Breed Profile: Bombay

Origins:

The late Nikki Horner, set her sights on producing a copper-eyed black short haired cat with the exotic look of a “minipanther.” The black leopard of India inspired her choice of the breed’s name. Ms. Horner began her effort in 1953 with the selection of a black American Short hair male with deep copper eye colour and a Grand Champion

sable Burmese female. Through a long process of inbreeding and out crossing and careful selection, she was able to consistently produce a black cat unlike any other. The Bombay in Australia was developed by crossing black British Short Hairs with a Brown Burmese.

Personality:

If you need a dog, a cat, or a monkey all in one , you want a Bombay. Bombays can often be leash trained, most enjoy playing “fetch,” and all are fond of inventing new ways to entertain themselves and the folks that live with them. Bombays are congenial and outgoing, and make intelligent, affectionate companions. They do well with children and will often act as a “greeter” with visitors.

They get on well with dogs and other pets. The Bombay generally combines the easy-going temperament and robust nature of the British Short hair and the social, inquisitive, lap-loving character of the Burmese.

Look:

With the exception of colour, the Bombay and Burmese standards are very similar. Whereas the Burmese body presents a compact sturdy appearance, the Bombay body is of medium length, neither compact nor rangy, presenting a more lithesome appearance then its Burmese cousin. The Bombay’s head is rounded with a short muzzle, but there should

not be a “flat” or “snubbed” look. The coat is the most defining characteristic of the Bombay. Its short, flat, gleaming, patent leather look should be black-to-the-roots coat reflecting its rippling muscular form. The Bombay has unique gold to copper eye colour.

The Bombay being described as the “Patent leather kid with the copper penny eyes.”

Longevity:

Bombays have a life span of 15 - 20 years living happily indoors.

Price:

Bombays range in price from $400 for a pet to $800 for a show quality cat. Often pets carry a few white hairs or rosettes. Many litters have kittens born other colours due to the burmese heritage. These varients are usually sold as pets as they form no part of a breeding program.

Australian Bombay Breeders