  Context. Cataclysmic variables with degenerate donors which have evolved past
the period minimum, also known as period-bouncers, are predicted to make up a
great portion of the cataclysmic variable population, between 40 and 70
percent. However, either due to shortcomings in the models or due to the
intrinsic faintness of these strongly evolved systems, only a few have been
confidently identified so far. Aims. We have compiled a multi-wavelength
catalog of period-bouncers and cataclysmic variables around the period minimum
from the literature in order to provide an in-depth characterization of the
elusive subclass of period-bounce CVs that will help in the identification of
new candidates. Methods. In this study we combine published or archival
multi-wavelength data with new X-ray observations from the all-sky surveys
carried out with the extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array
(eROSITA) onboard the Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma spacecraft (SRG). Our catalog
comprises 192 cataclysmic variables around the period minimum that were chosen
as likely period bounce candidates based on reported short orbital periods and
low donor mass. This sample helped us establish specific selection parameters
that have been used to compile a scorecard which rates a systems likelihood of
being a period-bouncer. Results. Our scorecard correctly assigns high scores to
the already confirmed period-bouncers in our literature catalog and it
identifies 80 additional strong period-bounce candidates present in the
literature that have not been classified as such. We established two selection
cuts based on the X-ray-to-optical flux ratio and the typical X-ray luminosity
observed from the 8 already confirmed period-bouncers with eROSITA data. These
X-ray selection cuts led to the categorization of 5 systems as new
period-bouncers, increasing their population number to 22 systems.
