Welcome to our guide to the Bombay cat personality.
In this article, we will look at the origins of this striking creature and explore the Bombay cat personality in detail.
Our full guide to the Bombay looks at this fine feline in depth. But what about the Bombay cat personality, specifically?
In order to contemplate the Bombay cat temperament, we should first look at his origins.
The Bombay Cat – A Brief History
It all started when a breeder named Nikki Horner from Kentucky in the USA wanted to produce a cat that resembled the majestic Black Panther.
She began to realize her dream in the 1950s, mixing a black American Shorthair male with a champion sable Burmese female.
Years of selective breeding thereafter led to great success.
Ultimately, it resulted in the magnificent jet-black, copper-eyed Bombay cat that we see today.
A British Bombay also exists, bred from a Burmese and a black British Shorthair.
The main difference between the American and the British Bombay is eye color.
Green eyes are permitted in the British version, whereas this vivid color is a disqualification in the show rings of the USA.
The British Bombay cat personality, however, is much the same as his cousin across the pond.
Nowadays, breeders looking to continue the line of this special kitty prefer to outcross with Burmese rather than Shorthairs.
This is because the coat texture and body shape of the Burmese are more desirable than the American and British Shorthairs.
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Bombay Cat Personality Traits
While the ambitious American breeder sought to create the appearance of a wild cat, the Bombay cat breed personality is anything but wild.
Remember that this mini-panther was created from two laid-back domestic breeds.
The American Shorthair is very clever, and is generally quiet and good-natured.
The spirited Burmese tends to be a people cat and is extremely loving to his family.
The Bombay personality, therefore, is highly likely to be intelligent, gentle and affectionate.
The Bombay cat personality is said to be most similar to the Burmese.
As the Burmese is the preferred outcross, this similarity will undoubtedly increase over time.
Does the Bombay Cat Make A Good Family Pet?
More akin to a lap dog, this furbaby demands attention and expects to be fussed over by his humans all of the time.
Unlike many cat breeds, he is certainly not aloof and loves to be held and stroked.
The Bombay can also be leash trained, further supporting his pup-like personality.
He is good with children, as long as little ones are taught how to behave around pets.
This is a clever and inquisitive little chap who loves to learn and play.
Teach him tricks or how to play fetch for a fun-filled afternoon.
He will be just satisfied with a plain old feather or a simple piece of string as with an expensive toy.
If you’re too busy for playtime, interactive toys with treats to retrieve and cat towers to climb will help to keep your active moggy happy.
Just don’t leave him to entertain himself for too long.
Will the Bombay Cat Personality Suit Me?
Due to his friendly and sociable nature, Bombays can fit in with all sorts of households.
He will crave attention and so will do best where someone is at home during the day.
This puss is positively unhappy if left alone for long periods.
Apartment dwellers need not worry as the Bombay’s calm nature makes for an excellent indoor cat.
It’s probably wise to keep your treasured pet inside anyway to avoid illness or injury from the outside environment or other cats.
Their fabulously sleek and low-shedding coat makes the Bombay desirable for even the most fastidious of households. Allergy sufferers may also benefit from this.
Amazingly tolerant of other animals, including dogs, this unfazed feline could be ideal for multi-pet households.
Bombays are delightfully comical and are bound to keep all of the family entertained.
They are typically vocal and so will converse with you often, whether you like it or not.
Despite his predator-like appearance, this mini-panther forms deep bonds with his family and is one of the most loving cat breeds out there.
Does this sound like the perfect puss for you?
We do hope that this piece will assist with your decision as to whether you are drawn to the Bombay cat personality.
We would love you to share your Bombay cat stories with us. Do let us know in the comments below.
References and Further Reading
The Cat Fanciers Association – About the Bombay.
Bombay and Asian Cats Breed Club – The Bombay and Asian Cat.
The International Cat Association – Bombay.
American Cat Fanciers Association – American Shorthair Breed Synopsis.
The Governing Body of the Cat Fancy – Burmese.
J. Wilhelmy et al. 2016. “Behavioral associations with breed, coat type, and eye color in single-breed cats.” Journal of Veterinary Behavior.
D. Turner et al. 1986. “Variation in domestic cat behavior towards humans: A paternal effect.” Animal Behavior. Volume 34, Issue 6.
C. Litchfield et al. 2017. “The ‘Feline Five’: An exploration of personality in pet cats (Felis Catus).” PLOS ONE.
M. Delgado et al. 2015. “Human Perceptions of Coat Color as an Indicator of Domestic Cat Personality. A multidisciplinary journal of the interactions of people and animals.”
J. Feaver et al. 1986. “Method for rating the individual distinctiveness of domestic cats.” Animal Behavior. Volume 34,
Issue 4.
J. Siegford et al. 2015. “Validation of a temperament test for domestic cats.” A Multidisciplinary Journal of the Interactions of People and Animals.
J.Bradshaw et al. 2012. “The Behavior of the Domestic Cat.”
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I have one of the smartest cats ever. His name is Jake and I am very sure he is a Bambay. He loves to play with my boys. He carries the string with him and takes it to my boys to play wih them. I first taught him to touch things if he wants them. He sits and touches his food dish before I set it down. I also started to have him pick the food by smell that he wants. I tried changing tge dishes thinking he really wasn’t picking the dish he wanted. But everytime I would sit the wrong in front of him he would look at me like “Where’s my food mom?” He is such a fun loving cat!
We have a black and white Tuxedo we adopted when someone abandoned him at the road two years ago when he was about a year old (estimate).
Aside from his coloring, he fits all the personality of a Bombay totally, his black fur also meets the qualities of a black Bombay, and his body does as well.
What are the odds he may have some Bombay in his blood line?
We rescued a beautiful Bombay girl that had been left behind when people moved out of a neighboring house. She had been locked up in the empty house for a week. She was 6 months old and pregnant with what seemed to be deceased kittens. We brought her in, took her to the vets, who fixed her up, she is now a forever inside kitty named Cleo. She gets overwhelmed when she gets too much attention and bites, but never breaking the skin. She lives with 6 other rescued kitties, and acted as a gorgeous surrogate mother when we found a 10 day old kitten. Just beautiful.
I adopted a cat nine years ago and I was fascinated when I brought her home and she immediately behave like a dog. She would sit and look out from the room while I was doing dishes, whether on top of the fridge perched or on the floor lying on her side. Within 48 hours of being home she was spooning with me as the small spoon. She still does it to this day sometime she even annoys me and bags and I don’t know what it’s for and then I realize it’s so that I will lay down on my side and she can spoon with me. She even does it when she is sick. I feel like I have a combination of a toddler and a puppy. The most amazing companion I could’ve ever asked for, even if she has had some weird health issues. She is also just kind of a weird cat I mean how many cats Do this kind of thing follow you everywhere, demand your home with them, it’s just so much like a dogs behavior! I will definitely search for BombAZ for the rest of my life specifically British ones. Mine does seem to have a shorter stubbier nature, but I also wonder if that’s from being declawed as a baby and perhaps some breeding otherwise is definitely
We definitely have a Bombay! His personality fits exactly with what you described! Shadow is probably 3-4 years old. We got him from a friend of mine at work who had him as a stray. He is our 2nd one. Our 1st one, Sammy, was so loving. She would lie on me, in my arms, just like a human baby! I sure miss her: in fact tomorrow (2/14/21) will be the one year anniversary of her passing 😢 Shadow is always wanting to play & is very vocal. He makes my husband & I laugh every day & multiple times a day! He’s a joy!
I have an American Short Hair rescue (Adult; female); and a juvenile Bombay Rescue. (female as well). The ASH is very quite, and relaxed. So was the established queen so she did bully the Bombay a bit when first introduced but within 48 hours they were playing together. What’s interesting is the ASH had no interest in her expensive toys until the Bombay started having tons of fun with them, so now she too plays with toys she ignored for months before the Bombay came around. The ASH female is not really a climber, and barely uses her cat tree, compared to the Bombay who instantly started using the top levels of it, which again encouraged the ASH to use it more. That being said the Bombay is extremely curious, and a climber which is a bit of a problem due to needing to cat proof higher levels of my house than i had to with the ASH. She is also extremely vocal compared to the ASH, and the ASH hates being held where the Bombay will literally trust thrust herself into your arms, shes is incredibly affectionate. Disturbingly so, and calling her a lap dog is accurate. Love them both. Seems like with the ASH her affection is more rare, but thus more pronounced, where the Bombay will love anyone and everyone, which does make the bond feel a little more than convivence. In other words the Bombay is a bit of a cuddle whore. 😉
We adopted a cat from our local shelter about 6 weeks ago. He is a gorgeous, totally black cat. My first clue that he was special was when I heard his meow. Not like my last black cat at all. More loud and “Siamese-y”. And he leaps onto everything. After reading this website I am convinced that he is a Bombay cat. I feel so lucky to have him.