The Bombay cat is undoubtedly one of the most popular and beautiful cat breeds that exist. If you are thinking of adopting a cat of this breed, do not hesitate to properly inform yourself about all its characteristics, the character it usually has, as well as the basic care it requires. We'll also talk about diet and common he alth problems, something you should know before taking him home.
Keep reading this page on our site to find out everything about the Bombay cat, a breed that began its history inspired by the wild cats of India:
Origin of the Bombay cat
The origin of the Bombay cat dates back to 1950, in Louisville, Kentucky (USA), thanks to breeder Nikki Horner. Her main intention was to create a panther-like catwith short, shiny black hair. For this, she was inspired by her favorite panther, the black Indian leopard Bagheera, from "The Jungle Book", the famous Disney children's movie.
From 1953, Horner began the selective breeding of Bombay cats starting from an American shorthair black cat together with a Burmese cat with a sable coat. It is therefore a hybrid race and in no case does it have wild ancestry. It took her a while to get the breed standard right, but finally in 1976 she created the Bombay cat: a black cat with shiny fur and copper-colored eyes.
Physical Characteristics of the Bombay Cat
The Bombay cat stands out for having a muscular and compact body, but at the same time more agile than the Burmese cat, from which it descends. It is medium-sized and has a medium-sized tail. We can highlight its rounded face and very short snout, as well as totally black pads, a characteristic of the breed that makes it unmistakable.
The color of the Bombay cat's coat is jet black (from the roots to the tip), short, smooth and extremely shiny. It may look satiny. Two copper-colored eyes stand out above the rest of its features, which can sometimes be golden, always very bright.
Bombay cat character
The Bombay cat is usually a very sociable and affectionate cat, it greatly enjoys the company of its relatives and deeply hates being alone. In some cases, if they spend too much time alone, the Bombay cat can suffer from separation anxiety, a psychological condition that can affect their well-being. He loves to meow to communicate his mood or to ask us for something, always with a pleasant and sweet tone of voice.
Although it is usually a rather lazy cat, since it spends long hours sleeping and resting, the Bombay cat is a great lover of games and fun, being especially indicated for families with children and with other cats, as we have mentioned, it is especially sociable. They adapt well to whatever lifestyle the family has, as long as you take care to provide regular care for the affectionate Bombay.
Also, it is a cat particularly intelligent, which can learn different tricks and exercises if positive reinforcement is used as basis for their "education", such as playing fetch, games based on jumping and physical activity, and even going for walks on a leash.
Bombay cat care
The Bombay cat does not require great care, as it has a short coat, it does not tend to get tangled and accumulate dirt. Two weekly brushings will suffice, which will help remove dead hair and maintain the lustrous and shiny coat that characterizes him.
Remember that cats clean themselves, so there is no need to bathe them. In addition, the bathroom makes them lose the natural protection layer of their skin, avoid it whenever possible. However, in some cases, mainly if our Bombay cat is excessively dirty or has something stuck to its fur, we can bathe it, but it is always advisable to use dry-cleaning shampoos or wet towels and wipes. For a brighter coat, you can also use dry-clean conditioners.
It will also be important to pay attention to the feeding of the cat, which must always be of high quality, otherwise we will begin to observe his shaggy coat. For this we can look for commercial products, such as feed, but we can also make our own homemade recipes. Apart from the food itself, we can also offer you daily small portions of homemade wet food, something that will excite you and help you stay more hydrated.
Don't forget that on a regular basis we must pay attention that his ears are clean, to observe that he files his nails naturally (if not, it is convenient to cut them ourselves) and the cleaning of the teeth.
Bombay cat he alth
The Bombay cat enjoys excellent he alth, as it is one of the breeds least prone to disease and therefore one of the most of the longest. They can reach 20 years of life. Apart from this, some Bombay cats can suffer from skull malformation, a he alth problem inherited from their ancestors, the Burmese cats.
To prevent any he alth problem, it is essential to follow the cat's vaccination schedule and external and internal deworming, especially if we allow it to go outside. Finally we recommend you visit the specialist every 6 or 12 months, this way we will ensure your good he alth.
