| Bombay | |
|---|---|
 A female Bombay cat | |
| Common nicknames | Parlor Panther |
| Origin | United States (US-type) |
| Breed standards | |
| CFA | standard |
| TICA | standard |
| ACF | standard |
| ACFA/CAA | standard |
| CCA-AFC | standard |
| Domestic cat (Felis catus) | |
TheBombay cat is a short-hairedbreed ofdomestic cat. Bombays are glossysolid black cats with a muscular build, and have characteristic large bright copper-golden eyes.[1][2][3] The breed is named after the Indian city ofBombay (Mumbai),[4] referring to the habitat of theIndianblack leopard.[5]
There exist two different variants of Bombay breed: theAmerican Bombay and theBritish Bombay. US-type Bombays were developed bycrossbreeding sableAmerican Burmese and blackAmerican Shorthair cats,[1][5] to produce a cat of mostly Burmese type, but with a sleek,panther-like black coat with copper-golden eyes. UK-type Bombays are solid black-colouredAsian Self cats under theAsian group, a group ofEuropean Burmese andchinchilla Persian crosses.[1][6] The UK-type Bombay originated from three mismatings of European Burmese with blackdomestic short-haired cats.[7]
Both types of Bombay cats areselectively bred bybreeders andpedigreed in multiple majorcat fancier and breeder organisations. Similar to other officially recognisedcat breeds, the term "Bombay" is only meant to be used for cats from this specific breed, which are by definition allpurebred cats with a known and formallyregisteredancestry, also known as the cat'spedigree or "paperwork".[8][9]
Starting in 1958, the US-type Bombay breed was developed by Nikki Horner, a breeder fromLouisville, Kentucky, USA, who attempted to create a breed of cat that resembled a miniatureblack panther.[4][5][10] The first attempt was a failure, but the second, in 1965, was successful.
The US-type breed was officially recognised andregistered by theCat Fanciers' Association (CFA) in 1970 andThe International Cat Association (TICA) in 1979.[4][10]
The UK-type is registered as theAsian Self under theAsian group with theGoverning Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), which is the sole registry that recognises the British Bombay[11] and operates in the UK.
The Bombay cat is a relatively rare breed among pedigree cats, both in the US and UK types. All the UK-type Bombays are pedigreed with the GCCF as theAsian Self under theAsian group. In 2023, only 160 kittens of the entire Asian group were pedigreed.[12] There is no data available for the British Bombay specifically.
The US-type is notably more popular than the UK-type. In France specifically, an average of 45 Bombay kittens were born annually between 2003 and 2022.[13] Data from TICA, one of the largest cat registries globally, indicates that between 1979 and 2013, a total of 1,085 Bombay cats were registered with them.[14] PawPeds is the largest cat pedigree database worldwide, which contains data on both living and deceased cats across all pedigree organisations. As of June 2024, PawPeds reported 1,717 registered Bombay cats, with 406 of those born after January 2000.[15]
The Bombay is a short-haired pedigreed breed of domestic cat, closely related to the Burmese. The US-type Bombay is described as the "patent leather kid with the newpenny eyes."[2][5] The cats are characterised as having an all-black coat, including the whiskers, and black skin, including the soles and nose leather. The close-lying, sleek and glossy black coat of mature cats is coloured to the roots with no paling (exceptions are allowed in juvenile cats less than 2 years old).[4] The eyes are always copper-golden coloured,[1][2] and green (or any other colour) eyes are not allowed.[2][3]
The Bombay has a medium-sized, Oriental-type body build that is muscular.[1][4] Their weight ranges between 2.5–5 kg (5.5–11.0 lb),[1] with males typically being heavier than females.[3][16]
Body: Medium size, graceful and elongated Oriental-type body.[1] Elegant tail of medium length.[3]
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Head: Rounded heads with no sharp angles, and short.[3] The shape is smooth. The muzzle is short, with a moderate nose "stop" which is visible (not a break).[2][3] The short-nosed head shape is similar to the American-typeBurmese. The medium-sized ears are wide-set, straight, and rounded at the tips.
Eyes: The large, round eyes are set far apart[3] and are always copper-coloured,[2] but can range from bright orange to warm golden.[3] Green eyes are not allowed.[2][3]
Coat: Short, dense and shiny, tight to the body, with a lacquered sheen.[17] Only completely solid black coloured coats are allowed.[2][3]
Weight: For females, the average is 2.5–3.5 kg (6–8 lb). For males, the average is 3.5–5 kg (8–11 lb).[1][6]
The personality of the Bombay tends to be highly social, is marked by strong attachment to families, and is typified by craving attention. As a breed, these characteristics make them highly suitable for children.[18]
Bombay cats are happy and comfortable being strictly indoor cats, and can comfortably live in a single room apartment, so long as all of their needs are met.[19] They prefer quiet surroundings.[19]
A healthy Bombay has an average lifespan of 15 years, and some have been known to live up to 20.[16] They are prone to nasal and sinus problems, andgingivitis.[20] Their food intake should be controlled to avoid overfeeding.[20]
