Sir Terrence “Terry” Pratchett, a distinguished world-renowned English novelist, once said: “In ancient times cats were worshiped as gods; they have not forgotten this.” His quote was a resounding sentiment that illustrates the warped fascination with cats throughout the contemporary internet age. Celebrity felines like Tardar Sauce (aka Grumpy Cat), Nala, Waffles, and Little Bub often appear as the modern avatars of the goddess Bastet of Ancient Egypt or the goddess Ix Chel of the Mayan civilization. Hence, 43 percent of the population of United States owning domestic cats may embody the proof of Terry Pratchett’s quip.
What separates these cats from other domestic felines is their glossy panther-like fur. In the United States, Bombay cats are pretty much outlandish since they have only been introduced in the country around the late 1950’s after 
successfully reproducing a hybrid generation from Burmese and American Shorthair parents. Bombay cat prices can be categorized into three varieties.
The generic pet quality Bombay cats cost around $400 to $600. While many breeders would sell these black cats within this price range, there are others who may offer less than $300.
Bombay cats which are bred for entertainment or pet shows can entail as much as $750 to $2,000. The same price range also applies for those who are known for producing top quality kittens (aka breeders).
A different price category is reserved for Bombay cats that are past the prime of their breeding and stage careers. This rare breed variety only cost around $100 to $200. Unfortunately, this type youthful 8- to 10-month old cat is very difficult to find.
Overall Pet Maintenance Cost
Apart from the average Bombay cats’ cost for purchase, cat parents must also take note of the necessary expenses needed to keep this lustrous pet healthy and contented throughout its entire 14 years of natural lifespan. Fortunately, maintaining them is a quite cheaper than paying for their adoption. In fact, the annual investments of adopting a cat seldom come close to the market value of generic Bombay cat prices.
When it comes to their nutrition, it is possible to categorize the annual spending on food in three ways. Low-cost investment entails an average of $100 to $120. Mid-range spending on premium cat food generates a total of $170 per year. Maintaining high-grade cat food on a daily basis entails an average annual cost of $200 per year. For the entire natural lifespan of the Bombay cat, a pet owner is expected to accrue a total of no more than $2,800 on food alone.
Apart from food, cats also require sufficient health care. This aspect includes the budget for vet diagnostics, lice control, vaccination and operations such as spay/neuter or trauma surgery.
The average annual estimate for a visit to the vet clinic is around $50. For low-cost flea control, the sum of yearly spending could be anywhere around $50, while expensive treatment entails an annual average of $150. For vaccination, pet owners are looking at an average annual investment between $45 and $85. The average yearly spending for the cat’s vitamins would not exceed $50. The entire basic health care investment per year is roughly, $250.
It is important to take note, however, that this cost projection applies to a broad variety of cat breeds. Considering the inherent characteristics of a Bombay cat, there are certain advantages that may reduce these estimated annual investment cost or increase it by virtue of specific household adjustments.
Due to the considerable cost of the Bombay Cat, it would be a good idea to invest in a reliable cat tracking device if you are planning on letting your cat go outside so that you don’t have to worry about losing it.
Health & Temperament Issues
As implied in the previous part of the article, pet owners must look beyond the market Bombay cat prices and go deeper into the annual maintenance cost to truly understand how they can make a smart investment. When it comes to smart investment, it is necessary to understand the very nature of a Bombay cat, which fundamentally sets it apart from other domestic felines.
- Character Profile:
Bombay cats have a very robust health profile. Their susceptibility to illness is very low, and this makes even the highest Bombay cat cost an excellent bargain for potential pet owners. Choosing this breed of cat means pet owners will have to pay far less than $50 worth of annual vet bills.
Bombay cats are highly energetic, but fortunately, their calm demeanor prevents them from being a very ruinous (furniture hostile) pet. This saves owners the potential average cost of $200 for repairing sofas and other soft living room accouterments. They do not often resort to aggressive or rough play like some domestic breeds but 
surprisingly, they have a very high tolerance for toddlers wrestling and grappling with them. One of the best reasons for adopting this breed is that it knows how to deal with children of all ages.
One of the strangest quirks of a Bombay cat is that they are very vocal and they require constant attention. A pet owner who isn’t always at home will definitely cause distress for the Bombay cats. Their loud mewling may cause some disturbance to close quarter neighbors, particularly those who are living in apartment units. To avoid being relocated, some pet owners would resort to installing soundproof walls in their flat interiors to muffle the Bombay cat’s incessant high-pitched cries.
When it comes down to it, soundproofing the interiors have three categories for its overall average pricing. Materials alone costs $170 to $250. The tools needed to complete the interior addition costs around $20 to $36. If one has to include professional labor, the additional average price is between $190 and $300.