Bombay Cat Breed… Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

Some people in this world believe that no matter what anyone tells them, they will never, ever enjoy owning a cat. This is because, at their “core,” they are a “dog person.” And any actual dog person will tell you that there isn’t a cat in the world that could replace a good dog!

But these same folks should be warned because if they’ve never met a Bombay cat or someone who has owned a Bombay cat, there is a good chance that their world might be turned upside down when they finally get properly introduced to this fellow. Because, as many Bombay cat owners will tell you, these guys are very “dog-like” in that they are very affectionate, not opposed to playing fetch, and even willing to go on a walk with their owner on a leash!

Plus…

They’re only going to take up the space of most dogs, and most landlords aren’t going to kick you out of your home or charge you extra for owning one of these guys, so there you go, just one more reason why the Bombay cat breed is slowly becoming one of our favorite cats breeds out there. Oh, just in case we forgot, these guys are good-looking!

But that doesn’t…

You should automatically run out and adopt the nearest Bombay kitten you can access because, like any cat breed, not every cat is “right” for everyone. This is why, in this article, we wanted to take a moment and “describe” what it might be like to own a Bombay so that if you ever get a chance to own one, you won’t regret your decision to adopt one six months later. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Bombay Cat Breed Fast Facts

Country of Origin:  United States

Size:  Medium to large

Eyes:  Big and round (copper-colored or gold, copper being the more favored)

Head Shape:  Round

 Lifespan:  15 to 20 years!

Origin of the Bombay Cat Breed

The Bombay cat breed was first “created” back in 1953 when a breeder named Niki Horner from Louisville, Kentucky, decided to try and cross-breed a black American Shorthair with a Burmese cat to “capture” the sleek and shiny coat of the Burmese breed with the dark rich black coloring of the American Shorthair all wrapped up into a friendly demeanor. And that’s precisely what she got! Plus, a lot more because in addition to creating a beautiful cat, she also made one with a great personality and beautiful copper-gold eyes!

This is probably why, in 1978, the Cat FancThis Association (CFA) decided to fully recognize the Bombay breed, sparking other organizations to do likewise. Today, this breed is accepted by each cat association.

Physical Characteristics

The first thing you’ll notice about this cat is that it looks like a “miniature black panther.” While we can’t prove it, we’d be willing to bet that many Bombay cat owners have been tempted to name their Bombay “Bagheera,” the name of the black panther in the Disney Jungle Book Movie. And why not? With their striking jet-black fur and copper-gold eyes, it’s easy to imagine that if your Bombay copper golds were on 200 pounds, they would be a formidable “beast.”

The good news is that despite their “wild” appearance, the Bombay cat is a sweetheart. She was a sweetheart with a long torso, lengthy legs, and medium-sized ears packed into a compact yet very muscular build.

Temperament and Personality

Now, we here at IndulgeYourPet will freely admit that we’re a sucker for a cat with amazing eyes. So, even if this cat was a complete “terror,” we’d probably still love having one! But the truth is owning a Bombay is an absolute joy, particularly if you like to have a cat that is going to be:

• Great with kids,
• Playful,
• And eager to sit in your lap!

And as we’ve already mentioned, these guys are brilliant, too. If you’re interested, you can teach your Bombay a lot of fun, including fetching them for you and going for a walk with you.

They are also…

Very interactive with people, so you need not worry about him becoming “skittish” if you have “a lot of “visitors over to your home or freaking out whenever there is a loud noise. Plus, the Bombay cat’s coat is straightforward to maintain with a quick petting and, if needed, a brush once a week. The Bombay does not need to be bathed regularly to keep itself clean.

Potential Health Concerns

In general, the Bombay cat breed is relatively healthy. However, like all pedigree breeds, they may be at an increased risk for some of the more common feline health conditions, including:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This condition causes the walls of a cat’s heart to thicken, which decreases the heart’s efficiency, and nature creates symptoms in other parts of the body. Sometimes, there are no signs of this problem, while other times, the feline will have labored, rapid breathing, open-mouthed breathing, and general lethargy.
• Difficulty breathing and excessive eye tearing. Because Bombay has a short muzzle, it may have difficulty breathing and may frequently develop eye tearing that needs to be gently cleaned from the eyes.

These concerns are for the Bombay cat breed, so you should avoid some of these conditions, provided you choose to work with a reputable and responsible Bombay cat breeder.

But, it’s essential to…

Remember that at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how “don’t you can be” or how” putable” your breed may be; “sometimes cats get sick (or even injured). This is why we here at IndulgeYourPet always remind folks that while they’re spending all they’re “researching” what “kind of cat you should buy,” they should research what it might take to insure their new pet.

You see, the last thing in the world that you would want to have happen is for you to purchase a Bombay kitten, fall in love with it, and then not be able to afford the care it needs if she or she ever becomes sick or injured in the future!

But don’t fret…

Just look at the Top Pet Insurance Companies article, highlighting some pros and cons of owning a pet insurance policy so you can decide if purchasing one makes any sense.