Bombay Cat
The term Bombay cat is used to refer to
two different breeds of cat.
The British Bombay cat is the name given to black cats of the
Asian group. It is a cat of Burmese type with a black coat,
toes, nose, and copper to greenish eyes.
The American breed called Bombay was created in 1958 in
Louisville, Kentucky, when Nikki Horner of Shawnee Cattery
deliberately bred an American Shorthair with a Burmese for the
purpose of creating a domesticated cat that resembled a wild
panther (also known as baby panther). The offspring of this
breeding did indeed resemble the black leopard of India. The
name came from the Indian city of Bombay (now Mumbai). Horner
called her creation the "patent leather kid with the new penny
eyes."
Characteristics
The Bombay is a muscular yet agile cat with a black coat. The
heads of Bombay cats are rounded and wide with a short tapered
muzzle. The eyes, which are of golden or copper color, are
rounded and set wide, and their ears are broad, slightly
rounded and medium sized and, like the eyes, set wide. The
Bombay has a coat that is short, satiny and tight to the body.
Bombay cats do not require grooming, although petting the cat
will keep their coat shiny and will also remove dead hair. A
rubber brush can help when the cat sheds larger amounts of fur
(uncommon). If the cat is fed a balanced diet, the coat will
shine and the cat's naturally energetic personality will become
evident.
Personality
Bombay cats crave human affection like most felines. The Bombay
appreciates affection and purrs loudly. Its purring can be
heard indoors from up to 15 feet away. Bombay cats are quiet
and watchful and prefer living indoors. They can be affected by
loud intrusive noises as loud noises make the Bombay nervous. A
symptom of this nervousness is that they lose fur from their
belly and near their tail. One remedy for this is to simply
keep the cat indoors or away from loud noises and make sure
they have somewhere to hide. Some convenient locations where a
cat can hide are behind chairs, cupboards and almost anywhere
that it is difficult for a predator to gain entry, including
spaces behind TVs, inside cabinets and underneath small
tables.
While Bombay cats will tolerate other breeds of cat, they may
tend to dominate other cats. Bombay cats seem to get along well
with dogs. Dogs are pack animals and have a pecking order which
the Bombay will take advantage of.
Like most cats that have been raised properly, Bombay cats are
smart, agile and inquisitive. They will often seek out human
interaction. Bombays will investigate packages and will
commonly chew through bags and containers to get at food. This
can lead to problems if they eat chicken bones which can injure
the cat's throat.
Bombay cats are by nature lap cats. They seek heat and will
jump up on their owner's backs and rest around their neck for
comfort and reassurance.These cats are head-bumpers and
nose-rubbers, Some can be very "talkative" (meow loudly) and
have distinct "voices". These cats love nothing more than to be
held and fussed over. Sensitive, reserved and intelligent, the
Bombay is suited to life in a quiet home, where it is
affectionate to the whole family. Both males and females are
excellent pets.
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