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Bombay

Bombay

At a Glance

Bombay cats combine the easy-going nature of the American Shorthair with the inquisitive loving personality of the social Burmese. The Bombay are only black. They love to be in the company of their families and will greet them and visitors at the door with loving enthusiasm. Find out more about this breed and if the Bombay is right for you and your family.

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All About Cats

Printable Breed Introduction
Breed Standard
Pet Buyer’s Guide
Bombay-Full-Body
Temperament

Affectionate

Height/Weight Range

A medium-to-large sized cat, with males being larger

Adult females
Adult males
Life Expectancy

12+ years

Colors

Black

Similar Breeds

Opposite Breeds

About The Breed

Bombay cats love human interaction and being the center of attention. They are a true part of the family and like to be involved in everything, including walking around perched on their owners soldier or cuddled in their lap as they watch TV or read a book, they’ve even been known to join their humans under the covers at bedtime. The lively and affectionate Bombay is adaptable to many different environments and lifestyles. Their calm disposition makes them a good choice for any living situation, including apartment life.

The Bombay originated as a hybrid between the Burmese and the American Shorthair. However, it has distinctive features which separate it from its parent breeds. Created to resemble a “mini-panther”, the Bombay is a medium-size cat, well-balanced, friendly, alert, and outgoing; muscular and deceptively heavy for its size. With its jet-black, “patent leather” coat; “new copper penny” eyes; solid body and sweet, open facial expression, the ideal Bombay has an unmistakable look of its own.

View Full Breed Standard

The Bombay is a smart cat who loves to play. As kittens they are very active and curious and adapt easily to change. As they get older they tend to become more tranquil, preferring to watch rather than get involved in activities.

They thrive with families who are willing to teach them tricks, play games and provide plenty of puzzle or interactive toys. They do best with families who give them plenty of attention and get along well with children and other pets.

TICA Regions, Clubs & Rescues

Want to connect with fellow cat lovers and those who love the same breed as you?
TICA is a large resource made up of smaller regions and clubs around the world.
Click here to find a club near you and contact information for your regional director and website.

Wherever you are, you’re in TICA’s world!®

Find a Kitten: TICA Breeders

The TICA website is the only place where you can find TICA member breeders who have signed the TICA Code of Ethics.

Find Bombay
  • The Bombay’s nickname is “the patent-leather kid with the new-penny eyes.”
  • Bombay cats are heavier than they appear. They are stocky and somewhat compact, but are very muscular with heavy boning.
  • Bombay cats sway when they walk, similar to that of an Indian black leopard.

Breed Information & Characteristics

The Bombay is a sleek muscular cat with great big copper penny eyes and a shiny midnight-black coat that resembles black patent leather. The combination is spectacular and resembles the mini-panther that the late Nikki Horner had in mind when she began developing the breed in 1953. The Bombay is a man-made breed developed from crossing a black American Shorthair with a sable Burmese. These purring bundles of love want to be with you all the time and as close to you as possible, reveling in your company.

Nikki Horner had in mind a cat that resembled the black leopard of India and named the breed she developed from combining black American Shorthairs with Burmese the Bombay after the Indian city. She wanted a cat with the sleek, short tight coat of the Burmese in the darkest black from the American Shorthair lit up with eyes like new copper pennies. Her early efforts were unsuccessful but undeterred she kept trying to create her vision and the combinations she used beginning in 1965 led to success. Horner had been breeding cats since she was 16 and in the 1970s, when her creation was finally accepted for championship competition, she stopped breeding. Other breeders had fallen in love with the stunning breed with the fabulous personality and worked to keep the breed going.

Major influencers in the breed’s progression and popularity were Herb and Suzanne Zwecker. They also developed new lines with new combinations of the Burmese with the American Shorthair. Shawnee and Road To Fame are found behind many of today’s Bombays. TICA accepted the Bombay for championship competition in June 1979.

The Bombay combines the easy-going nature of the American Shorthair with the inquisitive, loving personality of the social Burmese. They love to be in your company and will greet you joyously at the door-and they will greet visitors with the same loving enthusiasm. Expect your Bombay to be as close to you as possible whether it is perched on your soldier as you walk around, rubbing round your ankles purring while you make supper, cuddled into your lap while you watch TV or read a book, or snuggling up against you under the covers in bed like a hot water bottle. The Bombay loves the entire family and is particularly good with children since it is always ready to play. It also gets on well with other family pets given the proper introduction. Their craving for company means they are unhappy if let alone for long periods so consider getting another cat if you will be gone most of the day.

The Bombay comes in one color-black; but the deepest, densest black imaginable and with a high gloss sheen. The large eyes are anywhere from a deep, rich gold to copper – just like new copper pennies. The gleaming coat is tight and short and hugs the muscular body so you can watch the muscles ripple as this mini-panther stalks an imaginary prey in the living room. They are a medium-sized cat with a robust bone structure to support the powerful muscular body and are surprisingly heavy for their size. The head is rounded with no sharp angles and the large eyes are wide-set giving the face a sweet expression. The ears are medium sized, set well apart and sit tilted forward.

The short coat is very tight and sheds very little so it does not need much maintenance. An occasional bath will help keep the coat sharp and list any loose dirt while a quick rubdown with a rubber brush will remove any loose hairs. The palm of your hand as you lovingly stroke your mini-panther imparts a little natural oil that will help the sheen of the coat. For tip-top shine, a quick polish with a chamois is all that is needed.

The Bombay is generally a healthy breed but, as with all cats, they are at risk for the most common heart disease, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. This is a genetic disease that can result in heart failure and death, so it is of paramount importance that breeders diligently screen for this via echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) performed by a Veterinary Cardiologist. Because HCM doesn’t always show up in the first years of life, it is important for pet owners to proactively screen for this disease as well.

The Bombay’s short, fine coat sheds little and is easy to care for by brushing weekly.

As with all cats, keep their nails trimmed, ears cleaned and teeth brushed regularly with a vet-approved pet toothpaste and provide a nice tall scratching pole to help their natural scratching instinct.

The Bombay is a sturdy, stocky cat. Exercise and a high-quality diet are key to keeping them healthy.

As with all cats, it is important to give your cat fresh, clean water daily. Fresh, clean water is best, so cats don’t hesitate to drink. If you worry about your cat drinking enough water each day, here’s a tip from Jackson Galaxy and other cat behaviorists – Place the water bowl at least three feet away from any food. Cats’ noses are sensitive and an overwhelming smell of food may cause them to drink less. Filtered drinking fountains can also be used in place of a water bowl.

Burmese/Bombay Breed Committee (3)

Name Email
Chair: Asa Broingebonycatz@hotmail.com
Mette Lambertmette.lambert@gmail.com
Theo Mitchelltheo.mitchell011@gmail.com

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