Bambino Cat Breed Description

Active: Bambino cats are a moderately active cat breed. They enjoy playing, being silly and engaging in different interactive and challenging play like puzzles or toys but they also very much enjoy relaxing and resting with their favorite humans.

Size: Bambino cats are medium in size, with medium boning. They typically weigh between 5 - 9 pounds.

Characteristics: The Bambino cat breed has two very distinct features that set them apart in the cat fancy - they have very short legs and are hairless. While their body size is a normal, medium-sized body that appears quite muscular, their legs are very short like their Munchkin relatives. Additionally, they are a hairless cat breed with wrinkles all over their body. Their tail is proportionate to the size of their body and is hairless, though some have what is known as a "lions tail" with a small tuft of fur on the end. Bambinos have a modified wedge-shaped head with large almond eyes that are slightly slanted and wide set and because of the hairlessness of the cat, standout and seem to peer right into your soul.

Temperament: Bambino cats are friendly, gentle, affectionate cats that make great family pets who love to socialize and play. Just like the Munchkin cat, the short legs of the Bambino do not slow it down one bit. They love racing around the house at high speeds, entertaining all who will watch. These sweet cats enjoy being carried around and cuddled by their favorite humans and, though they are hairless, feel quite warm to the touch which makes them a joy to snuggle.

Care: Much like other hairless cats, they need to be routinely bathed, ideally every 2 weeks to prevent oil from building up on the skin which will make them feel greasy. Additionally, Bambinos should be a primarily indoor cat because exposure to the elements can quickly make them cold or even burn their skin without the normal protection of fur.

Coat: Bambino cats are a hairless cat breed but they do have a very fine down on their body that helps keep them warm.

Origin: Bambino cats are a unique-looking, small, hairless cat that is a mix between Munchkin cats and Sphynx cats. Bambino kittens were first registered in 2005 when breeders Pat and Stephanie Osborne took a liking to the breed and did genetic research to confirm that they were a healthy cat breed. The Osbornes chose the name Bambino, which means "baby" in Italian because Bambinos have short legs like their Munchkin relatives and are hairless like their Sphynx relatives. In 2006, the Osbornes contacted TICA (The International Cat Association) to get their new breed of Bambinos registered and TICA granted them Experimental New Breed status.