Bombay

The Bombay is a medium-sized cat with an elegant appearance and boasts a loving and sociable nature. They have extremely beautiful and captivating eyes and luxurious black fur that sets them apart from other breeds because they resemble miniature panthers. The breed is relatively new to the cat world, having been developed in the 1950s by crossing a Burmese cat with a black-coated American Shorthair. Today, these adorable cats have found a place in the hearts and homes of many people around the world, not only for their unique appearance but also for their wonderfully gentle and extremely affectionate nature.

The Bombay was first developed in the United States by an American breeder named Nikki Horner. In the 1950s, she started a breeding program using a black American Shorthair, which she crossed with a sable Burmese cat. Her ultimate goal was to create a cat with a sleek black coat and vivid copper-colored eyes. Initially, her efforts were in vain, but she persevered and by the mid-1960s, she succeeded in breeding the type of cat she had envisioned and named them Bombays in honor of a city in India.

In the 1970s, the Bombay achieved champion status, but by that time, the original breeder had retired. Fortunately, other breeders had fallen in love with these remarkable cats and continued to develop the breed, with the most dedicated enthusiasts being the Zweckers, who introduced and developed new lines and combinations within the breed. Today, the Bombay is not recognized by the GCCF, but the breed has achieved full recognition from TICA and other major international breed clubs. Their numbers are slowly increasing in the UK, but those wishing to share their home with a Bombay will need to register their interest with breeders, as only a few well-bred kittens become available each year.

The Bombay is a medium-sized, very distinctive cat that boasts a beautiful deep, glossy black coat and large, bright eyes that can range from a rich gold to a wonderful copper color. They are well-balanced cats with muscular and agile bodies, which contributes to the breed’s “mini-panther” appearance. They have medium-sized, rounded heads without flat planes. Their faces are full with good width between the eyes. The ears are of medium size, well-spaced without being pointed, and the tips are slightly rounded. The cats carry their ears slightly forward, giving them an alert look.

The Bombay features large, round eyes that are well-spaced on the cat’s face but well-aligned with the base of the ears. The eye color of a cat can range from a brilliant gold to copper or copper/gold. They have well-rounded chins and their muzzles are short, broad, and rounded. Viewed in profile, cats with golden eyes have a distinct break, while a cat with copper/gold eyes has a noticeable stop. Their noses are slightly rounded at the tip, and their necks are well-developed, of short to medium length.

The Bombay has a medium-sized, somewhat compact body. They have broad, well-rounded chests and their legs are strong and well-proportioned to their bodies. Their feet are well-rounded and their tails are of moderate length, tapering to a blunt tip.

As for their coat, the Bombay boasts a beautiful, tight black coat that is short, fine, and satin to the touch. The only acceptable color is a rich black with each hair being black from root to tip, although the underside of the abdomen tends to be a bit lighter. It is worth noting that the cat's coat does not reach its full color until about two years of age.

Like other breeds, the Bombay enjoys a routine and is not particularly fond of changes for any reason. They like to be fed at the same time each day and do not appreciate when furniture is moved around the house, which can often stress the cats. That said, they are known to be easy-to-manage cats, confident, and naturally curious traits they inherited from their ancestor breeds, the American Shorthair and the Burmese.

They form strong bonds with their owners and do not particularly like being left alone for long periods. Therefore, they are better suited to families where at least one person stays home while others are out. That said, they are quite sociable and enjoy the company of other animals, including cats and dogs. In short, Bombays love sharing their environment with other animals, especially if they have grown up together. They are also known to be extremely tolerant of children, which is why they have become such a popular pet. They have quiet voices, and although they are not particularly talkative, a Bombay will be happy to chat with its owner when spoken to, which is especially true during mealtimes or when they want a bit of attention.

The Bombay is an intelligent cat and learns new things quickly. It loves to play interactive games with its owners, such as "fetch the toy." One of its favorite pastimes is following its owner from room to room to be involved in everything that is happening. They thrive when they receive all possible attention, which, in short, means they can be quite demanding at times. Bombays can also be trained to walk on a leash, just like their canine counterparts, and enjoy being taken out for a walk.

In Bombay, with their affectionate and outgoing personalities, are a good choice for families with children, including young ones. They are quick on their feet and thus know when to stay out of the reach of younger children when they become too lively or noisy. However, it is necessary to pay attention when there are very young children around cats, and any interaction should always be well supervised by an adult to ensure everything remains calm. That said, it is important to teach children how to behave around cats and when it is time to leave them alone.

They also get along well with dogs, especially if they have grown up together in the same household, and the same can be said for other cats. However, caution is needed when introducing a Bombay to dogs they don’t already know, in case the dog does not get along with its feline companions. Bombays are sociable by nature and have been known to get along with pet birds and small animals, but it is always wiser to keep an eye on any cat when it is near smaller pets, especially when meeting for the first time, just to be cautious.

The average lifespan of a Bombay cat is between 15 and 20 years, if well cared for and fed with a high-quality diet suitable for its age.

However, the Bombay is known for being a healthy breed. They may, however, suffer from some hereditary health issues that it is useful to be aware of if you are thinking of sharing your home with one of these lovely black-coated cats. Conditions that seem to affect the breed the most include:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) - breeders should be screened
• Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease - breeders should be tested
• Burmese hypokalemia - test available
• Respiratory issues - due to their shorter muzzles
• Excessive strabismus

As with other breeds, Bombay cats need to be brushed regularly to ensure their coat and skin remain in excellent condition. Additionally, cats should be fed high-quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives, which is especially important for kittens and older cats.

Bombays boast having short close lying extremely glossy coats and as such they are low maintenance on the grooming front. A weekly brush and wipe over with a chamois leather is all it takes to keep their coats in good condition with a nice sheen on it. Like other breeds they tend to shed the most in the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent brushing is usually necessary to keep on top of things.

It's also important to check a cat's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax builds up it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short prevention is often easier than cure with ear infections. Cats often suffer from ear mites which can be a real problem which is another reason why it's so important to check their ears every week or so.

Bombays have a tendency to have endless energy and will happily spend hours playing and spending time with their owners, which is why they are more suited to families where someone stays home during the day or where there are other pets. They love exploring outdoor spaces, but cats should be allowed to roam outside only if it is safe for them to do so.

Indoor cats need to have plenty of things to do and places to hide when they want to, keeping in mind that Bombays love climbing high and are happy to settle on their owner’s shoulders, on open doors, and on bookshelves to view the world below from an elevated perspective. They also need many places to curl up for a nap when they feel like it, because if there’s one thing Bombays appreciate, it’s taking a nap or two during the day.

Se prendi un cucciolo di Bombay da un allevatore, ti forniranno un programma di alimentazione ed è importante attenersi alla stessa routine, dando lo stesso cibo per cuccioli per evitare disturbi allo stomaco. Puoi cambiare la dieta di un cucciolo, ma questo deve essere fatto molto gradualmente, assicurandoti sempre che non sviluppi problemi digestivi e, se accade, è meglio riportarli alla dieta originale e discutere con il veterinario prima di tentare di cambiarla nuovamente.

I gatti più anziani non sono noti per essere schizzinosi riguardo al cibo, ma questo non significa che possano essere alimentati con una dieta di bassa qualità. È meglio nutrire un gatto adulto più volte al giorno, assicurandosi che il cibo sia di buona qualità e soddisfi tutti i loro requisiti nutrizionali, cosa particolarmente importante con l'aumentare dell'età del gatto. È anche essenziale tenere d'occhio il peso di un gatto, poiché se iniziano a ingrassare troppo, ciò può avere un impatto serio sulla loro salute e benessere generale. Come tutte le altre razze, i Bombay hanno bisogno di avere sempre accesso ad acqua fresca e pulita.

If you are looking to buy a Bombay you would need to pay upwards of £50 for a well-bred kitten and you would need to register your interest with breeders and agree to being put on a waiting list because not many well-bred kittens become available every year. The cost of insuring a male 3-year-old Bombay in northern England would be £12.57 a month for basic cover but for a lifetime policy this would set you back £25.43 a month (quote as of September 2017). When insurance companies calculate a pet's premium they factor in several things which includes where you live in the UK a cat's age and whether they have been neutered or spayed among other things.

When it comes to food costs you need to buy the best quality food whether wet or dry making sure it suits the different stages of a cat’s life. This would set you back between £15 - £20 a month. On top of this you need to factor in veterinary costs if you want to share your home with a Bombay and this includes their initial vaccinations their annual boosters the cost of neutering or spaying a cat when the time is right and their yearly health checks all of which quickly adds up to over £600 a year.

As a rough guide the average cost to keep and care for a Bombay would be between £40 to £60 a month depending on the level of insurance cover you opt to buy for your cat but this does not include the initial cost of buying a well-bred kitten.