What is the difference between the black American Shorthair and the Bombays?
A. The Bombays get their black color and copper eyes from the Americans. Because of the very plush American coat, that is “hard” or more course than the Bombay’s, we breeders usually outcross to the Burmese instead of the Americans. The kittens from an American that is bred to a Bombay or Burmese, will have a full coat. Although these cats have won in the show ring, it takes a lot of effort to properly groom them. Such a cat needs to be bred back to the Burmese to improve the coat. In profile the nose of an American should be a steep slope, whereas the Bombay will have a distinct change in direction between the forehead and nose. Even so, we Bombay breeders still covet a good American Shorthair for our breeding program, so that we can improve in the genetic diversity of a rare breed. In that we also can get improved health, better coat and eye color, and a cat that does not resemble a Burmese too much.
