Bombay cat breed

Like all cats, make sure your Bombay has a balanced diet. And if you pick up a Bombay kitten, it’s best to continue the routine set out by the breeder. They’ll be able to give you the mealtimes your new kitten is used to, and the type of food they’ve been eating. If you want to change anything about their routine, do it gradually over time. Cats can be creatures of habit and don’t necessarily cope well with sudden change.

It can be easy to get carried away and indulge your cat, but keeping your Bombay at a healthy weight will cut down the risk of diabetes, arthritis and other problems.

Bombay cats are low maintenance – a brush once a week will do the trick. And baths are rarely needed either. Cats self-groom, so you’ll only need to bath your cat if it gets particularly dirty. If your cat goes outside, keep an eye out for any signs of fuel or oil on their fur. This type of toxic substance should be cleaned off before your cat has a chance to lick it.

Bombay cats are lively, so make sure they have interactive or puzzle toys to keep them from getting bored. If they don’t have something to keep them occupied, they may well take it out on furniture and walls. Bombays are known for being attention seeking, and you’ll need to be able devote time each day to play with them.

Playing with toys that let them release their hunting instinct is a great way to keep them engaged and burn off excess energy. There are plenty of interactive toys you can buy, but you’ll probably find a piece of string with something tied to the end is just as fun.  

As an intelligent breed that enjoys human company, you might find you’re able to train your Bombay cat. Games like fetch will keep them entertained for hours. 

Bombay cats are intelligent and will quickly pick up on toilet or litter training. Like all cats, they can be fussy about bathroom hygiene, so you’ll need to keep their litter tray clean.

Bombay kittens with a craniofacial defect, also known as Burmese head defect, are born with a severe malformation of the head and face. There is no treatment and kittens with the defect are put to sleep. There’s a genetic test for carriers of the gene that causes the condition, and breeders should make sure they don’t breed cats with the gene.

Hypokalaemic myopathy is inherited in some Bombay cats. Affected cats will have muscle weakness and ventroflexion of the head and neck, where their chin tucks down to their chest. It’s treated with potassium supplements. There’s a genetic test for this gene mutation, and responsible breeders have their cats tested. Cats with the gene mutation shouldn’t be used for breeding.

Bombay cats have been known to suffer from HCM. As one of the most common types of heart disease in cats, it’s often passed on genetically and has no cure. Signs to look out for in your cat include lethargy and difficulty breathing.

There are many solid black cats, so identifying a Bombay on first glance can be difficult. You’ll know a Bombay from their bright copper or green eyes, jet-black coat, black paw pads and their distinctive panther-like sway.

No, Bombays are not hypoallergenic. With their close, short coat, they do shed less than some other breeds though.

Unlike standard black cats, Bombay cats have an entirely black coat – all the way down to their roots and their paw pads and nose is also black.