What is the size of Bombay? Although the city of Bombay (now Mumbai) has a size area of 603.4km2, the Bombay cat is just medium-sized. Just as many do not know or remember that Mumbai was formerly called Bombay, many do not know a lot about the Bombay breed. Therefore, this article is written to enlighten as many that need the relevant information about thisbreed.
Characteristics
Appearance
The Bombay cat breed looks a lot like the Indian black leopard. Furthermore, it has a leopard-like sway when it walks. And as you might have rightly guessed, it has a black coat.
Looking at it you might think it is a lightweight feline, however, when you carry one, you’ll discover they are much heavier than they appear.
This breed has a stocky appearance, but is still muscular and has heavy boning. It is a round kitty in the sense that its head, ears tips, eyes, feet, and chin are round.
Weight
The weight range for male and female differ with the male being larger. A fully grown male Bombay kitty will weigh about 12 pounds. The females have varying weights ranging from 8 to 12 pounds.
Coat
This feline’s coat is deep glossy black as we mentioned above with a short length. The paw pads of this cat are even black. Sometimes a litter might produce kittens with sable color. Such kittens can be registered as Burmese as permitted by some cat associations.
The Bombay breedhas a smooth texture; hence, the need for grooming is low. And it is less likely to cause any allergic reaction. Hence, you can snuggle up with your pet without any fear. Also, the rate at which it sheds its coat is low, which is another reason why they are great as pets to keep at home.
Eye Color
Their eye colors range from gold to copper.
Life Expectancy
One of the things many look for before adopting a kitten is its life expectancy. It is not easy investing so much including finance, time, and affection only for your precious tabby to die within a few years. Therefore, you can still enjoy quality companionship with your Bombay as it has a life expectancy of 9 to 13 years. Visit https://www.newsweek.com/cat-breeds-longest-life-spans-1583448 to find out the 25 cat breeds with the longest lifespan.
Association Recognition
Bombay cats are recognized as a breed by the following associations and clubs: The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1978, American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA), and The International Cat Association (TICA).
Personality
This feline breed is very active and its curious nature makes it a perfect example for the idiom “curiosity killed the cat”. They love watching the world and you might always find them at the window watching.
They also prefer the warmest spots in the home which is why they will always sunbathe close to the window or curl up under the bed covers with or without you in bed.
They are extremely affectionate and demand quality time and attention from their owners. This is why they will easily jump onto your laps and spread themselves not minding what you were doing. The older Bombay may not be so active and might just be content with watching all that goes on around them.
Bombays get along quite well with kids and other pets. Hence, you don’t have to worry about fights between your cat and your dog.
Care-giving
This breed as we have discussed is a curious bunch which means sometimes they would be happy staying on their own. But when they do this, they perform a lot of jumping and climbing. Therefore, to cater to this nature, you can get climbing platforms for them such as perches and cat trees. You can also get them toys to keep them entertained.
You need to monitor their nutrition carefully because they are naturally stocky and sturdy; hence, they have the potential to be obese. This care is very necessary if your kitty doesn’t exercise often which is something you’ll discover as it gets older.
Bombays; even the older ones who are somewhat docile enjoy a regular session of playtime daily. And because of their affectionate nature, they love adoration from their owners. Hence, rubbing their stomachs and petting them daily is a necessary activity that must be performed to keep them happy.
History
Towards the end of the 1950s, some American breeders (led by Nikki Horner) wanted a cat breed that looked like the Burmese cat in appearance and structure. Click here to learn more about the Burmese breed. Even though they desired the cat to look like the Burmese, these breeders wanted one that had a deep and glossy, black coat. Their intention was to breed a cat that would remind people of the Indian Black Leopard.
As a result, they started a breeding program and crossed a sable Burmese with a Black American Shorthair that had shiny copper eyes. And the result was a Bombay cat that had all the characteristics they were looking for.
Towards the end of the 1970s, the show bench recognized this breed. And although they are somewhat rare in such exhibitions, they are always crowd-pleasers.
Conclusion
Bombay cats are very wonderful felines that are bred for homes. They will offer you companionship for a long time with lots of fun-filled memories due to their playful, curious, and affectionate nature.
