Bombay Cat Breed Information
Also known as: Black Burmese, Mini Panther
The black-only Burmese, deliberately bred from black American Shorthair and sable Burmese foundation to resemble a miniature black panther. Same Burmese sociability with the dramatic solid black coat and copper or gold eyes.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children cat. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool.
About the Bombay.
The Bombay is the black-only Burmese, deliberately bred to resemble a miniature black panther. The breed has the patent-leather solid black coat, copper or gold eyes, and the Burmese temperament. Adults are 3 to 6 kg with the same sociable, people-bonded character as a sable Burmese.
Personality and behaviour
Sociable, affectionate, follows the household around. Same as Burmese.
Care and grooming
Weekly rub with a rubber mitt or chamois.
Indoor vs outdoor in New Zealand
Indoor or catio.
Where to find a Bombay in New Zealand
NZCF and Catz Inc list registered breeders (NZCF Bombay, Catz Inc Bombay). Often produced alongside Burmese. Waitlist four to seven months, NZD 1,200 to 2,800.
The Bombay, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Pets
Physical
avg 1.5Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Social
avg 3.8Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Adaptability
Independence
Personality
avg 3.4Trainability
Energy Level
Vocal Level
Prey Drive
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Bombay.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Bombay costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Bombay costs about
$143per month
$33
$5
$26,310
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$36 / mo
$430/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$33 / mo
$395/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$49 / mo
$590/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$0 / mo
$0/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$25 / mo
$300/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $2,000 + setup $300) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Bombay compare?
This breed
Bombay
$26,310
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,300
- Food (lifetime)$6,020
- Vet (lifetime)$8,260
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,530
- Grooming (lifetime)$0
- Other (lifetime)$4,200
Reference
Average NZ cat
$23,600
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$500
- Food (lifetime)$7,000
- Vet (lifetime)$5,600
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,600
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,500
A Bombay costs about $2,710 more over a lifetime than the average nz cat, mostly highervet and higherpurchase + setup.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZ cat breeders test for these conditions and share results. The bigger health drivers for the breed appear in the Common group.
Common
1 conditionDental disease
A common condition in the Bombay. Ask the breeder about screening.
Occasional
3 conditionsBrachycephalic airway issues
American Bombay lines have a slight muzzle shortening that can produce mild breathing strain. UK Asian Self lines avoid this.
Diabetes mellitus
Inherited from Burmese line.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
An occasional condition in the Bombay. Worth asking about.
The Bombay in NZ.
- Popularity: A small NZ pedigree breed.
- Typical price: NZ$1200–2800 from registered breeders or rescues
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Short coat handles all NZ regions; warm sleeping spots in cooler regions.
- Living space: Apartments and houses both suit.
Who the Bombay is for.
Suits
- Households wanting a Burmese temperament with dramatic black colouring
- Multi-pet homes
Less suited to
- Outdoor-roaming setups
Common questions.
Is the Bombay the same as a black Burmese?
Why are Bombays called "Velcro cats"?
If the Bombay appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Burmese
Compact, muscular shorthair famous for being intensely affectionate and following its person from room to room. Often called the "Velcro cat" for the way it sticks close. Vocal but soft-spoken, with a notable separation anxiety risk if left alone all day.
Burmilla
An accidental cross between a Burmese and a Chinchilla Persian in the early 1980s produced this elegant silver-tipped breed. Sociable like the Burmese, calmer in voice, and with the striking silver-shaded coat of the Chinchilla.
Tonkinese
A deliberate cross between Siamese and Burmese, the Tonkinese sits between its parent breeds in colour, build and temperament. Active, vocal, demanding, and a fixture in NZ Catz Inc and NZCF breeder lists.
Mandalay
A New Zealand-developed solid-coated breed derived from Burmese genetics. Registered through NZCF and Catz Inc as a separate NZ breed; closely related to the international Asian Self.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.