Cat Breeds Guide – An Overview Of Bombay

Although it was named after the great Indian city because of its resemblance to that country’s black leopard,

the Bombay’s similarity ends with the coat.

This sleek and handsome cat has a gentle, loving nature.

Cat Breed Bombay was created in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Bombay is the result of crosses between the Burmese and black American Shorthairs. Kentucky breeder Nikki Shuttleworth Horner, a keen fancier of the cross, was instrumental in having the new breed recognized and, after a great deal of lobbying, championship status was awarded to the Bombay in 1976. It is rare outside the U.S. and is still awaiting recognition in other countries, including Britain.

How a Cat Breed Bombay does looks like? A medium sized cat, the Bombay is well balanced, muscular and surprisingly heavy for its size with the male being a little larger than the female. Its head is rounded with no sharp angles; the face is full with round eyes set far apart and a short, well developed muzzle tapering slightly. In profile, there should be a visible nose break and the nose should not present a pugged or snubbed look. The medium sized ears are set well apart and have rounded tips. Although the round, wide set eyes may range in color from gold to a deep, brilliant copper, deep colored or copper eyes are considered superior.

The legs are medium length and in proportion to the body, and the feet are small and oval. The tail is medium length, straight and free of kinks. The nose leather and paw pads are black.

The coat should be very short, fine and close lying, and should gleam like satin. It is extremely easy to groom, needing only regular combing with a fine toothed comb to remove dead hair and perhaps a wipe over with a silk cloth or damp chamois to give it the shine of patent leather. Because little hair is shed, these cats are especially suited to a totally indoor situation.

The Bombay comes in only one color, which is black. Each hair must be jet black right down to the roots. The coat and color are considered so exceptional that in the standards of some American Associations, half of the points are allocated to the quality of the coat. In judging two Bombays of equal merit, the depth of eye color would probably be a deciding factor in choosing the winner.

Bombays are extremely smart and agile. The love plenty of company, enjoy games and fetch naturally, but many become depressed or naughty if deprived of company. Because they show great affection, they make most satisfying pets. The hybrid crosses of the Burmese and black American Shorthair has made the Bombay hardier, healthier and less vocal than many other breeds.