Bombay catsprofile and facts

Bombay catsare rare cat breeds. The creation of these black domestic cats was inspiredby the black leopards of Asia, known as black panthers.

It is described as a medium-sized and muscular cat, solidly built andsurprisingly heavier than it looks. (They are neither compact nor are theygangly).

Its tail is medium length, straight and moderately thick atthe base and it tapers to the tip. The legs are in proportion to both thebody and tail.

The Bombay"s head is fairly round (no sharp angles) and the chin iswell developed and firm. Its ears are medium sized, alert and tilt slightly forward.

Its eyes are round and the color ranges from gold to copper, but a brilliant copper-color is preferred.

Note:

If you require a show cat you need to be aware that the British and American breed standards are different, so consult with your local cat registry and visit our page on the history and development of the Bombay cat.

Theseblack cats are suited to apartment living and can deal with solitude,provided they are not left alone for hours on end. Theyalso love the freedom of an enclosed, safe, escape-proof garden.

Would they make good pets for children?

Yes,they love human interaction. Younger children need to be taught how tohandle cats and that playing does not include ear or tail pulling.

Will they adapt to other family pets?

TheBombay is a dominant cat and they prefer dogs to other cats.

Bombays are athletic, playful, curious and surprisingly agile.

They are self-assured cats that adapt easily to their surroundings.

Words like gregarious, outgoing and sociable describe them perfectly.

They are quite talkative, withdistinctive husky voices. It is believed they are less talkative than theSiamese and Burmese cat.

Cat breeders describe their cat"s personality as part cat, partdog and part monkey.

These intelligent cats love to play games,especially the game of fetch. They are skilled hunters, so keep this inmind if you have bird-life in your garden.

Bombays are like little heat-seeking missiles who love to crawlunder bed covers or to snuggle on a warm lap.

Whilst they are also known to beaffectionate, gentle and calm, they do tend to restrict theiraffection to their owners.

Theyare low maintenance cat breeds and very little grooming is needed.

Rubthem down with a grooming glove once a week as this will assist inremoving hair and dirt and maintain a shiny coat. 

This is a healthy cat breed, but there are concerns that some breed lines may have inherited certain genetic problems from the Burmese. (The Burmese was one of the cats used to develop the Bombay)

• A malformation of the skull, called cranio-facial defect is carried in some bloodlines of the Bombay cat.
  
• Hair-lip and cleft palate is also common. 

Pleaseensure that you purchase your cat from a reputable breeder. A gooddiet, annual check-up and vaccinations will keep kitty in good health.

Bombaycats do not have any special dietary requirements.

They do need a wellbalanced diet with minimal cat treats. We always recommend that you give yourkitty the best food you can afford.

These domestic cats have an average weight of between 2.7 - 5.6 kg (6 - 11 lbs). Males will be heavier than the females.

They have an average life expectancy of between 13 - 15 years.

Age will be determined by the cats general health, lifestyle i.e. diet, exercise, catcare and whether your cat is an indoor or outdoor cat. Indoor catswill live longer as they are exposed to fewer dangers.

Related Cat Pages:

Bombay Breeders