Bombay | breed profile

Introduction & History

Bombay cats, despite the name, aren’t from India and were in fact, bred in the USA in the 1950’s. They were developed by crossing Burmese with black American shorthair cats to create a cat with looks inspired by the Indian Black Leopard.

Appearance and Personality

They are a muscular, medium sized cat weighing up to 7kgs and are black with orange or green eyes. They have a short soft coat, that doesn’t require much maintenance, but it is a good idea to get them used to being gently brushed from an early age to help remove loose fur. A cat grooming glove is a great option for the Bombay cat.

Bombay cats are known for being affectionate and outgoing making them a popular choice for families. They are energetic and enjoy playing so provide plenty of toys and cat trees for them to climb on and scratch. Because they tend to enjoy companionship, they can become lonely if left for long periods of time. They may therefore be better suited to a household where someone is home to keep them company, or perhaps adopting two could be a way to ensure they have suitable company if you are out a lot. They are well suited to apartment living if they are given plenty to keep them occupied. Keeping your Bombay cat indoors or in a cat friendly enclosure helps keep them safe from roads, other cats, snakes as well as helps to keep wildlife safe from your cat.

Common Health Concerns

Traumatic accidents ranked as the second most common claimed condition for Bombay cats in 2020. It may be possible to help your Bombay cat avoid outdoor accidents by keeping them indoors or in a suitable cat friendly enclosure. According to PetSure claims data across the 2020 calendar year, the five most common reasons for a Bombay to visit the vet (excluding for routine visits like vaccinations) were:

Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.

For the same period (2020 calendar year), the top five highest single vet treatments (or highest pet insurance claims) from PetSure data were:

Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.

Most popular Bombay names

Most popular names

1. Coco
2. Ebony
3. Luna
4. Midnight
5. Abbie
6. Abby
7. Ash
8. Bell
9. Flash
10. Freddie

Most popular female names 

1. Coco
2. Ebony
3. Luna
4. Abbie
5. Abby
6. Bell
7. Lucas
8. Lucky
9. Midnight
10. Milly

Most popular male names:

1. Ash
2. Flash
3. Freddie
4. Fudge
5. Jet
6. Leo
7. Midnight
8. Milo
9. Obi
10. Raphael

Did you know?

Bombay cats are said to be rather talkative companions who converse with various meows and have a very loud purr!

References

1. Wikipedia, Bombay Cat, accessed on 03/03/2021, available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombay_cat
2. Cat Fanciers Association, The Bombay, accessed on 03/03/2021, available at: https://cfa.org/bombay/