Your guide to finding and caring for a Bombay in Honolulu
A Bombay suits a Honolulu condo better than most cats do, since it's happy with a window perch and a person nearby. In a Salt Lake tower or a low-rise in Makiki, it'll shadow you from kitchen to couch and want a game of fetch when you get home. Bombays are uncommon as true pedigrees, but sleek black cats with copper eyes turn up under the name. They're social and don't love long, empty days, so they fit people who work from home or keep a steady routine.
Open your home to a Bombay
While we don't have enough cats near Honolulu, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 5 mo., 4493 miles
Bombay, Domestic Short Hair
M, 8 y., 4493 miles
Bombay, Domestic Short Hair
M, 3 mo., 4493 miles
Bombay, Domestic Short Hair
M, 4 mo., 4493 miles
Bombay, Domestic Short Hair
M, 3-7 y., 4496 miles
Bombay, American Shorthair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 4496 miles
Bombay, Domestic Short Hair
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 4496 miles
Bombay, American Shorthair
F, 0-6 mo., 4500 miles
Bombay
M, 0-6 mo., 4508 miles
Bombay, Domestic Short Hair
F, 1 y., 4514 miles
Bombay
Bombays were developed in the United States beginning in the 1950s, when Nikki Horner of Kentucky crossed sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs, aiming for a miniature black panther. The name nods to the black leopard of India, not the city. They're medium cats, usually 6 to 12 pounds, with a satiny coat that's black to the roots, black paw pads and round gold-to-copper eyes.
Personality leans affectionate and playful, with a dog-like habit of following people from room to room, and many are moderately chatty. The short coat sheds little and needs only light weekly care, which is handy in a humid island home. Looks and temperament vary from cat to cat, so spend time with a cat before deciding, since a glossy black coat doesn't guarantee a classic Bombay personality.
Having a Bombay in Honolulu
Bombays pair a low-maintenance coat with a real need for company and play. In a Honolulu apartment or house, the main questions are how much time you're home, how you'll keep a food-loving cat active, and how to keep it comfortable indoors.
Bombays are typically affectionate, outgoing and keen to be involved, and many greet visitors instead of hiding. Some bond closely with one person and dislike long stretches alone. They often accept other cats and calm dogs after slow introductions, though a cat's history and socialization shape behavior as much as breed does.
Plan on daily interactive play with wand toys, chase games or fetch, plus food puzzles to keep a clever mind busy. Some Bombays learn harness walks; in Honolulu, go early or after sunset, since hot pavement and strong sun are hard on paws. Regular play also helps keep weight in check.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been reported in Bombays, so a veterinarian can listen to the heart at the first exam and advise on screening. Some have watery eyes that need gentle wiping, and many gain weight easily, which raises diabetes and joint risks. Measured meals, dental care and yearly exams help.
Honolulu's mix of high-rise condos, low-rise apartments and houses can all work for a Bombay that has window perches, a cat tree and scratching posts. Vertical space matters more than floor area. Indoor living keeps a Bombay safe, and a screened lanai can add fresh air if your building allows it.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $30 to $60 per month | $360 to $720 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,260 to $2,820 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and other supplies, and minimal home grooming for the short coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Honolulu.
Oʻahu's adoption community includes a large open-admission shelter, a no-kill shelter in Wahiawā and foster-based rescues. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Honolulu area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Bombay is coming in.
Yes. Honolulu has no known breed bans, and a Bombay faces the same rules as any Oʻahu cat, starting with a registered microchip. Adopting a cat that's already on Oʻahu also skips the import quarantine that applies to animals arriving from elsewhere. Pedigreed Bombays are uncommon, so watch the listings on this page for sleek black cats with copper eyes.
Yes, a Bombay usually does well in a Honolulu apartment or condo when it has company, play and vertical space. A cat tree, window perch and daily wand-toy sessions matter more than square footage. Keep windows and lanai doors screened, since curious cats can slip out or fall from upper floors, and read the building's pet policy before applying.
A Bombay fits Honolulu well if someone is home for part of the day and you enjoy daily play. The warm climate is easy on an indoor cat, but Bombays are social, and some fret through long, empty workdays. Because storms and tsunami zones are part of island life, practice carrier training early so evacuating together stays calm.
Yes, but only in a closed carrier. TheBus allows animals in a small enclosed container on your lap or under the seat, and Skyline accepts small animals in a cage or carrier that fits under the seat or on your lap. A carrier sized for a 6-to-12-pound cat works. Practice carrier time at home first.
Very little. A Bombay's short, satiny coat sheds lightly, so a weekly brush or rubber-glove rub-down keeps it glossy, even in Honolulu's humidity. Wipe watery eyes as needed, trim nails and brush teeth. Professional grooming isn't usually necessary, and the supplies sit inside the Other costs on this page rather than a separate grooming bill.
Yes, mostly. Honolulu reaches 90°F on about 32 days a year, mainly July to September, and has never hit 100°F in recent climate normals, so an indoor Bombay stays comfortable with shade, fresh water and a fan or air conditioning. Humidity is the bigger issue, so let your cat nap in the coolest room. Never leave a cat in a parked car.
Expect roughly $105 to $235 a month, or about $1,260 to $2,820 a year, for a Bombay in Honolulu. That covers food ($25 to $50 a month), insurance ($30 to $60 a month), routine vet care ($150 to $350 a year) and other costs ($450 to $1,150 a year), such as litter, dental care and flea prevention.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Honolulu.
