Bombay Cat: Cat Photo, Price, Breed Character, External Standards, Breeding, Kitten Selection, Owner Reviews

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Bombay cat - little panther on your couch

They are called black pearls and black diamonds - and this is not only about the high cost of Bombay cats, which are still one of the most expensive breeds in the world. Created in the image and likeness of the black panther, its greatly reduced copy is distinguished by a truly precious character - affectionate, obedient, cheerful and accommodating.

Content

• 1 History of the origin of the breed

• 2 Features of the Bombay cat

  • 2.1 External data

    2.1.1 Video: the brilliance and beauty of the Bombay cat

  • 2.2 Character and behavior

    2.2.1 Video: Bombay cat - rare and expensive

• 3 Disadvantages of the breed

  • 3.1 Predisposition to disease
  • 3.2 Deviations from the standard
• 4 How to choose a Bombay kitten

• 5 How to care for a Bombay cat

  • 5.1 Hygiene
  • 5.2 Feeding
  • 5.3 Tray Training

• 6 Breeding work

  • 6.1 Breeding nuances
  • 6.2 Questions of sterilization and castration
• 7 Owner reviews

History of the origin of the breed

Once upon a time there was a black cat. The most ordinary short-haired American in a black shiny fur coat was crossed by felinologists from the United States with a Burmese cat - so in the early fifties of the last century, the Bombay breed was created, which, as it turns out, has nothing to do with either India or specifically Bombay.

The Bombay cat has an Indian name, but an American origin

The breed begins its official history since 1958, when it received its official registration and its first standard. But it took more than two decades and the tremendous efforts of an enthusiastic breeder from the United States, Nicky Horner, for the Bombays to become incredibly popular around the world. However, in Russia, the breed is still very rare and very expensive.

The majestic black panther became the prototype of the little bombay

Features of the Bombay cat

From both ancestors of the breed, the Bombays inherited only the best features both in appearance and in character. From short-haired Americans - a sparkling coal-black coat and an agreeable disposition, from Burmese cats - sociability, plasticity and high intelligence.

External data

The fur coat sparkling like anthracite and huge honey-colored eyes are the hallmarks of an elegant and graceful bombay. According to the standard, a short Bombay coat should have the so-called satin texture and literally flow, sticking to the body. Americans call the yellow, round, wide-set eyes of these cats "pennies" - and what, they really look like. The breed standard allows golden eyes, but prefers honey-amber.

The Bombay has eyes like a penny, the Americans say

The head is rounded, the muzzle is wide, the small ears are slightly tilted forward, in the extreme varieties of the breed, the nose may be flattened. An important requirement of the standard is the harmonious constitution of the cat - the size of the head should be proportional to the size of the body.

High strong legs are equipped with sharp long claws; The Bombay cat is an excellent hunter, but will never use its military weapon against a person.

These powerful claws will never scratch a person

Video: the brilliance and beauty of the Bombay cat

Character and behavior

Representatives of this breed are accommodating and non-conflict, but do not allow excessive familiarity in relation to themselves. Bombay organically combine a beautiful appearance with high intelligence and a truly golden character. Black beauties are the focus of positive, keepers of comfort in the house and harmony in the family. They do not emit loud and harsh sounds - they meow quietly and only on business, but they purr just masterly, as if they are singing songs, bringing melodic and very pleasant roulades on the owner's lap.

The Bombayans are always ready to follow the owner everywhere and always get into bed with him - they love warmth very much. These cats are active and cheerful, ready to play endlessly. But most of all they love affection, attention, and literally cannot stand loneliness. They become strongly attached to children and even become caring nannies for the smallest of them, and for the older ones - funny playmates.

Left alone, Bombay cats can be naughty

Other pets - both cats and dogs - with whom she perfectly finds a common language and willingly communicates can brighten up the loneliness of a sensitive bomb. Here are just birds, fish and any other hamsters, this hunter, most likely, will perceive as game, so it is better not to risk leaving them alone.

Video: Bombay cat - rare and expensive

Disadvantages of the breed

Like most of the relatively new, artificially selected breeds, the Bombay has a number of internal problems. This must be taken into account by the future owner of a wonderful Bombay cat.

Predisposition to disease

Unfortunately, representatives of this breed cannot boast of too good health, although under the right conditions of keeping, many of them live up to twenty years without problems. They are very thermophilic, and sharp temperature changes, and even more drafts, can provoke various troubles of a cold or inflammatory nature in the Bombay.

Bombay cat loves warmth very much

Despite the fact that the Bombay breed has long been considered closed and tying with representatives of other breeds is prohibited in it, sometimes a serious genetic defect inherited from the Burmese - the so-called Burmese head defect - makes itself felt in the offspring. It manifests itself in a kind of deformation of the skull - a pathology incompatible with life. At the same time, the offspring are either born dead, or die soon after birth.

A much less dangerous, but very common problem of the Bombayans is excessive tearing of the eyes, which can cause significant trouble for cats. Eye hygiene, protecting them from hypothermia and infections should become a constant concern of owners of animals of this breed. Quite often, their gums become inflamed, and breathing problems may occur.

The beauty and health of these eyes requires constant attention.

Overeating against the background of forced hypodynamia is also dangerous for the Bombay cat. It leads to obesity, which, in turn, is fraught with unnecessary stress on the musculoskeletal system, heart and other internal organs, especially since Bombays are genetically predisposed to diseases of the cardiovascular system. Overeating prevention, as well as regular health checks by your veterinarian will help your pet avoid these and many other ailments.

Walk often with your Bombay and he will always be in good shape

Deviations from the standard

There are two equivalent standards for the Bombay cat breed - American and British. However, these standards are not very different from each other.

Judges at exhibitions strictly monitor compliance with the standard

The coat, nose, mustache, and even the paw pads of a thoroughbred Bombay should be bright black, without shades and marks - only their claws are white, and their eyes are bright yellow. In small kittens, some deviations from this rule are allowed, but with age, the color becomes consistent with the standard.

Exhibition experts pay special attention to the harmony of the Bombay cat's constitution - excessive longevity or, conversely, stockiness, will immediately deprive your pet of several important points. The cat will be disqualified for any deviations from the standard color, as well as for green eyes, incorrect bite, nose or tail of an irregular shape.

Individuals of sable color are not allowed to participate in exhibitions - such kittens can still be born from mating of two black Bombays, along with standard black animals.

A litter with black kittens may also have a sable baby

How to choose a Bombay kitten

Having visited a big cat show in the capital out of curiosity, my former colleague proudly declared: the cat that has been living in her house for five years is a Bombay! A hefty beast with a bad temper was indeed black and yellow-eyed, and the mistress picked him up with a small kitten near her own entrance. To the demon - that was the name of this monster - a collar with rhinestones and some other expensive attributes corresponding to the new high status were urgently acquired. Naturally, no one got any worse from this - so why argue with the mistress, who was so "lucky" to find the real treasure almost in the trash heap.

Black does not always mean Bombay

The story is too common to be just funny. Our man is characterized by an ineradicable belief in miracles, which is actively and often used by scammers who offer "purebred Bombays from unscheduled mating" at discounted prices. No, really, well, you can't be so naive as to assume that a thoroughbred animal, the cost of which can reach ten thousand dollars, can really be easily picked up on the street or bought for mere pennies.

Jewelry "to face" a black cat, regardless of its breed

What if you do not strive to be deceived and want to get a really high-breed Bombay, and not just a cute black cat? The first and obligatory rule is to look for a kitten not where it is offered cheaper, but only in professional breeding nurseries. By the way, there are still very few of them, each breeder values his authority, his honest name and is unlikely to go to forgery for the sake of dubious momentary profit.

Carefully study the standard in advance, consult, if possible, with breed specialists. This will give you a lot of interesting information, but, alas, it does not guarantee that you will be able to independently distinguish a little Bombay from a purebred kitten. There are too many nuances in this matter, discernible only by an experienced eye.

First of all, you should pay attention to the shape of the muzzle - it should be the same for a baby as that of an adult representative of the breed: round, with the correct shape of the nose, eyes and set of ears - the standard will help you. On closer examination, the proportions of the body can also tell a lot, in particular, the length of the legs and tail.

When choosing a kitten, take a closer look at its muzzle and body proportions

How to care for a Bombay cat

If you are going to start a Bombay, take care in advance to properly equip his personal territory:

• these cats love space, the tightness oppresses them;
• provide them with enough space to play, eat, rest and toilet;
• get a good scratching post, otherwise wallpaper and upholstered furniture may suffer;

• choose a spacious and cozy bed - Bombay cats love to sleep stretched out to their full length.

  

  The bombers love to stretch out to their full length

Hygiene

In general, caring for a Bombay cat is not difficult. From childhood, they should be taught to comb, so that this hygienic procedure is perceived with pleasure, like play or caress. You will need a soft brush or a special glove - rubber or silicone, which should be used no more than twice a week. Of course, during molting, it is advisable to comb out a short black fur coat daily, and during these periods the furminator will help to get rid of dying hairs well.

Shining black fur coat requires minimal maintenance

The claws of these cats grow too quickly so that the problem can be solved only with the help of a scratching post - you need to constantly monitor their condition and do a manicure in a timely manner. You should also check your oral cavity regularly to prevent dental problems. While maintaining the hygiene of the ears, do not get carried away with deep cleaning - it is enough to wipe them with a special lotion once a week.

Feeding

When building the daily diet of a Bombay cat, it must be remembered that it should be 80% high-quality protein and must include fiber to normalize digestion. In addition to meat and fish products, you need to give your pets sour milk, fresh and boiled vegetables, and twice a week introduce into the menu a small amount of well-boiled cereals from a mixture of cereals (buckwheat, rice and oatmeal) and raw yolk.

Each owner chooses for himself: high-quality ready-made food or natural food

Bombays are prone to overeating, and obesity is dangerous to the health of these cats. Therefore, owners should carefully monitor both the diet and the weight of their pets, provide them with exercise and constant physical activity.

Tray training

The Bombayans are distinguished by their cleanliness at a very early age. Therefore, training kittens to the litter box usually does not pose any problems - these delicate skills are taught to the cubs by the mother cat. Do not scold or punish the kid if he made a mistake with the place for the toilet - an emotional Bombay will be very upset that the owner is unhappy with him, and may completely forget the skills already acquired.

It is important to choose the right place for the tray: it should be quiet and secluded, but at the same time always accessible. It is desirable that the tray is closed and spacious enough. Bombay cats recklessly rake litter and litter heavily around the inconvenient litter box.

For Bombay cats, a closed litter box is best, so they won't throw litter around.

Tribal work

Cat lovers call the Bombays black pearls for their beauty, exclusivity and high value. And breeders are doing everything possible to preserve and improve this wonderful breed - very strict requirements are set for breeding Bombay cats.

Breeding nuances

The first thing that felinologists pay attention to when selecting a parental pair for breeding work is the guaranteed absence of hereditary diseases along the lines of both producers. Now there is an opportunity to timely make genetic tests for various pathologies, thereby eliminating the risks for future offspring. In particular, we can talk about such a dangerous defect as the Burmese head defect, the manifestation of which leads to the complete or partial loss of entire droppings. Carriers of lethal genes are unambiguously derived from breeding.

The main difficulty of breeding work is the low sexual activity of animals of this breed, as well as the small number of litters obtained. In all other respects, the reproductive processes of the Bombayans occur in the same way as other domestic cats. Future parents are brought together on the territory of the groom, on the second - fifth days of the bride's estrus. If the cat missed, mating is repeated in the next heat.

An intimate acquaintance takes place on the territory of the groom, where he feels confident

It is highly desirable that the pregnancy of the expectant mother is not resolved earlier than the prescribed 65 days. Premature bombers are born weakened, their nervous system is not properly formed and the sucking reflex is poorly developed. Consult your veterinarian about the peculiarities of feeding a cat at all stages of pregnancy - in the first half of it, toxicosis and insufficient weight gain often occur.

Two weeks before the expected birth, equip a secluded and comfortable nest for your pet so that the cat has time to get used to it. And be sure to be present at the birth - the bombers are unusually attached to their owners, it is very important for them that you are there at such a crucial moment.

Sterilization and castration issues

If you are not ready to professionally engage in breeding work - and in the Bombay breed, you can breed either seriously or very seriously, and nothing else - it is better to neuter or castrate your pet. This will save your nerves, and the animal health.

The optimal age for surgery is around eight months. It is better and more reliable to carry out the operation not at home, but in a good veterinary clinic, and then, under the supervision of a veterinarian, implement all the rehabilitation processes necessary in this case.

Owner reviews

Every owner of a Bombay cat considers his pet to be an ideal, the height of perfection. And he is not far from the truth. Representatives of this exclusive breed harmoniously combined in themselves a charming appearance, wonderful character, high intelligence and tender affection for their owners.