Bombay Cats and Kittens

Bombay Cat Profile

Bombay Kitten Picture
Australian Bombay Kitten pic courtesy of Xquizit Cats

The bombay cat, also know as the magicians cat

The Bombay Cat
The Bombay cat is a solid jet black cat with golden eyes. The British bombay is classed as a black Asian Self, a shorthair breed closely related to the Burmese. The American Bombay were created by crossing a sable Burmese with an American Short-Hair with the aim of producing a domestic cat with the looks of a panther. The two are often confused, however they are different breeds. The Australian Bombay breeding program began in 1995 using Burmese and Black British Shorthairs, as of 2007 the Australian Bombay in Black is now recognised by CCCA.

British History
The Asian group of cats came about after breeders tried to develop Burmese type cats in colours not officially in the Burmese. The Bombay is the Self black version of the Asian introduced during the early 1980s.
Temperament
The Bombay is a friendly, inteligent and affectionate cat with a dog like personality. They can be leash trained and many love to play fetch. The bombay is content as an indoor cat but it does crave company, often following its owner around the house. They can be very sensitive to their owner's feelings making them excellent companions. The bombay is a heat seeker and makes an excellent lap cat, often sneaking under the bedcovers at night. They can be talkative and have a distinctive soft voice. They are generally good with children and mix well with other cats and dogs.
Grooming
Moderate grooming required
Health Problems
Similar Breeds
Asian: The Bombay is one of the original Asian shorthair self colours.
American Bombay: A seperate breed that is also jet-black.
Burmese cat

The Bombay Cat Breed Standard

General
The cats of the Asian Group are elegant cats of medium size and foreign type; the overall type should be the same as the Burmese cat. Any tendency to Siamese type or the cobbiness of the British is not permissible. In character they are alert, active and intelligent with a very friendly disposition
Head
Forms a short balanced wedge with width at the cheekbones tapering to a blunt muzzle and showing good width at the jaw-hinge. The top of the head should be gently rounded between the ears, which are set well apart. In profile the head should show a good depth between the top of the skull and the lower jaw, the brow should curve gently to the bridge of the nose with a distinct nose break; the nose should be straight with the tip of the nose leather in line with the chin. The chin should be firm and of good depth, and the bite level and even. The head, elegantly carried on a neck of medium-thickness, should be in proportion to the body.
Ears
Medium to large in size, broad at the base with rounded tips and set well apart so that the outer line of the ears continues the angle of the upper part of the face to produce a butterfly-wing outline from the front. In profile the ears should have a slight forward tilt. Ear tufts and streamers are preferable in the Asian Semi-longhair (Tiffanie). Allowance should be made for correctly shaped but over-large ears in kittens where the head size and shape is still developing.
Eyes
Large and lustrous and set wide apart, the top lid forms a slight curve slanted towards the nose, the lower lid is fuller and more rounded; overall the eye shape and set is distinctive, giving a unique expression typical to the Asian and Burmese breeds.
Body
Slender and of medium length and size, it should feel hard, lithe and muscular and heavier than its appearance indicates. The back should be straight from shoulder to rump. The chest should be generous and gently rounded, but not disproportionately broad.
Legs & Paws
The legs should be slender, elegant and in proportion to the body, of medium length with the hind legs slightly longer than the front legs, paws neat and oval in shape.
Tail
Medium to long, to balance the body, carried proud and of medium thickness, tapering slightly to a rounded tip. The length should be sufficient for the tip to reach the shoulder when the tail is brought gently around the side of the body.
Coat
The coat of the Asian Shorthair should be short, fine and lie close to the body, the texture should be smooth and satin-like with a glossy appearance. The Asian Semi-longhair (Tiffanie) should have a fine and silky coat, medium long, except over the shoulders and without a woolly undercoat.
Colour & Markings [BOMBAY & ASIAN SELF]
The coat may be in any Full Expression colour accepted in the Asian Group. The coats of kittens and adolescents cats need time to develop full pigmentation. The coat should be short, fine and close lying giving the characteristic black shimmering patent leather effect in the Bombay (black).

Eye colour - Gold preferred, yellow through to green acceptable with preference given to greater depth of colour

Nose leather, eye rims and paw pads - Nose leather eye rims and paw pads should be a solid colour dependent upon the coat colour. In red, cream and apricot 'freckles' may appear on nose, paw pads, lips, eye rims and ears, slight freckling in a mature cat should not be penalised.

Scale of Points
Head 15
Ears 5
Eye Shape and Set 10
Body 10
Legs and Paws 10
Tail 5
Coat Colour and Pattern 20
Eye Colour and Rims 5
Length and Texture of Coat 10
Overall Condition and Temperament 10
Total 100
Withhold all Awards for:
  1. Any evidence of Burmese colour restriction
Withhold certificates or first prizes in kitten open classes for:-
  1. A noticeable number or patch of white hairs
  2. Coat not well coloured to the roots (or distinct paling of colour towards the roots)
  3. Distinct tabby marks except in kittens
  4. Rusty tinge to coat in adults
  5. Unevenness of coat colour except in Red, Cream and Apricot
  6. White markings anywhere, other than those referred to in the colour description
  7. Too British, Siamese or Persian in type
  8. Coat in Asian Shorthairs too long and/or thick, including overlarge ear tufts. Coat in Asian Semi-Longhairs (Tiffanie) too shaggy, i.e. with excessive undercoat.
  9. Protuberant, round or oriental shaped eyes.
  10. Noticeably small or close-set eyes
  11. Lack of weight or condition
  12. Any defects as listed in the preface to the GCCF Standard of Points.
Faults
  1. Faint tabby makings in adults.
  2. A distinct muzzle pinch in adults.
  3. Flat or dished brows
  4. Nose showing distinct bump in adults
  5. Nose leather falling away markedly
  6. Extremes of coat colour

Bombay Cat Pictures

Adult Male Australian Bombay Cat
Adult Male Australian Bombay [Mykei]
Adult Female Australian Bombay Cat
Adult Female Australian Bombay [Electra]
Pictures kindly supplied by Nunya from Xquizit cats

Bombay Kittens For Sale

If your looking to buy a Bombay kitten, the breeders listed below often have kittens available.

Links