January Breed of the Month
The Bombay
Meet our January breed of the month—The Bombay!
The Bombay the gives you opportunity to own your own tiny panther (look alike!). This breed was developed in Louisville, KY by Nikki Horner. She had her eyes set on creating a yellow-eyed, black, shorthaired cat with the exotic look of a ‘parlor’ panther.
The Bombay is a true hybrid cat, with characteristics combined from already established breeds, to create a distinct, separate, look. While the goal was to create a wild looking cat, the Bombay is completely domestic, with no wild blood in it. This breed was started by breeding a black American Shorthair with a rich eye color, with an award-winning sable Burmese female. Through line breeding and outcross breeding, Ms. Horner was able to consistently produce a black cat of its own. Black American Shorthairs and sable Burmese are still allowed as breed outcrosses.
The Bombay achieved its CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) Championship status in 1976. Although they are still a new breed, they have consistently held a national and regional winner status with its shiny black coat and bright gold to copper eyes.
Bombay’s have been described as a dog, cat, and monkey all rolled into one, fun loving breed. They can be easily leash trained and enjoy playing fetch while entertaining themselves and their owners. They can adapt to busy lifestyles and tend to get along well with children and other pets. They tend to pull the easy-going temperament and robust nature of the American Shorthair and the social, curious, and lap loving characteristics of the Burmese.
Apart from their color, the breed standards for the Bombay and Burmese are very similar. The Burmese body is compact and sturdy, whereas the Bombay is longer and thinner. The Bombay should have a rounded head with a short muzzle. The coat should be short, flat, and have a shiny black appearance that helps to accentuate its muscular form.
Information courtesy of Cat Fanciers Association