Bombay Cat

• Size: Medium, 5 to 11 lbs
• Energy Level: 5/5
• Talkative: 4/5
• Coat: Sleek, short and very black
• Hypoallergenic: No
• Seeking: Anyone willing to provide regular bonding time!
• Child Friendly: Yes
• Personality Snapshot: Extremely playful with both humans and other pets, inquisitive and hungry for affection

My Looks

For starters, I’d like to kick things off with my most prominent physical attribute? I look like a miniature wild cat.

Apart from my striking, jet-black coat, I also have a few other characteristics that’ve earned me the nickname “parlor panther” from my admirers, which I’ll tell you about in a short while.

My head is fairly round and I’ve got ears that are somewhat pointy. Unlike other felines, I don’t have any prominent cheekbones to flaunt.

What I like to show off though are my mysterious eyes that glow in a radiant copper or golden hue. They even look like gemstones if you stare at them long enough.

My parents told me that while my almond-shaped eyes may have been already radiant when I was a baby, they become more and more intense each passing day.

I have a broad muzzle and my nose is shaped like a round button. My chin is somewhat circular as well, which adds a certain softness to my panther-like look. As for my coloring – I am straight up striking. All of me is pure, stunning, gleaming b-l-a-c-k. Nothing is left out. Even my nose leather and paw pads are wondrously pitch black.

The coloring definitely adds even more regal appeal to my look. ‘Cause as you probably know, black is beautiful. Not to mention it goes with everything.

My body isn’t too large or too small. I am classified as a medium-sized cat, but I do have sturdy yet lean muscles that give me a toned, yoga-body appearance. Oh, and give me all the strength and agility I need to move in my nimble cat-burglar fashion.

Overall, I’m rather proud of my looks and you can see it in the way I carry myself. And I’m not the only one who thinks I have reason to be.

My resemblance to the fierce and fiery panther combined with my softer, affectionate kitty nature is usually enough to make most cat lovers’ knees buckle.

But in case you need more – my pointed ears and regal simplicity translate to a beautifully majestic appearance most of my owners can’t get enough of.

My Personality

My friends describe me as a very affectionate and sensitive feline. You’ll always find me trying to snuggle with you when I get the chance. I get along very well with people, even strangers, as well as other pets like cat-friendly dogs. I don’t even have a problem mingling with very young kids. Some even say that I am a great babysitter!

Compared to other felines, I don’t have a problem wearing a leash, playing fetch or even learning a few tricks. Well, to tell you the truth, I always know that I’m going somewhere really nice when my human makes me wear my leash like the park or the beach. Moreover, learning a new trick also means more playing time for me so I’m usually up for it.

Now while I am very sociable with the people and animals I live with, I have this need to be showered with affection many times in a day. I am not demanding or clingy about it, but let’s say I’m always in the mood for belly rubs, vigorous strokes on the head and ears as well as some hugs to top it all off.

I am not as vocal as other felines and will only try to get your attention when I really need to. Unlike those cantankerous Balinese and Javanese cats, I do not start a meowing bonanza each time I want something, like when I want my water bowl topped off or can’t find my favorite toy. I coo and trill instead to avoid making a racket.

Whining is sooo not my thing. I prefer the gentle art of coaxing.

My Ideal Human

Honestly, I don’t really have a problem living with people whether they’re first time cat owners or they have a big family with lots of pets and young children. I am a very amiable cat and won’t find it a bit tricky to be best friends with all the family members in the household.

Now we’ve got that settled, I just want to have regular playing and petting times during the day. Although my disposition is far from clingy, I need to have at least a few minutes to bond with my humans through games, learning tricks and even leisurely walks outside.

That’s not too much to ask, methinks.

My Roots

Here’s a confession: my name’s a bit misleading. It makes me sound a lot more exotic than I actually am. Truth be told, my family’s from the United States. According to Grandpa Bombay, our breed began in the early 1950’s when a dedicated cat buff from Louisiana named Nikki Horner wanted to develop a feline that looked like a miniature panther.

She first bred a black American Shorthair tom with a Burmese molly. Although the results were not bad, Horner didn’t achieve what she aimed to get in terms of the physical characteristics of the kittens. They turned out not having the coat color she wanted or the shade of copper in their eyes.

Her second try involved pairing another black American Shorthair tom and a champion female Burmese. The results were more promising this time and Horner began intensifying her efforts to produce a litter of kittens that had jet-black coats with coppery eyes.

Horner eventually got the physical traits she wanted after a very tedious selective breeding process. She even thought that her efforts turned out better than she expected because she even managed to get the paw pads and noses of the kittens black as soot! She named the kittens “Bombay” as a nod to the black leopards that freely roamed the outskirts of the thriving Indian city.

Now while the first Bombay kittens looked really striking, Horner discovered that all the respected cat registries in the United States were reluctant to recognize the miniature panthers due to some issues involving heritage and breed characteristics. However, this setback didn’t dampen her efforts and she continued to work hard to get the Bombay in the roster of recognized cat breeds in the US.

Finally, the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) awarded the us, the regal Bombay, recognition in 1976. Our breed was given championship status a decade after. Apart from the CFA, we’re now also recognized by the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) and The International Cat Association (TICA).

How to Keep Me Healthy and Happy

Don’t let my majestic looks put you off – I’m nowhere near as high maintenance as my looks suggest. In fact, it really doesn’t take much to keep me happy and healthy. I just need to have quality time playing and petting with my humans. And a few interactive toys around to keep me entertained when they’re not around never hurt anyone.

Maintaining the sleekness of my black coat is not that tricky as well. All it needs is a careful grooming once or twice a week and I’m good to go. And of course, regular tooth brushing is a given. Oh, and I also need to drop by the cat doctor’s clinic every 5 to 6 months – but you already knew that.

Fun Facts

• If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind cat, I just might be the feline for you. You see, considering I originate from the U.S., I’m still rather rare here. Just to give you an idea of how rare – only 91 Bombay cats were registered on the CFA roster in 1996. I guarantee most of your friends will have never even seen the likes of me.

• This won’t add to my popularity, but I have a confession to make. See, I have this tendency to hog warm places in the home. My favorites are a warm rug near the fireplace or the toasty spot near a microwave or toaster. If you have none of those, I’ll prop myself atop a frequently used printer or computer. On cold nights, I might even hog the sheets and blankets. Consider yourself warned.

• I sometimes get mistaken as a Burmese cat, which I don’t mind so much, especially since I am often outcrossed to sable Burmese cats and black American Shorthairs.

• Bombay kitten are sometimes described in the cat breeding world as a patent leather kid with new penny eyes.

• The boys of our breed don’t usually reach their full size until they reach 2 years old.