Mustang Bombays - About Mustang


	The Mustang Name
	The story of Mustang goes back to December 1977, while reading the classifieds in the local newspaper, an ad appeared that read: “Adorable 8 week old Black kittens, free to a good home” What possessed me to want a cat, I don’t know, but getting a kitten became a high priority. Problem was we lived in a very small town in northern Alberta, the weather was -30°C and snowing, and it was a 30 mile trip into town on a two lane, unlighted highway, and it got dark at 4pm. Somehow I convinced mom to make the drive, so after a stop at the local Safeway for new kitten supplies, we were on our way to pick up the kitten. A few minutes picking out the only male left in the litter, and the new baby safely wrapped in a blanket, we were on the way. Of course it was dark by now, and the new kitten so tiny, that he got lost inside the blanket, but his tiny meows said all was well. Arriving home, the kitten was named Mustang, after the famous P-51 fighter plane of WWII. After exploring his new home, and a bite to eat, it was off to sleep where he happily spent the night under the covers. For the next 20 years, Mustang was a constant companion and best friend, passing away in 1997. You never forget the experience of your first cat, and Mustang was no exception. Mustang Bombays was named in his honor, and all cats are named using the nose art that Mustang pilots decorated their aircraft with. For a little about Mustang nose art, visit this page about the History of Salem Representative, flown by Lt. Ralph K. ("Kid") Hofer. Oddly enough, I chose this nose art to name my first Bombay, not knowing that the personality of my cat very much mirrored that of Kid Hofer who was something of a rebel and was always testing the limits of what he could get away with. Sadly, on July 2 1944, he exceeded that limit.

	On Breeding
	Only a small number of cats are kept, and only a few litters are bred each year. This ensures that each cat and every kitten receives all the love and attention that they deserve, regardless of whether they are a showcat, part of the breeding program, permanent resident, or a kitten leaving for a new home. After health, the temperament and sociability of all kittens is most important, every kitten is handled several times each day starting when they are just a few minutes old and barely done being cleaned by the mommacat. Although Bombays are a people oriented breed, this early handling is still essential for them to be a happy, healthy and social kitten that will enjoy the company of it's owners. Of course, in the end, the goal is to create that ideal showcat, the hard part it putting it all into the same package. Use of cages is kept to an absolute minimum, and are used only with very young kittens, and expecting mothers in the last day or so prior to their due date. Otherwise, they would have their babies under (or in) the bed or somewhere else that will make a mess, it's not called a “litter” for nothing, use your imagination. After birth, kittens stay with their mother in a large cage for their first few weeks, momma is free to come and go as she pleases, but cats are such good mothers, they don't leave their babies for very long. This keeps them warm, safe, and close to momma, once old enough to walk on their own they are turned loose to begin exploring their new world. Adults being shown or used for breeding are kept whole till they are no more than 5 or 6 years old, and then retired to live as a spoiled pet. Of course there are some favoured pets that hold a special place and will never leave, in addition to being spoiled; they help teach the kittens how to be cats. For example, I have never had to teach a single kitten appropriate scratching behaviour, they simply do what they see their mother and the other cats doing, "kitty see - kitty do." Since there are already enough unwanted cats, every kitten not being shown, or used in a breeding program is spayed or neutered before leaving for their new home. Unaltered kittens will be sold only to other known breeders, or those who have shown they are serious about breeding to a recognized standard, that will include showing at sanctioned events.

Webmaster Denis Fitzgerald │©2003-2005 Denis Fitzgerald/Mustang Bombays
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