Bombay

A healthy Bombay from screened lines typically lives 12-16 years, comparable to most domestic cats and sometimes longer. The variable that moves that number is the inherited Burmese profile: a cat affected by hypokalemia, the craniofacial defect, or poorly managed diabetes can have a far shorter, harder life. Lifespan here tracks breeder screening and weight control more than luck — a lean Bombay from hypokalemia-tested parents is the long-lived version.

Yes, genuinely. The Bombay is sturdy, patient, attention-seeking rather than skittish, and stays playful into adulthood, which suits active households with kids. They tolerate handling well and often seek out family activity instead of hiding. Supervise young children as with any cat, and teach them to support the cat's body — a heavy, muscular Bombay is easy to drop if a child grabs it one-handed.

Very little coat care — a five-minute weekly rubber-brush or chamois buff is enough for the short, tight coat, which sheds minimally. The grooming most owners overlook is the face: if your Bombay tears (a common consequence of its mild Burmese face-shortening), wipe the inner eye corners with a damp cloth daily to prevent staining and skin irritation, and watch for any sudden increase in discharge.

Yes, with one condition. The Bombay is adaptable, bonds to people over territory, and is content in a small space provided it gets daily interactive play and, critically, company. The breed does not tolerate being left alone all day — an empty apartment 10 hours a day produces a stressed, vocal, sometimes destructive cat. If you live alone and work long hours, plan for a second pet.

Expect roughly $500-$1,200 for a pet-quality Bombay from a registered breeder, more for show lines. The cost that actually matters is downstream: a cat affected by Burmese hypokalemia or the craniofacial defect, or one that develops diabetes from obesity, can run $1,000-$3,000+ in diagnostics and lifelong management. Paying more for a kitten from hypokalemia-DNA-tested, head-defect-free parents is the cheapest decision you will make in this breed.

Because the Bombay carries mild brachycephalic (face-shortening) traits inherited from its Burmese foundation, some individuals tear excessively and breathe slightly noisily — a low-grade version of what Persians show. Mild, stable tearing is managed with daily eye-corner cleaning. But a sudden increase in discharge, colored nasal discharge, squinting, or worsening breathing is not cosmetic — book a veterinary exam, since the same craniofacial spectrum can produce dental and airway problems that need treatment.