Bombay: Cat That Looks Like A Little Black Panther

If the Bombay reminds us of the Black Panther, it’s no coincidence. The breed was created precisely for this purpose. However, nothing wild interferes with his temperament. He is a sociable and cuddly little companion. A pet with Bagheera’s look!

Mumbai In A Nutshell

• • Other name(s): miniature panther, parlor panther, black mamba

• • Life expectancy: 15 years on average

• • Weight: 3 to 4 kg (female), 3 to 5 kg (male)

• • Height: 25 to 30 cm at the withers

• • Shape: cobby

• • Hair: short

• • Dresses: plain black

• • Character: affectionate, playful, communicative

• • Origin: USA

• • Cat breed recognized by the LOOF: yes

Bombay Breed History

Contrary to what its name might suggest, the Bombay is not from India, but from the United States. It was an American breeder from Kentucky, Nikki Horner, who in 1958 crossed a sable American Burmese with a black American Shorthair in order to obtain small couch panthers. After a few failures, it was finally from 1965 that she began to obtain the profile of the cat of her dreams.

The breed is recognized in the USA 11 years later. In 1976 by the CFA then in 1979 by the TICA. The Bombay arrive in Europe via Switzerland. In France, they were imported in 1989, but met with little success with breeders.

If the LOOF recognizes it in the same standard as the American Burmese, this is not the case of the FIFe (International Feline Federation).

Did you know ? In 2021, only 31 pedigrees of Bombays have been registered at LOOF. Compared to the 23,549 pedigrees of Maine Coons, we understand the level of rarity! In total in France, there are only 886 subjects, which represents 0.05% of purebred cats.

Physical Characteristics Of The Bombay Breed

The Bombay is of medium height, with a powerful bone structure and strong musculature. Its morphological profile is cobby, that is to say rather round and short. It sports rounded hips and shoulders as well as paws of medium length that lead to rounded feet. The head du Bombay is also rounded and medium in size with a domed forehead and an accentuated stop. It is surmounted by ears medium in size, well spaced, broad at the base and rounded at the ends. In this breed, besides the dress, the eyes are very characteristic. They are round and large, giving the look a lot of intensity. They are of a sublime gold to copper color which contrasts with the shiny black dress.

The Colors Of Bombay

Only the jet black is accepted. It must be uniform over the entire length of the hair and all areas of the body. No white or other colored spots are permitted. The black must be shiny and like satin.

Character Of Bombay

Bombay is said to be sociable and enjoys contact with humans. He is able to modulate his voice in different ways to make himself understood, even if he is less talkative than the Burmese. Some owners consider it to sing. Although he is of a calm temperament, he knows how to show himself very playful and can learn to fetch a ball, as well as walk around on a leash and harness. It is also said sensitive and observant. It is not uncommon for him to fix the members of his household with his round eyes, but it is only to understand them. No animosity crosses it! It’s a cat of a great kindness who needs attention. He does not tolerate loneliness well.

Attention ! Each cat is a unique individual. If certain features come up often, it is always possible to come across a subject with a personality very different from that which comes up most often. Moreover, there are nuances among the cats and you cannot find 2 strictly identical ones, which is what makes them so charming.

Ideal Living Conditions For Bombay

Bombay is particularly sensitive to cold, so he does not like to go outside as soon as the temperatures cool down. If he lives in a house, it is advisable to fence the garden because he is so sociable and friendly that he risks being stolen. If he lives in an apartment, it will be necessary to enrich his environment because he is a player. For this reason he gets along well with children because he is also patient.

With another cat, he can be a bit authoritarian and seek to obtain the attention of his humans to the detriment of his congener. With a dog, introductions should be done gradually.

As it is a cat don’t like to be alone he will be happy in a family that telecommutes part of the week or in which at least one member is present enough.

Bombay Grooming and Maintenance

The maintenance of the Bombay is very easy due to its short hair which does not give rise to knots. It needs weekly polishing with a washcloth and occasional brushing to remove dead hair, especially during biannual moults. According to the LOOF, it is a cat that does not rufus (browning of the black hair) unlike other cats of the same color.

Main Health Problems Of Bombay

Bombay is a rather robust cat without major hereditary health problems. However, several points should be observed.

• • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or CMH: a thickening of the cardiac muscle of more or less rapid evolution according to the subjects.

• • Craniofacial abnormality: which comes from the Burmese.

• • Runny eyes.

A annual visit to the veterinarian is decisive to guarantee your cat a long and peaceful life. Indeed, during a prevention appointment, the professional can detect the slightest concern and take care of it as quickly as possible.

Note changes in behavior and sudden changes in the contents of the litter box as these are indicators of your little feline’s health.

Bombay food

Although the Bombay is naturally round, it should not become chunky. He therefore needs a balanced diet, without excess carbohydrates. It is therefore appropriate to avoid supermarket products, often high in carbohydrates due to added grains, which are cheaper to manufacture than meat. Preferably turn to premium quality kibble selected according to their composition and accompanied by good quality mash. Indeed, the addition of wet food in addition to kibble contributes to the preservation of its urinary system and kidneys.

Add a water bowl permanently accessible and renewed every day or a cat fountain whose filters you will change regularly.

A Bombay can also be fed raw feeding, a natural diet, but which requires in-depth knowledge of its dietary needs to avoid excesses and deficiencies.

Otherwise, the household ration is an intermediate solution between the BARF and the industrial. It must be set up on the advice of a veterinary nutritionist or after good training in feline nutrition.

Mumbai Price

A Bombay kitten costs between 800 and 1,400 euros when sold for company. He’s a rare cat. It may cost more if it is for reproduction or exhibitions.

The price may seem high, but the work to obtain purebred kittens is long and tedious. This requires a lot of patience and rigor. A kitten is the result of a line selection work, numerous veterinary checks and of a whole period of socialization. Serious breeders also hold the ACACED, a diploma which validates their knowledge of hygiene, reproduction, monitoring and maintenance of breeding animals, management of a cattery, etc.

Know that nice black cats are desperately waiting for a family in shelters. Moreover, they are less adopted than the others because of old clichés about their color. Their price is much more affordable and their love is matched only by their gratitude.

The Bombays Of Celebrities

If many personalities have been photographed with black cats, it does not seem that they were of the Bombay breed. Let us quote all the same the singers and singers Madonna, Cher, Bob Dylan and even the writer Ernest Hemigway.

So we don’t currently know of any famous people lucky enough to live with a purebred Bombay.

Anecdotes Around Bombay

It didn’t take just one cross to get a Bombay. Indeed, the kittens of the first litters looked like black American Shorthairs. The breeder therefore had to persevere for several years. It took him no less than 27 litters and a hundred kittens before Bombay became what it is today. And again, its head has evolved slightly since its creation!

Our Advice For Choosing The Right Bombay

Even if the number of breeders is small and you are far from the one you are interested in, it is very important to visit the farm. You will thus be able to realize the hygiene, the character and the state of health of the cats, as well as the seriousness of the breeder. Animals should be relaxed and free to roam around the house, and above all never be locked in cages. They should also not be overcrowded as this increases the viral load in the environment, which can be harmful to kittens. The breeder must present an enriched environment (cat trees, toys, scratching posts) and a nursery.

The cattery must register its litter at the loof, which is an obligation.

Finally, he must entrust the kittens to you12 weeks old and not before. Indeed, the latter need to be weaned psychologically and not only physiologically, even if the law authorizes the transfer from 8 weeks.

How To Tell A Bombay From A Burmese?

The American Burmese and the Bombay meet exactly the same standard. We can also marry them provided that the Burmese is Sable color. The only difference therefore lies in the dress color (as well as that of the eyes since the 2 are linked), because the Bombay is always black while the Burmese can be not only sable, but also blue, champagne and platinum.

Adopting a Bombay means bringing in a small being who is both present and friendly, easy to care for, whose shiny black coat brings warmth and charm to your home. A Bombay is the combination of elegance and joie de vivre in a small animal with an intense and endearing gaze.