Bombay Cat: Playful, Affectionate, and Elegant Pet
I have a particular predilection for this breed of cat, so much so that I have had several all black. In fact, I like this breed, which is not very common in Italy and Europe, because of its temperament, it is cuddly, intelligent, affectionate and does not become attached to just one person, even if it has a particular predilection for the one it chooses as master, but to the whole family.
It is a breed from America, and is also fairly recent. This pure-bred cat has a short, very shiny coat and no spots of any kind. The eyes are the distinguishing feature of this breed, they are coppery in colour, but it is quite rare to see a cat of this breed with that particular colour spot, so they range from golden to golden yellow to deep yellow. Both the nose and the pads under the paws are black.
The eyes are spaced out and the not very large ears barely bend forward. It resembles a small panther in every way. This breed is quite small, males generally weigh around 5 kilograms, while females weigh between 3 and 4 kilograms. It has a meow that is different from all other cats, in fact it meows softly, which is almost inaudible and also very rarely.
It is a very suitable cat for families with children, as long as they are not very noisy, in fact it has a lot of patience and is very quiet. It does not get along very well with other cats, but accepts dogs. It is a very independent cat and needs its own space, preferably warm and in quiet places in the house.
It likes to sleep with its owner and does not like to be left alone for many hours. It loves silence and the comforts of home. It is easily frightened by sudden noises and unlike many other types of cats that need to go out to explore and hunt, it is basically lazy, loves to relax and does not mind being in a flat.
It purrs a lot and needs only a little attention and, above all, when it requires it, the closeness of its owner to be happy. It has a fairly long life, estimated at 18 to 20 years, and has no particular health problems related to its breed. He often has an appetite, which is why he does not really like to see the bowl empty and will do anything to get it filled.
However, one must be careful about the amount of food he eats because he tends to eat a lot and may suffer from obesity or diabetes. Otherwise, he does not need any special care other than brushing his coat every 2 or 3 days. It is not necessary to bathe him unless it is because of something that has stuck to his coat or if he has become very dirty.
Like the others, this breed also has a protective layer on its skin and to avoid removing it, it is best to clean it with dry shampoo or damp towels. It is habitual and therefore always sleeps and wakes at the same times. It does not like people it does not know very much and when this happens it tends to hide and only come back out when they have left.
However, if a person comes to the house often enough, after a fair amount of time, he comes out and once he gets to know them he becomes an affectionate cat even with this person. He is very attached to the house or flat where he lives and if he has to be moved to another place, he needs some time to adapt.
Although lazy, he likes to play especially with his owner and is a fairly intelligent cat who can be taught to fetch or other very simple games. Its peculiar slow and sinuous walk makes it resemble a miniature panther, and this is what its creator, a Kentucky breeder, Nikki Orner, had in mind when she crossed various breeds of black cats.
The breed was recognised in the 1970s, and from the initial breeding from which around 100 specimens emerged, they are now bred in many countries around the world, but especially in America. In Europe, they are very well known and appreciated in the United Kingdom, but there are breedings in all countries of the European Union.
