The Bombay is a sleek black cat of Burmese type with copper or gold eyes, created in the United States in the 1950s.
In Britain a similar cat was bred separately and is registered as part of the Asian group.
The Bombay is a glossy, jet-black short-haired cat bred to resemble a miniature black panther. The name covers two related breeds, one developed in the United States and one in Britain.
Origin
The American Bombay was created in Kentucky in the 1950s by crossing sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs, and was recognised by the American registry in 1976. It was named after the Indian city as a reference to the black leopard.
Appearance
Bombays are medium-sized, muscular and heavier than they look. The coat is short, fine and close-lying with a sheen like patent leather, and is black to the roots; the nose and paw pads are black as well. The head is rounded, and the eyes are large and gold to deep copper.
Temperament
The character is that of the Burmese: outgoing, affectionate, playful and intent on human company. Bombays seek out laps and warm places, often get on well with dogs, and do not enjoy being left alone for long.
Care and health
The coat needs little more than stroking and an occasional polish with a soft cloth. The inherited conditions are those of the Burmese family. They include a form of low blood potassium that causes muscle weakness, for which there is a DNA test, and, in American lines, a severe defect of the skull.
The Bombay in Britain
British breeders arrived at a similar cat by crossing Burmese with black domestic short-haired cats. The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy places it in the Asian group of breeds, which are cats of Burmese type in non-Burmese colours and patterns; within that group the Bombay is the black Asian Shorthair. The international registries recognise the Bombay as a breed in its own right.
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