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian