Bombay Cats for Adoption in Salt Lake City, UT

Your guide to finding and caring for a Bombay in SLC

A Bombay suits an apartment in SLC's Central City or around 9th and 9th, as long as someone is home a fair amount. These black, copper-eyed cats like to be part of whatever you're doing, so a window perch over a busy street keeps them entertained while you cook or work. Plan on daily play with a wand toy, and keep a Bombay indoors, away from traffic and the coyotes that live in the foothills. Most are lap cats by evening.

615 Bombays available in Salt Lake City and nationwide

Open your home to a Bombay

While we don't have enough cats near Salt Lake City, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.

Bombays Available for Adoption Near Salt Lake City

About the Bombay breed

The Bombay was developed in the United States starting in the 1950s, when Nikki Horner of Kentucky crossed sable Burmese with black American Shorthairs, aiming for a miniature black panther. The result is a medium-sized, solid cat, usually 6 to 12 pounds, with a short satiny coat that is black to the roots, a black nose and paw pads, and round gold to copper eyes.

Many Bombays are people-focused, playful and curious, often following their humans from room to room. Some learn fetch or harness walking. Pedigreed Bombays are uncommon in shelters, and a cat listed under this name is usually a sleek black domestic shorthair with the same look, so each cat's own personality matters more than the label. Expect a lifespan of roughly 12 to 15 years.

Weight
6–12 lbs
Height
8–10 in
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Temperament
Affectionate, Social, Playful
Shedding
Low

Owning a Bombay in Salt Lake City

Having a Bombay in SLC

Bombays need little coat care but plenty of company. Their need for play, attention and measured meals matters more than floor space, which makes them workable in many Salt Lake City rentals when someone is home often.

Temperament

Bombays tend to be affectionate, outgoing and keen to be involved, and many greet visitors rather than hide. Some attach closely to one person and dislike long days alone, which matters if your work schedule keeps you out. Many accept other cats and calm dogs after gradual introductions, though each cat's history and socialization shape how it behaves.

Exercise Needs

Plan on daily interactive play with wand toys, chase games or fetch, plus food puzzles for mental work. In SLC's long, snowy winters that play happens indoors, so a tall cat tree and a few short sessions a day matter. Some Bombays enjoy harness walks with patient training, but a muscular, food-motivated cat needs regular exercise either way.

Health Considerations

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been reported in Bombays, and some have watery eyes that need occasional wiping. They can gain weight easily, which raises the risk of diabetes and joint strain. Measured meals, dental care and regular exams help, and a veterinarian can listen for heart murmurs and advise on screening after adoption.

Living Space

A Bombay can settle into an apartment or a house when it has company, play and places to climb. Window perches, cat trees and scratching posts matter more than square footage. Because many crave attention, a home where someone is around part of the day often suits them, and indoor living keeps them safe from traffic and wildlife.

What it costs to own a Bombay in Salt Lake City

ExpenseTypical costPer 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*$475 to $1,200 per year$475 to $1,200
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,285 to $2,870

Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* The yearly Salt Lake City cat license, litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and other supplies, and minimal home grooming for the short coat.

Adopt a Bombay in Salt Lake City.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Salt Lake City.

Rescues and Shelters in or near Salt Lake City

Shelters and rescues around Salt Lake City list cats of every coat and age, and the listings below change often. Here are the rescues & shelters in the SLC area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Bombay is coming in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Utah bars cities from adopting breed-specific rules, so a Bombay faces no special restrictions in Salt Lake City. The main requirement is a city cat license by 5 months of age or within 30 days of adopting, with proof of rabies vaccination. Licenses cost less for spayed or neutered cats, and the city sets no cap on licensed cats.

Yes, Bombays usually do well in apartments if they get daily play and company. Window perches, a tall cat tree and scratching posts matter more than space. With about 56% of SLC households renting, confirm your lease's pet terms and deposit before adopting, and plan for a Bombay that dislikes long days alone.

It works well for an indoor Bombay. The short coat gives little insulation, but heated homes handle SLC's cold, snowy winters, and air conditioning or fans handle July highs in the mid-90s. Keep the cat inside on smoggy winter inversion days and give it a quiet room during July fireworks.

It can be, especially for someone who is home part of most days. A Bombay wants attention and play, which suits a remote worker or a household with several people. A very quiet, hands-off lifestyle or long workdays away may be harder. Indoor living fits SLC's traffic, winter cold and foothill coyotes.

Yes, but only in a carrier. UTA allows pets, including cats, on buses, TRAX trains and FrontRunner only if they are securely contained in a cage, kennel, carrier or container, and UTA staff won't carry it for you. Choose a sturdy, well-ventilated carrier your Bombay already knows, and check current fares before your trip.

Very little. A Bombay's short, satiny coat needs only a weekly rub with a soft brush or rubber mitt, and shedding is low. SLC's dry winter air can dull the coat a little, so keep water available. Occasional eye wiping and dental care are the main extras, covered within the yearly Other costs.

No. Salt Lake County bars animals other than service dogs from food establishments, and the Health Department's dog-patio permits cover dogs only, on a leash with a license tag. A Bombay, even a harness-trained one, is best left at home. Outdoor harness walks and window perches are better outlets.

Expect roughly $1,300 to $2,900 a year for a Bombay in Salt Lake City. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $30 to $60 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and $475 to $1,200 a year in other costs including the city license.