The Bombay is a manufactured breed if there ever was one. These adorable cats actually began with Burmese breeders in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Burmese breeders recognized the need to outcross in order to produce a more compact body while retaining the dark and even coat their breed Standard required. They couldn’t use a Siamese, due to the longer body and blue eyes. Other breeds were eliminated from consideration for similar genetic issues.
The only logical candidate appeared to be the black American Shorthair. The difficulty Burmese breeders encountered was that there was no allowable outcross for the Burmese. If they wanted to introduce new blood, they had to falsify the pedigrees. This was accomplished in several ways. Brown hybrids were added to legitimate Burmese litters, and black hybrids were registered as American Shorthairs, since, at this time, there was open registration for the American Shorthair.
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were several Burmese champions that carried the thickened, more resilient coats resulting from the Burmese-American cross. But what could the breeders of these kittens do with those that retained the all-black coats of their American Shorthair parents?
The Development of the Bombay
A breeder in Louisville, Kentucky began crossing the black kittens to black kittens only. This breeder, Nikki Shuttleworth Horner, was highly successful in creating a black Burmese with excellent conformation and a budding personality. These beautiful kittens were Burmese in every respect, with the exception of their black color. She knew that she could never get a new color added to the Burmese breed because of the strong opinion of Burmese breeders.
Horner decided on a different approach, one that didn’t involve the Burmese breeders at all. She made a request for a separate recognition for her black cats, which she called Bombays. They reminded her of the black leopards of India, near the city of Bombay, which is where the name comes from. In 1976, the Cat Fancier’s Association accepted the Bombay for competition. And so the breed was born.
Some Breed Standards for the Bombay
The Standards for the Bombay, as with many other breeds, are quite strict. It is quite easy to have a cat that is penalized or even disqualified, so those picking a show or breeding kitten should do so with care.
General: The ideal Bombay has a unique look all its own. It should have a short, jet-black, gleaming coat, vivid copper eyes, a solid body, and sweet expression. The Bombay should also be muscular and heavy for its size. The perfect Bombay has excellent proportion and carriage.
Head: Pleasingly round, with no sharp angles, and the face should be full and sweet. In profile, there should be a visible nose break, but it should not present a ‘pugged’ or ‘snubbed’ look.
Ears: The ears of the Bombay should be medium in size and set well apart, alert, and tilting slightly forward. They should be broad at the base, with slightly rounded tips.
Eyes: The eyes should be set far apart with a rounded aperture. The color can range from gold to copper, but the greater the depth and brilliance the better.
Body: The Bombay should be medium in size, muscular, and neither compact nor rangy. They are slightly longer than their Burmese cousins, but not by much. The legs should be in proportion to the body, the paws should be rounded.
Tail: The ideal Bombay has a straight tail, medium in length, and neither short nor ‘whippy.’
Coat: All Bombays must be jet-black, with short, fine, satin-like texture of the coat. It should be close lying, with a shimmering sheen.
Penalties: Any cat found to be excessively cobby or rangy will be penalized.
Disqualifications: There are several reasons a Bombay might be disqualified. These include: kinked or abnormal tail, lockets or spots, incorrect number of toes, nose leather or paw pads that are not black, or green eyes.
The Bombay has a sweet disposition and a wonderfully sleek look. They make excellent pets and companions for many people, and are generally a mild tempered breed.
Itching is a common problem in cats and has many different causes. Your cat may have a skin infection, irritation, allergies, or even a parasite. However, one of the most common causes of itching in cats is the presence of fleas. An itchy cat is an uncomfortable cat. Your feline may scratch, bite, or even rub his or her own fur off on cement or concrete in an attempt to relieve the itching. Keep your cat healthy and happy by taking steps to prevent fleas to begin with.
Left untreated, fleas can lead to serious health issues for your cat including Feline Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). FAD is characterized by severe itching and little red bumps that look a lot like pimples. This condition can result in permanent hair loss and even infection. The best way to prevent FAD is to deal with fleas immediately.
Your best option for dealing with fleas is to use a good flea control medication. I like Advantage II, but you should consult your veterinarian for a recommendation regarding which medication is best for your feline. It is in your cat's best interest to be on a flea control medication. A single flea can more than 400 times in one day and they multiply like you wouldn't believe. Fleas can infest your home in just a few days, so prevent an infestation by taking precautions for all your feline friends.
If you already have an infestation, contact a qualified exterminator, treat your furry family members for fleas with the assistance of your veterinarian, and take steps to prevent another occurance.
The Birman is a fabled breed that is shrouded in mystery and legend. This cat, often referred to as the Sacred Cat of Burma, was honored in Burma because the people there believed that the souls of their departed priests returned in the form of these stunning cats. The greatest legend surrounding this breed comes out of the temple of Lao-Tsun, located in western Burma.
A priest named Mun-Ha lived here, and each night, as he prayed, his sacred cat Sinh was at his side. One dark night, the temple was raided and Mun-Ha was killed. Sinh stood with his paws on his dead master, facing the sacred statue of Tsun-Kyan-Kse, the goddess of the transmutation of souls. Sinh began to transform. His coat, once white, glowed gold. His eyes turned blue, and his legs took on the color of brown velvet. His feet, however, remained a sparkling white, a symbol of the purity of Mun-Ha’s soul.
By morning, all other cats in the temple had completed this same transformation. For seven days, Sinh remained with his master. Finally, on the seventh day, Sinh died, carrying with him the soul of Mun-Ha.
While such a tale is certainly worthy of the Birman, it does nothing to illuminate the true origins of the breed. It is unlikely that anyone will ever discover the true beginnings of this illustrious cat.
The Development of the Birman
The introduction of the Sacred Cat of Burma to Western Europe is also surrounded in doubt. It is likely, however, that a pregnant female was shipped from Burma to France in 1919. Though no one seems to know what became of that cat, or why she was sent to France, it seems reasonable to assume that her kittens, including a beautiful female named Poupee, were the foundation used to establish the breed in France.
By 1925, the Sacred Cat of Burma was established well enough in France to take part in various competitions. The arrival of World War II, however, was hard on the breed. There was a point just after the war when there was only a single pair of these cats left. Concerned breeders used outcrossing to reestablish the breed as best they could.
In 1955, the Sacred Cat of Burma was firmly reestablished in France. Four years later, a breeding pair was imported into the United States. By the mid-1960s, the breed was accepted for competition in North America and England. Around this same time, the name was changed to Burman, and eventually to Birman.
Some Breed Standards for the Birman
The standards for the Birman, as with many other breeds, are quite strict. It is quite easy to have a cat that is penalized or even disqualified, so those picking a show or breeding kitten should do so with care.
General: The Birman is a colorpointed cat with long, silky hair and four pure white feet. The head is distinctive, and the eyes are a bright blue.
Head: The head of the Birman should be strong, broad, and rounded. There should be a slight flat spot just in front of the ears. The Birman has full cheeks and heavy jaws.
Ears: Medium in length, the ears are almost as wide at the base as they are tall.
Eyes: The eyes of the Birman should be round and convey a sweet expression. The eyes should be blue in color, and the deeper blue, the better.
Body: The body should be long and stocky. Females tend to be smaller than males. Legs are medium in length and heavy, paws must be large, round, and firm.
Tail: The tail of a Birman is beautiful and pleasing in proportion to the body. It should be medium in length.
Coat: The Birman has a medium long to long coat, and is silken in texture. There should be a heavy ruff around the neck, and slight curl on the stomach. The color of the body should be fairly even, with subtle shading allowed. The points should be clearly defined, and the gloves should be clean and obvious.
Penalties: Uneven gloves, delicate bone structure, or white shading on chest or stomach are all causes for penalties.
Disqualifications: Any cat lacking full gloves will be disqualified. Other grounds for disqualification include: kinked or abnormal tail, crossed eyes, incorrect number of toes, white on the back legs beyond the hock.
The Birman is a sweet and gentle breed. Its lovely disposition and beautiful coat make it a delightful addition to any household.
Wellness cat food has risen in popularity recently. This brand of cat food is delicious, balanced and natural. It also is high quality and very nutritious. However, as one of the better cat foods on the market, it is not cheap. For many families, Wellness cat food is too expensive to purchase without the use of coupons. For these people, locating Wellness cat food coupons is necessary in order to provide their feline companions with a high quality meal. Fortunately, these coupons are not that difficult to locate.
The Wellness Pet Food Website
Wellness, like many companies, has their own website. Using this website, individuals can join the Naturally Well Pet Community. Members receive many benefits, including notices of discounts and special offers. You can even sign up for special Wellness contests and giveaways. In addition, coupons will occasionally be sent to established members, both through e-mail and regular mail.
Online Auction Sites
Sites that specialize in online auctions, such as eBay, often have coupons for auction. Sometimes these sites will have Wellness cat food coupons available in bulk for a very good price. Many sellers will even offer these coupons as “Buy It Now” items, so you won’t even have to wait for an auction to end. You can simply order your coupons as you would any other Internet item. When using online auction sites to purchase coupons, ensure the coupons are legitimate. Look carefully at each listing and ask the seller questions regarding their items. Remember that photocopies are not accepted by most retailers, so make sure you know they are original cat food coupons before you commit to buy.
Online Coupon Sites
Internet sites exist that allow you to select coupons and either print them yourself or have them mailed to you. Most retailers will accept online coupons provided they are from a legitimate site such as Coupons.com, MySavings.com or RedPlum.com. Check these sites frequently, as the offers are subject to change. Keep in mind, however, that most of these sites limit how many times per month you can order coupons. It is best to order all your coupons together to take greater advantage of the available offers.
Local Sources for Wellness Cat Food Coupons
Don’t underestimate your local newspapers and flyers as sources for coupons. Local pet supply stores are also a good place to look. They may offer free samples or coupons to return customers. They may even have a program for a free bag of food once you’ve purchased a certain number of bags at regular price.
Take the time to ask the salespersons about any promotions Wellness might be having in the near future. They may know of a booth or event Wellness may be hosting in your area. You can usually obtain free samples and a great many coupons simply by making a point of visiting certain locations on certain days.
Before you throw out your used food bags or tins, check the packaging for coupons. Sometimes these coupons will be on the back of the bag, the label of the tin or even hidden inside the bag wrapped in plastic. Check all packaging carefully before you discard it.
One of the best ways to save money with coupons is to keep them until your local grocery or pet store has a sale. Most of the time, retailers will let you use your coupons on top of the sale price, reducing the money you’ll have to pay for the cat food significantly. Some stores will even allow you to stack your coupons. But check to make sure your local store allows this, at it is a rare practice.
By using Wellness cat food coupons you can obtain a premium, healthy cat food at a fraction of the cost you might normally pay. Check local newspapers and flyers, old packaging and online to find these coupons and you’ll soon find yourself becoming a thrifty cat food shopper. If any brand of cat food will do, look for deals on Whiskas, Iams or Friskies cat food.
