Bombay

Is a Bombay right for you?

The Bombay is an American breed developed to look like a "miniature panther", with a glossy jet-black short coat and copper eyes. It is not an Asian breed; it was created in the United States by crossing the Burmese with black American Shorthairs. It is people-oriented, playful and social. The short coat makes care easy, but there is one important genetic issue to understand before you choose this breed: the head and face defect found in some Burmese-derived lines.

The most realistic question: can you give this cat time during the day and keep a disciplined eye on its weight? A Bombay wants your lap, follows you and joins in; it is not a cat that simply waits for mealtime.

Before you adopt

The Bombay is uncommon in many countries, and black shorthaired mixed cats, especially copper-eyed ones, are often advertised as "Bombays". Shelters are full of black cats waiting for homes; if the look is what you want, that is a great route. If you are buying a pedigree cat:

• Burmese head defect (BHD): A change in the ALX1 gene, identified by researchers at UC Davis, is common in the "Contemporary" Burmese lines of the United States. Cats carrying one copy are healthy but have shorter (brachycephalic) faces, a look that was selected for over years. Kittens inheriting two copies from two carrier parents are born with a severe skull and face defect that is incompatible with life. Affected US Bombay kittens were also included in the research. Ask the breeder for the parents' BHD genetic test results.
• Don't favour the shortest faces. Knowing that carriers tend to be flatter-faced, choosing a kitten with a moderate nose is safer for both breathing and breeding health.
• HCM screening: CFA notes that responsible breeders test for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; ask about the parents' heart ultrasound history.
• Hypokalaemia test: The inherited hypokalaemia mutation described in the Burmese was reported in a scientific study in Burmese-derived breeds, including the Bombay.

In the UK the name "Bombay" is used for a different line from European Burmese and black shorthairs, classed in the Asian group. Whatever the background, your testing questions are the same.

Temperament

CFA calls the Bombay "part cat, part dog, and part clown". It shows affection by head-butting and snuggling, is intelligent and playful, and adjusts easily to new surroundings.

According to PetMD, a Bombay is not content to sit alone waiting for food; it needs regular quality time with its people to thrive. It follows you around and turns up wherever you are working.

Some individuals learn fetch and get used to a harness. Its voice is not as loud as a Siamese's, and it likes warm spots such as under a blanket or a sunny window.

It usually gets on with children and cat-friendly dogs. Wikipedia notes it prefers quieter environments, so in a noisy, busy home it should have a retreat of its own.

Health issues and lifespan

Sources generally give 12 to 16 years; PetMD cites 9 to 15, Wikipedia about 15, with some cats reaching 20. Things to watch:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): The heart disease CFA specifically mentions for this breed. Often silent; fast or open-mouth breathing, lethargy or sudden hind-leg paralysis is an emergency. The heart should be listened to at every annual check, with echocardiography if a murmur is found.
• Watery eyes: CFA and PetMD mention excessive tearing. Wipe clear discharge with damp cotton; yellow, green or dark discharge, redness or squinting needs a vet.
• Nasal and sinus problems: Wikipedia reports a tendency to nasal and sinus issues in this short-nosed breed. Persistent sneezing, nasal discharge or noisy breathing warrants an exam.
• Hypokalaemia: Recurrent muscle weakness; head held bent downward, stiff gait and tremors, usually starting young. See a vet the same day; potassium supplementation can control it.
• Obesity: A muscular, food-loving breed. Wikipedia notes the need for controlled feeding, and a vet quoted by PetMD calls obesity the most pressing nutritional issue in cats. Excess weight speeds up diabetes and joint problems.
• Gingivitis: Bad breath, red gum margins and reluctance to chew are signs. Tooth brushing and annual oral checks are recommended.

For older Bombays, PetMD reports breeders noting kidney and pancreas problems. After age 8, have blood and urine tests yearly.

Feeding

An adult Bombay usually weighs 2.5 to 5 kg, with males heavier than females. It is heavier than it looks and its muscle makes weight hard to judge by eye, so weigh it regularly.

• Kitten (2-12 months): Kitten food, 3 to 4 meals a day.
• Adult: High-protein food in measured portions; 2 to 3 meals a day. Free feeding quickly turns into weight gain in this hungry breed.
• After neutering: Reduce portions and weigh monthly.
• Senior (10+ years): A diet set with your vet based on kidney values and body condition.

Serve part of the ration in puzzle feeders to work its brain and slow eating. Wet food and a fountain increase water intake. If you cannot feel the ribs with light pressure, review portions.

Grooming and coat

The Bombay's short, satin-textured coat is among the easiest to care for. PetMD notes it does not need regular brushing, with heavier shedding in spring and autumn.

• Once a week, a rubber brush or a damp hand: Removes dead hair and boosts shine.
• Bathing: Usually unnecessary.
• Eye cleaning: Wipe the eye corners every few days, daily if needed, with damp cotton.
• Tooth brushing: Several times a week.
• Nails every 2 to 3 weeks; check ears weekly.

Living space and enrichment

1. Daily play. At least two 10 to 15 minute sessions with wand toys or fetch.
2. Warm, cosy spots. A soft bed and window cushion; but in summer a cool room and plenty of water too.
3. Climbing space. A sturdy, medium-height cat tree.
4. Brain games. Puzzle feeders and clicker training.
5. Safe windows and balconies. Fit nets; indoor life is recommended.

If nobody is home for long periods, a compatible second cat eases a Bombay's loneliness.

History

According to CFA, the breed was born when Kentucky breeder Nikki Horner crossed a black American Shorthair male with a Burmese female. Her goal was a cat resembling a small panther, with a gleaming black coat and copper eyes. Wikipedia says the work began in the late 1950s, while CFA dates the birth of the breed to 1966.

CFA began registering the breed in 1970 and granted championship status in 1976.

The American Bombay shares the Burmese's short, rounded face type, which is why the head defect variant common in Contemporary American Burmese lines can also occur in the Bombay. In the UK there is a separate Bombay line based on the European Burmese type and classed in the Asian group.