Answer-first
Is a Bombay right for me? The patent-leather mini-panther
A Bombay suits you if you want the panther look with a golden-retriever heart: head-butts, kisses, bed-sharing, kid-friendly, dog-compatible — a 'wash-and-wear' patent-leather coat needing a rubber brush a few times a month. The one serious breeder question: HCM testing.Fact
CFA is direct: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been found in Bombays and 'responsible breeders will test their cats prior to breeding.' Ask, and keep your own vet's heart checks routine.
Applies to: People choosing a breed or evaluating a Bombay. Tendencies, not guarantees.
Steps
Temperament rangeFact
- 'Part cat, part dog, and part clown' — easy-going AND inquisitive
- Physically affectionate: head-butts, kisses, night snuggling
- Middle-gear energy: happy with a grocery bag for hours, up for games when offered
- Great with children; bonds with dogs and pets after proper introductions
The wash-and-wear coatFact
- Short, dense, patent-leather shine; moderate-to-minimal shedding
- Rubber curry brush 2-3x/month is the whole routine
- Heavier than it looks — solid muscle; watch the scale, not the silhouette
- Mild eye tearing is common — a regular gentle wipe
The heart question (conditional)Fact
- HCM occurs in the breed: ask breeders for their testing practice, verbatim
- Rescue Bombay-types: tell your vet the breed context at wellness exams
- This page never diagnoses — screening and monitoring are entirely vet territory
Normal vs keep-watching
Normal: A gleaming black shadow head-butting you awake, entertained by a cardboard box, eyes wiped, coat shining on near-zero effort.
Keep watching: Breathing at rest (know your cat's normal), weight monthly, eye-tearing baseline.
When to contact a vet. Rapid or labored resting breathing, open-mouth breathing, or sudden exercise intolerance are urgent vet signs in ANY cat and doubly worth acting on in an HCM-documented breed — never wait on breathing changes.
What changes this answer
- Breeder testing history (the deciding question)
- Kids/dogs (great tendency, normal protocol)
- Rescue vs breeder (vet baseline conversation)
Common mistakes
- Skipping the HCM question because the cat looks robust
- Free-feeding a dense-bodied breed
- Ignoring eye tearing buildup
- Buying for the look without the snuggle tolerance
Sources
- Cat Fanciers' Association (breed registry; tier 2) · Tier 2 · verified 2026-07-21
Real questions cat owners ask
- Are Bombays actually part panther?
- Do Bombays get along with dogs?
- What is HCM in cats?
Log resting breathing rate in This Week while your cat sleeps — it's the baseline your vet most wants in this breed. Set up your Cat Passport.