How do you buy and sell a Bombay Cat?

Bombay Cats

Bombay Cats are a breed of Burmese and the American Shorthair. Experts experimented to achieve a completely black appearance for which they are popular.

These medium-sized cats feature a muscular physical structure. Similar to other cats, they love the company of kids. Also, they enjoy playing with other cats due to their friendly nature. These even-tempered and forbearing cats are in high demand.

What is the Cost of a Bombay Cat?

Research suggests that as of 2021, a pet-standard Bombay cat will cost almost $300 to $750.

However, if you are looking for show-quality cats, it will cost you almost $700 to $2000, particularly if the cat belongs to an esteemed ancestry. While a retired Bombay cat may cost you below $200 if you can hunt a breeder who is eager to sell their show cat. The cat’s cost is influenced by its gender, pedigree, quality, breeder, and place of adoption.

If you wish to adopt a Bombay cat, you must be mindful of the fact that it can be quite hard to hunt, as it is quite rare in countries like the USA.

What Does Adoption Fee Encompass?

A decent breeder should at least encompass registration docs, health guarantee, latest vaccination records, health records, and a travel crate (if you plan to ship the cat to another region).

What are the Additional Costs?

When you purchase a Bombay cat, you need to include the cyclical costs like cat clutter, nourishment, accessories, toys, shelter, and veterinary appointments.

If you adopt a healthy cat, you will have to spend between $30 – $40 each month. And if your cat becomes seriously ill, the cost may spike. Also, if you are required to ship your cat through air or road, then you should include shipping charges, which on average range between $150 to $400. Moreover, as a Bombay cat owner, you should own a rubber brush to remove loose hair and maintain the cat’s glossy surface in the fall and spring seasons.

What are the Tips for Buying a Bombay Cat?

When purchasing a Bombay cat, you should consider its personality. And experts suggest that this “Velcro” cat will never leave your side. So, if you are not in search of an independent cat, then you should try to find one elsewhere as these cats always desire attention. Good with kids, the Bombay cat is faithful, spirited, and smart. And when neglected, they will inform you by being vocal. When you keep it in captivity, its lifespan ranges between 12 to 16 years.

Male Bombay cats usually weigh between 8 to 11 pounds, while female weight may range from 6 to 9 pounds.

Although these cats have good overall health, as they comprise Burmese genes, they are vulnerable to ailments like runny eyes, breathing issues, and asymmetrical jawlines (because of their flat face structure). 

As per the catbreedjuntion.com, cat breeders refer to Bombay cats as a fusion of cat, dog, and monkey. They have commendable intelligence levels so are compared to monkeys, and the fact they love playing games like fetch makes them similar to a dog.

How to Save Money?

To save money, it is always better to opt for adoption rather than purchasing an expensive cat from a private dealer. Apart from saving, you can contribute towards societal welfare by providing homeless cats a comfortable living. So, if you are convinced to search for an adoptable Bombay cat in your region, browse through petfinder.com. You can also check your local area for a particular rescue group that might be home to Bombay cats.

The Cost Factor

When purchasing a Bombay cat, you are not required to spend a great deal of money, though the price range lies on the steep side. So, the average price of the Bombay cat ranges between $500 to $700. Sometimes, it can exceed the $700 range also.

However, if you want to opt for a show cat, you might have to spend thousands of dollars. Such cats need to have qualities from an award-winning Bombay cat breed. So, show cats can match the ideal physical breed standard for cat competition shows. Some examples of these shows are Cat Fancier’s Association and The International Cat Association. The majority of the cat owners are happy to have a Bombay cat that is categorized under the pet quality classification. A handful of breeders may have cats that are pensioned off from the show circuit, so you have a chance to purchase them at competitive rates.

The Maintenance

So, after you own a Bombay cat, what else do you need to consider? Though, basic kitty-cat maintenance items are quite up-front. Every cat needs an individual comfortable bed, water dish, and food box. Though their grooming needs are minimal when contrasted to other breeds, you should still own a handy brush. As cats belong to the carnivorous category, they demand a high-quality protein diet. So, a Bombay cat should be fed a nutritious and balanced diet. The average yearly cat food cost fluctuates from $150 to $500.

If your Bombay cat is healthy, you can expect a lifetime of 12 to 16 years. However, all cats are vulnerable to acute and chronic health issues that are influenced by their lifestyles, genes, and sheer endurance problems. The majority of owners opt to purchase health insurance.

Why You Should Purchase from a Reputable Breeder?

A majority of the health issues of Bombay cats are hereditary. Some common health problems include runny eyes, sinus issues, head malformations, glaucoma, and diabetes. However, a responsible breeder will show health clearances for the kitten before they finalize the deal. Health clearance for the cat’s parents is a bonus.

How to Sell Bombay Cats?

Facts show that people have a special bond with their pets. Some pet owners may treat their pets like their own kids, which reflects their love and care. So, if you want to sell a Bombay cat online, you might have to learn a lot. The reason is that you must know how to survive in a competitive market. Here are some important aspects to know when selling a cat:

Marketing

As per the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are more than 58 million pet cats in the USA. Besides, Bombay cats are an uncommon cat breed, so you must research if you wish to adopt them. It is similar to a wild cat and resembles a black panther featuring striking copper eyes.

As people love using social media channels like Facebook, and Instagram, so you can use these mediums to market your cat. You may include their breed, eating habits, health condition, lifestyle, weight, and other features along with a nice and clear picture. Don’t forget to mention the sale price. Another effective way to sell your cat is to keep your post public and use several hashtags. Also, you may ask your friends to share your post with their followers.

Niche Down

Here you will learn why niching down is important. When selling cats online, you are focusing on a particular market segment. Niching down will help narrow down the interested buyers. Like when you niche down your Bombay Cat advert, you are focusing on a specific breed. So, you will attract only concerned sellers.

Though your target market is narrowed when you niche down, however, it opens up to several opportunities:

  • You will be able to pay a low advertising cost, as your target audience are small
  • You will face less competition, which will make you are selling more effective
  • You will be able to appeal to loyal and promised clients only
  • You can adopt a focused advertising strategy that allows you to sell several goods while keeping your marketing cost low.

Where to Sell?

When you plan to sell your Bombay Cat, you should opt for reliable e-commerce platforms that will effectively promote your cat. You can also search for good niche marketplaces like third-party sellers or pet-specific websites. You should opt for a safe shipping method when your cat is sold.

Which Marketing Strategies to Opt for When Selling a Bombay Cat?

If you are interested in selling your Bombay cat through a social media or e-commerce platform, here are some useful marketing strategies to adopt: 

Collaborate with Social Media Influencers

You can collaborate with influencers on social media. A sensible decision will be to engage “cat influencers” to promote your item to a wider audience.

Develop A Blog

Look for cat-specific information that your customers desire to see, then formulate a blog where you can publish engaging content and insert your items. You can also share your published content on social media platforms or promote it through email marketing.

Create an Email List

Encourage website browsers or visitors to sign up via email. You may offer discounts or offers to first-time shoppers, and loyal customers. You can strategize by running email campaigns, special promotions, or ignored car reminders.

Online Adverts

You may opt for Facebook Ad Campaigns or Google Adverts using the most demanded cat-related keywords.

Collaborate with Veterinarians

You should check with the veterinarian of your locality if they will be interested in posting your marketing content, or displaying or ad. You may request them to advertise your Bombay cat to their clients against a certain commission or referral fee. This can be quite effective strategy.

Work Together with Cat Rescues and Breeders

Did you know that cat rescuers and breeders are highly enthusiastic about cats? So, you will not find anyone more helpful than these. So, they can act as your greatest advocates and can help you through the process. So, you can discuss all details with them.

Customer Loyalty

If you are selling through your e-commerce platform, you may introduce a customer loyalty program with discounts that will encourage repeated purchases.

Collaborate with Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes help well-represent pets and their niches. So, you should hunt for anyone who already possesses a Bombay Cat or Pet subscription box, to know if they are eager to feature your pet on their boxes. Besides, you can also offer a discount on their next purchase.

The remarkable thing regarding these pet marketing strategies is that you can obtain present data on performance, thus enabling you to see what is working and whatnot. It helps fast optimization and allows money saving.

Emphasize on Pictures and Videos

Your Bombay cat’s pictures and videos on its adoption profile matter a lot. The reason is that potential adopters evaluate the cats through their images, so it is important to focus on it. Always capture clear and engaging photos. You may also consider employing a professional photographer or try to find within your volunteer group a person who has exceptional photography skills. Try to capture pictures that feature the cat alone, and people interacting with it. However, if you have a long-stay Bombay cat, you may even plan a fun photoshoot that highlights their personality traits. For instance, you can shoot your Bombay cat as a kitchen helper by making them wear a cook hat.

However, if you think your Bombay cat is shy, you may opt for videos. It is an effective way to attract potential customers, as they will be able to get a live picture of how the cat appears. You can also share these videos and images with the matchmakers and counselors so that they can help you connect with customers.

Focus on Bios

Though it can be challenging to scribe special, and appealing bios for Bombay cats. But you can include their general traits, weight, size, basic features, colors, habits, qualities, and similar things. These specific details will help develop a personal association with the cats, even before they see them in real.

Benefit from Your Foster Program

Foster families are ideal for consultation regarding cat behaviors. If you are unsure of how to describe your cat’s behavior in the profile, you may place your Bombay cat in foster care. They will be able to better observe and provide your details for the bio. They will also allow you to carry out virtual meetings with relaxed and happy cats, helping them reveal their true traits.

Be Creative

If you think that Bombay cats are in low demand in your region, you may have to put in a bit more effort. You will have to discover your creativity by connecting with volunteers or foster families to instruct your cat on some appealing tricks like ringing a bell etc. A funny named cat also entices customers.

Another alluring way to publicize your cat effectively in the public is to design a “vision board” for every cat that may feature pictures of items that they might want to have in their new home. You can also create flyers and ask your volunteers to display them in their neighborhoods. You may also showcase your cats in adoption events in your locality. Besides, you may also reach out to pet influencers through social media or conventional media platforms and request them to advertise your cat.

Prioritize Your Bombay Cat

If you think your Bombay cat requires more promotion than competitor cats, so you need extra effort. While your cat is being publicized on the website, it is always a good idea to create pages for groups.