The Golden Eyes of Bombay
By Gordon Hopkins
Two of my three cats are black. It was not a conscious decision. Having cats at all wasn’t a conscious decision. Every one I rescued and they would likely be living in my house, sleeping in my bed and destroying my sofa no matter their colors.
Still, I have always been drawn to black cats. I’m not really sure why. Perhaps it is the sinister nature of the various legends and myths about black cats. Maybe its because black cats don’t get adopted nearly as often as other types of cats, due to those same superstitions. Or maybe its just because of that Cliff Richards song, “Devil Woman.”
Of course, black is just a color. Cats that are black can come in all shapes, sizes and personality types, just like every other color of cat. However, there are specific breeds of black cats with very specific traits.
I am thinking about the Bombay cat.
Despite the name, Bombay cats are not from Bombay. That’s a good thing, since the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra was renamed in 1995, and I don’t think Mumbai cats have quite the same ring.
In fact, it was an American cat breeder, Nikki Horner, who first set out to create a housecat that specifically looked like a miniature black panther. She began this project in the 1950’s. The first official Bombay kitten was born in 1965. So, while domestic cats have been around for thousands of years, Bombays are a fairly new breed.
A Bombay is basically a sable Burmese crossed with black American Shorthair.
Bombays are recognized as an official breed by both the Cat Fanciers’ Association and the International Cat Association, if that means anything to you. It doesn’t to me. As I said, I didn’t go looking for cats, black, Bombay or otherwise.
Still, having learned about the breed, I couldn’t help but wonder if one or both of my black cats is a Bombay cat.
So how can you tell if your feline companion is a Bombay cat? It must be more than just the color. One of the first and most obvious hallmarks of a Bombay cat is that they are black. Totally black. Not just the fur but even the nose and the pads of their feet. Not all black cats are Bombay cats, but all Bombay cats are black. Just like not all fingers are thumbs, but all thumbs are fingers.
So, what else?
Eyes: The second most obvious physical feature of a Bombay is the eyes. American Bombay cats have big, round eyes that are always golden or copper-colored. I specify American because there is also a British version of the Bombay cat and their eyes are often green.
Body: Bred to resemble panthers, the bodies of Bombay cats are compact and muscular, as opposed to regular black housecats, which tend to be longer and leaner.
Fur: Bombays always have short fur with a velvety sheen.
Personality: Cats of all breeds are famous for being independent, aloof, barely tolerant of the human species that serves them. Bombay cats, however, are very affectionate, very social animals. Indeed, many single pet owners choose cats precisely because they are low-maintenance and can be left on their own if said owner suddenly decides to take a trip to Europe or the Caribbean, which single people sometimes do. But not when they have a Bombay cat. Breeders warn potential Bombay owners not to leave their cat alone for long periods of time, as they are prone to loneliness and require a lot of attention.
Bombay cats are also very smart. Smart cats are like smart people. They think they should be in charge. As a result, Bombay cats have a bossy streak.
Appetite: You have to watch a Bombay cat’s calorie intake as they really like to eat and, much like myself, have a real issue with portion control.
So, do either of my cats fit this description? Let us check, shall we?
I got Groucho when I rescued him from the mean streets of Fairbury a few years ago, along with his fat, orange brother, Archie.
Color: Groucho is all over black, even his nose and the pads of his feet.
Eyes: Groucho has sleepy eyes that sometimes seem pale yellow and, other times, almost green-tinted.
Body: Groucho is a smallish cat with a long, fairly slender body (apart from that saggy, primordial pouch which has nothing to do with being fat), and not too heavy when I pick him up (which I don’t do very often because he doesn’t like it-and lets me know by trying to scratch my face off).
Fur: Short-hair, sleek, velvety.
Personality: Groucho disappears for long periods of time and I don’t know where he is. I presume during those times he is sleeping or grooming or possibly running an illegal gambling den. When he chooses to make his presence known, he doesn’t object to the occasional scratch behind the ear or under the chin but does seek out such attention. Only occasionally, usually in the morning while I’m still sleeping, he will make it clear he wants scratches by standing on my chest and head-butting my chin. I obey and scratch him for a couple of minutes and then he wanders off.
As for how smart he is, it is hard to say, although I will point out I once saw Groucho trying to drink water from a bathtub. That bathtub was on TV.
Appetite: I give Groucho a spoonful of wet food in the morning and again at night, like I do with the other cats. Groucho never finishes it.
Based on this survey, it seems Groucho is not a Bombay cat but merely a black housecat. I don’t care and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t, either.
So, what about my other black cat, Harper? I got Harper on New Year’s Eve, when he literally showed up on my doorstep. Let’s see how many of the boxes he checks.
Color: All over black, even his nose and the pads of his feet.
Eyes: Harper has big, saucer-like, golden eyes.
Body: I went back and reread my column describing when I first got Harper. I described him as little and light. That didn’t last long. I don’t know what his life was like before I got him but his life with me involves eating…a lot. He is now heavy and solid.
Fur: Though a bit longer and fluffier that Groucho’s, Harpers fur is short and shiny.
Personality: Harper likes attention and he seeks it out. He is almost always around when I am home. He also likes attention from the other cats, which they are not always willing to give.
He seems pretty smart, although that may only be in comparison with Groucho.
I will also note that he is a definite bossy-boots and sometimes even a bit of a bully. Fortunately, Groucho is too laid-back and Archie too lazy to care.
Appetite: Archie and Groucho were kittens when I got them, and they clearly had never gone hungry a day in their lives. So, they are quite comfortable leaving a food dish before it is empty. They aren’t concerned about where their next meal is coming from.
As I already said, I don’t know what Harper’s life was like before showing up on my doorstep. He may have had many hungry days. Who can say? I only know that I have to put him in the basement and close the door when I feed the cats wet food, because otherwise he will eat his and then eat theirs. I am worried about him getting fat (well, fatter) and am trying to cut back on how much I feed him. Needless to say, he is not happy about this.
Harper checks all the boxes, or so it seems. I was convinced I had a Bombay cat.
I was.
A couple weeks ago, my sister and a family friend were visiting. We were sitting on the sofa, chatting, and Harper was sucking up to the visitor. He was lying on his back while the aforementioned family friend absently scratched his tummy. This was unusual because this friend of the family is highly superstitious and wants nothing to do with black cats. My sister pointed this out and my friend said, “He’s got a few white hairs on his chest, so its okay.”
I checked and, sure enough, I spotted maybe a dozen white hairs on Harper’s otherwise immaculate black pelt.
So, I guess I don’t have a Bombay cat after all. Again, it doesn’t really matter to me, but it was fun while it lasted.
