Bombay cats are the perfect choice if you’re in the market for a “panther-like” feline. These large cats are bigger and more muscular than most domestic cats, and they are friendly felines who love to be in the company of their humans and other pets. These kitties demand attention and love to play—you can expect them to follow you around the home.

The Bombay cat’s lifespan can reach up to 20 years, and they are loyal, affectionate, and fun to own. Given their long lives, you may wonder how much it costs to own one of these intelligent felines. When you adopt a Bombay cat, expect to pay between $20-$200 and if you buy one from a reputable breeder, a Bombay will cost approximately $500–$2,000. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the costs so you know what to expect before owning one.

Click below to jump ahead:

• Bringing Home a New Bombay Cat: One-Time Costs
• List of Bombay Cat Care Supplies and Costs
• How Much Does a Bombay Cat Cost Per Month?
• Owning a Bombay Cat on a Budget

Bringing Home a New Bombay Cat: One-Time Costs

As with any cat breed, you will have one-time costs when bringing your Bombay cat home. You may already have some items if you’ve owned a cat before, such as a cat carrier and litter boxes. However, if this is your first time being a cat owner, don’t worry; we will break down everything you need to consider before diving into cat ownership.

Free

Bombay cats are a relatively rare cat breed—there were fewer than 100 registered Bombay cats at the end of the 20^th century, so the odds of finding one for free are slim to none. Basically, you may only find one for free if you know someone giving them away.

Adoption

It’s hard to pinpoint the price for adopting one of these cats, as it will depend on where you adopt the cat from. You may be lucky enough to find one inexpensively in your local animal shelter, especially if the cat is an older adult. We advise you to always look in your local animal shelter because you never know if a Bombay cat may lose its family due to divorce, a death, or some other circumstance.

Kittens are more expensive because potential owners are more abundant for younger cats than seniors. You may even find a senior cat for free from a rescue group—if not free, the price will still be considerably lower. Cats from rescues or shelters are usually already spayed or neutered, which keeps you from having to spend money on the procedure—the price is typically reflected in the adoption fee.

Breeder

Obtaining a Bombay cat through a breeder will be considerably more expensive than buying from a rescue. The prices typically run from $500 to $700, but if you’re on the lookout for a show cat, the price goes up to roughly $2,000.

Be careful when buying from breeders, as non-reputable breeders may sell you a mixed Bombay but charge the same as they would for a purebred. If you choose to go through a breeder, ensure the breeder is reputable.

Initial Setup and Supplies

Owning a cat doesn’t have to break the bank, but you will have initial setup and supply expenses. Again, if you’ve owned a cat before and still have some items, your initial setup may be less, but if you’re starting from square one, you will need to buy specific necessities. You don’t have to buy the best of the best or the most expensive items, especially if you’re on a budget. Let’s look at the chart below to better understand the expenses you’ll need to consider.

List of Bombay Cat Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Bombay Cat Cost Per Month?

Bombay cats are one of the more affordable cats you can own. Your biggest monthly expenses will be food and monthly medications for heartworm prevention. It’s generally cheaper to buy a 3 to 6-month supply of heartworm medication instead of buying individually.

We recommend feeding your Bombay high-quality cat food that provides all the necessary nutrients needed to stay healthy and happy. Remember, they have a long lifespan of up to 20 years, but in order to live a long and healthy life, you’ll need to provide quality nutrition.

Litter is another item you’ll buy monthly, with various prices and types. It may take a little time to find the right litter, but your Bombay cat will help you in making that decision.

Health Care

Bombay cats are generally healthy, but any cat can become ill or injured. That said, you may not have monthly health expenses for your cat. Under normal circumstances, you’ll only take your cat for a checkup once or twice a year.

It’s wise to put your Bombay on a monthly flea and tick preventative, especially if your Bombay will be an indoor/outdoor cat. You can buy topical medications you administer to the skin, flea collars, or a monthly chewable pill.

Having a dental routine is wise to keep from having expensive dental bills down the road. You can buy dental treats, or you can brush your cat’s teeth with approved cat toothpaste.

Food

Cat food prices vary depending on the quality of the food. Premium food will be higher, but the expense is worth the benefits for your cat. Feeding a low-quality food with cheap filler and preservatives keeps costs down for the manufacturers, but this is not doing your Bombay cat any favors. It’s best to provide the best nutrition possible with quality ingredients to keep your cat healthy. Look at it this way: the healthier your cat, the less chance of your cat becoming ill, which will save you in expensive vet bills.

Grooming

Unless you plan on showing your cat, it’s not likely your cat will need a professional groomer. You can groom your cat yourself for free minus grooming tools. A grooming session typically runs around $50, and a groomer will likely do a great job. A professional groomer may be the better option if you’re uncomfortable doing it yourself.

Medications and Vet Visits

Thankfully, the Bombay cat is a healthy breed with little to no genetically inherited diseases; however, obesity tends to be the most common culprit for health conditions in this breed. Exercising your cat and feeding them the appropriate amount of food will keep obesity away. As long as your Bombay is healthy, you’ll only need to see a vet once or twice a year.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is not a necessary expense, but it can really save you thousands of dollars if your Bombay gets sick. There are many pet insurance companies to choose from, with varying plans and prices that you can customize to fit your budget. For example, you can customize your deductible, annual reimbursement limits, and reimbursement percentages, all of which alter your monthly premium. For a cat, plans usually average $20 per month, give or take.

TIP: The younger your cat, the less the plan will cost per month—older cats cost more to cover, so the longer you wait, the more an insurance policy will be.

Environment Maintenance

Environment maintenance will consist of items such as litter box liners, deodorizing sprays for stinky litter boxes, a cardboard scratcher, etc. Providing scratching posts is important for your cat’s mental health, and you can opt for a longer-lasting one for a little more rather than settling for a cheaper cardboard scratcher that you’ll need to replace monthly. Nonetheless, the chart below will give you an idea of such expenses.

Entertainment

Cats love to play with toys, especially things they can pounce and bat. You can buy such toys at your local pet store, but these toys often don’t last very long. However, they do the job of keeping your cat occupied, especially a Bombay who likes to play and be entertained.

A cat toy box subscription is an excellent way to keep your Bombay happy with never-ending toys and treats, and the toys and treats are even delivered right to your door. You can select what you want to be included in the box—you can even pick a theme if you’d like, such as holiday themes or TV/movie themes.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Bombay Cat

Being a cat owner means providing your cat with all the necessities he needs for his entire lifetime. Some cat breeds are more expensive to own than others, but the Bombay is not one of them. However, you still need to provide high-quality cat food for optimal health, as well as toys and a cat scratcher for mental health. You should also factor in monthly heartworm prevention and flea and tick medication, along with cat litter.

Additional Costs to Factor In

Bombay cats love being around their humans, and they are one of the few breeds that can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long. That said, if you can’t take your Bombay kitty with you on a trip, you might want to consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your cat. Or, you can always board your cat if you plan to be gone for an extended period.

Cats can be mischievous, and your Bombay may decide to tear up a piece of furniture or an item of clothing. We’re not saying Bombay cats are destructive, but it could happen.

And, of course, your Bombay can get injured or sick from a number of things—always expect the unexpected when being a pet owner.

Owning a Bombay Cat on a Budget

Pet ownership is a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s not cheap. You will always have pet expenses as long as you own a pet, but you don’t always have to buy the most expensive items or products (except for quality cat food). Luckily, a Bombay cat does not require too much expense, and he’ll be happy with whatever toy you buy, whether it is expensive or not.

Our best advice is to provide healthy, high-quality food and keep your Bombay active to avoid obesity. In doing those two things, you will likely avoid expensive vet bills due to sickness, which will save you money in the long run.

Saving Money on Bombay Cat Care

A good way to save money is to look for specials or coupons for food purchases and any other necessities. If your Bombay needs to be spayed/neutered, look for low-cost veterinary services. Some veterinary practices have specific days where they do basic surgeries, like spaying/neutering, at significant discounts.

If you need a pet sitter, ask a family member or friend who knows your Bombay to stay with your beloved kitty while you’re away; this will keep you from spending a large amount of money on pet boarding, plus, your Bombay will be happier with that choice.

Conclusion

Being a pet owner comes with responsibilities, and you must be financially prepared to have monthly expenses to take care of your Bombay appropriately. Food is at the top of the list for expenses, along with monthly pest control and heartworm prevention. Cat litter, toys, and a scratcher are all necessities too.

Your expenses will largely be up to you in terms of how much you want to spend on certain items. You can buy top-of-the-line automatic litter boxes that clean themselves or the most expensive cat condo on the market. You don’t, however, need to spend an astronomical amount on such things—but you certainly can if you want to!

The most important factors are keeping your cat happy with playing and providing premium cat food. Take your Bombay for regular checkups once or twice a year, and don’t forget about flea, tick, and heartworm monthly medications.

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Featured Image Credit: Viktor Sergeevich, Shutterstock