Purr-fect Home-Based Business
Though Carney Bombay cattery has been in business since 2013, very few locals may know that this business is just down the street from them. Business owner, Roy Carney, was drawn to the Bombay cat breed in reflection of family tradition. When Roy was a child the first family pet he remembers is his sister’s black cat and she has continued to have black cats throughout her life. The Bombay breed is very social, so they make great companion pets. Bombays are known for a short, sleek black coat with copper eyes, developed in the 1950’s by Nikki Horner of Louisville, KY. Bombays were created by crossing Sable Burmese and Black American Short Hairs to produce a domestic cat that resembles a miniature parlor panther. Roy Carney shares how common it is to develop breeds in an attempt to add or remove characteristics to one’s liking. Even within the Bombay bloodline there are traditional and contemporary breeds, the contemporary having a more compact face.
With Roy’s desire to breed pets of some sort, tropical fish and Siamese cats did not work out for different reasons; but when he moved to Kalona things began falling into place. He now had the space, resources, and connections to begin his own cattery; a combination of love for cats with a home-based business. “You must be objective,” Roy says. It is far too easy to get attached to the kittens and many people can have a hard time letting them go. There are many state and federal regulations that are in place for health and safety reasons, but they also help keep you from taking on more than you can handle. Housing too many animals in an inadequate facility is detrimental to the animals’ health and safety.
An important aspect for a breeder is networking with other breeders. This allows you to learn more about a breed, share sires (male breeders) for healthy lineage, and expand customer referrals. Purebred cats are a niche market and Bombays are an uncommon breed with demand generally exceeding supply. In general, Roy’s market is more interstate and international with few sales in Iowa. Most of his regional clients are in larger cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines and St. Louis, with sales in nearly every corner of the U.S. Carney Bombay’s cats have also been in Germany, Brazil, Belarus, the Philippines, Sweden, and South Korea. Roy has personally made some of the international deliveries, with extended stays. Currently Carney Bombay has a kitten under consideration for placement with a breeder in Australia, and one of his sires came from Sweden. Four cats that were purchased in Brazil became celebrities, starring in a TV show called "O Setimo Guardiao" (The Seventh Guardian). Because of this extensive geographical market, his business heavily relies on the internet. His website and the Breeder Referral List are key for customers finding his Bombay cats.
Currently, Roy maintains four dams (female cats) producing two two litters per year averaging four kittens per litter. With the many regulations that are in place, vaccinations and testing adds up. He works with one of our local offices, Kalona Veterinary Clinic, but is also able to administer over-the-counter vaccines himself, around 300 vaccines personally administered. Sometimes a kitten requires a little extra help and is tube fed in order to help them keep up with their littermates. Roy explains the caution needed to insert and use the feeding tube; thankfully, this is not a common need. Just like our own children, young kittens are susceptible to sickness and take extra care. In order to best prepare them for their new homes, Roy is also intentional to give them time roaming a few rooms, becoming acclimated to household living. Spending time on socialization is also an important aspect of breeding and raising kittens.
Up until 2020, Roy would also travel to two or three shows each year in major Midwest cities, but due to Covid, they are just beginning to start shows again. Having a cat win championship certainly helps market their kittens, but cat shows also provide professional photography and help network with other breeders. Carney Bombay is not open to the public, except by appointment. To learn more, visit the Carney Bombay website or email Carney.Bombay@gmail.com
