The Bombay cat: similar to a panther, it is the most beautiful of the black cats
The Bombay cat is a feline breed originally from Kentucky, developed in the 1950s by breeder Nikki Horner.
Mrs. Horner wished to obtain a cat that resembled a black panther, and to achieve this she crossed two feline breeds: the Burmese and theAmerican Shorthair.
In 1965, a raven-black-haired, auburn-eyed puppy was born, which the breeder named Bombay after the hometown of Rudyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book and the celebrated black panther Bagheera.
The Bombay: a panther in miniature
The shiny black-coated kitten recalled the appearance of the wild feline, and this helped to increase the breed’s popularity over time.
In 1976, the Bombay cat was officially recognized by a number of feline associations, such as the Cat Fanciers’ Association(CFA) and the International Cat Association(TICA), which set breed standards.
The physical characteristics of a Bombay
The Bombay presents a muscular and well-proportioned body.
The head is round and broad, with chubby cheeks that give it an amiable and gentle expression.
The eyes, large and round, are full and expressive: in American Bombays they are gold in color, while in British Bombays, they are green.
The coat, on the other hand, comes in a single color: black, which should appear shiny and uniform, without color variation or dilution.
But Bombay is also attractive because of its character as well as its physical appearance.
In fact, of the wild feline, this cat has only the appearance because in actuality it is a “homebody.”
A sociable but also quiet-loving and homely cat
Bombay are known to be extremely affectionate and sociable.
They tend to bond strongly with their humans and do not like to be left alone for long periods.
Pacious and quiet-loving, they tend to shy away when noises or tumultuous situations bother them.
In fact, they love home life and all its comforts: they do not have a strong vocation for exploration and adventure but prefer, rather, comfortable bedding and a full bowl.
In addition, the Bombay is a very communicative cat: its meow is extremely melodious and it holds long conversations with its humans.
They are long-lived cats but it is important to always pay attention to their health.
The most frequent pathologies
As with any breed, the Bombay cat is not without potential health problems.
Among the recurrent diseases are. feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common, characterized by abnormal thickening(hypertrophy) of the cat heart, particularly the left ventricle.
Another aspect to monitor is nutrition: the Bombay has a considerable appetite but is also quite sedentary therefore, it tends to gain weight.
To ensure the cat’s overall health, regular veterinary checkups, vaccinations and proper diet are recommended.
To have your Bombay cat screened, for vaccines, periodic check-ups and personalized feeding plans, contact the veterinary doctors on our staff who are always available to you.
We would also like to remind you that Clinica La Veterinaria is always open h24 every day including holidays and with First Aid service from 8 pm to 8 am.
For the joy of seeing them HAPPY
©2025 -Text: Tiziana Genovese – Veterinary Technician
