History of occurrence
Cat breeders are an experimental lot, creating distinctive new breeds either by building on natural genetic mutations or by crossing breeds to achieve a new look, color or pattern. The Bombay, named for the exotic port city of India, has no connection with the subcontinent but was created from crosses between sable Burmese and black American Shorthairs to resemble a black panther in miniature.
Breeder Nikki Horner of Louisville, Kentucky, is credited with developing the Bombay, starting in the late 1950s. Her goal was a sleek, shiny black cat with a muscular body and friendly temperament. British breeders achieved the same look and personality with crosses of Burmese and black domestic shorthairs.
The Cat Fanciers Association gave the Bombay full recognition in 1978. Today the breed is recognized by all cat associations. To maintain their body type and coat texture, Bombays may be outcrossed to sable Burmese. The CFA also permits outcrosses to black American Shorthairs, but this is rarely done because of differences in body type.
General form
The Bombay was originated as a hybrid between the Burmese and the American Shorthair. With its jet black, gleaming coat, gold to copper eyes, solid body and sweet facial expression, the ideal Bombay has an unmistakable look of its own. It is not a natural breed but a genetic hybrid, with distinctive features that separate it from its foundation (parent) breeds. The Bombay is a medium-size cat, well-balanced, friendly, alert, and outgoing; muscular and having a surprising weight for its size. The body and tail should be of medium length, the head rounded with medium-sized, wide-set ears, a moderate nose “stop” which is visible (not a break), large rounded wide-set eyes, and an overall look of excellent proportions and carriage.
Отличительная особенность породы Bombay Cat
Head: the head should be pleasingly rounded with no sharp angles. The face should be full with considerable breadth between the eyes, blending gently into a broad well-developed moderately rounded muzzle that maintains the rounded contours of the head. In profile there should be a moderate visible stop; however, it should not present a “pugged” or “snubbed” look. Moderate stop is not to be considered a “break,” but a slight indentation at the bridge of the nose between the eyes thus providing a change of direction from the rounded head to the medium, rounded muzzle. The end of the nose is slightly rounded down thus completing the roundness of the head.
Ears: the ears should be medium in size and set well apart on a rounded skull, alert, tilting slightly forward, broad at the base, and with slightly rounded tips.
Chin: the chin should be firm, neither receding nor protruding, reflecting a proper bite.
Eyes: set far apart with rounded aperture
Body: medium in size, muscular in development, neither compact nor rangy. Allowance is to be made for larger size in males.
Legs: in proportion to the body and tail.
Paws: round. Toes, five in front, four in back.
Tail: straight, medium in length; neither short nor “whippy".
Coat: fine, short, satin-like texture; close-lying with a shimmering patent leather sheen.
Predatory plasticity of movements.
Height — 25-30 cm.
Weight — 3-6 kg.
Character
The lively and affectionate Bombay loves people and is adaptable to many different environments and lifestyles. His calm nature makes him a good apartment dweller, and he is amenable to life with other pets, although he definitely wants to be top cat.
Expect to find the Bombay hogging the warmest spot in the house. That includes under the covers at bedtime. Most will converse with their people in a distinctive but not loud voice.
Bombays are often good at playing fetch, and some have learned to walk on leash. This is a smart cat who loves to play and will thrive with a family who is willing to teach him tricks, play games with him and provide him with plenty of interactive toys.
Maintenance care
The Bombay’s short, sleek coat is easily cared for with a few strokes of the hand or at most weekly brushing or rubdown with a chamois to remove dead hair, distribute skin oil and polish the coat to its gleaming best. A bath is rarely necessary.
Brush the teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Daily dental hygiene is best, but weekly brushing is better than nothing. Wipe the corners of the eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye so you don’t run the risk of spreading any infection. Check the ears weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball or soft damp cloth moistened with a 50-50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the interior of the ear.
Keep the litter box spotlessly clean. Like all cats, Bombays are very particular about bathroom hygiene.
Plan to spay or neuter your Bombay at 6 to 9 months of age. It is not unheard of for Bombays to reach sexual maturity as early as 5 months of age.
It’s a good idea to keep a Bombay as an indoor-only cat to protect him from diseases spread by other cats, attacks by dogs or coyotes, and the other dangers that face cats who go outdoors, such as being hit by a car. Bombays who go outdoors also run the risk of being stolen by someone who would like to have such a beautiful cat without paying for it.
Lifespan — 13-15 years.
Dignity
Good with children, good with household cats and dogs, low shedding, high sociability with strangers.
Difficulty keeping
Keep the litter box spotlessly clean. Like all cats, Bombays are very particular about bathroom hygiene.
Diseases
Both pedigreed cats and mixed-breed cats have varying incidences of health problems that may be genetic in nature. Bombays are generally healthy, although one of the genetic diseases seen in Burmese has also been seen in Bombays: craniofacial defect.
Sometimes called Burmese head defect, the craniofacial abnormality is occasionally seen in newborn kittens, which may have severely deformed heads. Those kittens are euthanized, so people who are buying Bombay kittens will not encounter the problem, but breeders should research pedigrees carefully to make sure they don’t breed cats who carry the gene for the defect.
Обычная дворовая кошка, ничего необычного.