Balinese
Balinese History
- This breed is actually a longhaired version of the Siamese, created as the result of a spontaneous mutation when longhaired kittens were born to a Siamese in the 1940s in California.
- In the mid 1950s, Siamese breeders Helen Smith of New York and Marion Dorsey of California worked together to begin breeding to produce longhaired Siamese now recognized as Balinese. They selected the name "Balinese" due to this longhaired breed's beauty and grace.
- Today, two versions exist: traditional and contemporary. Traditional look more like Ragdolls and are bigger with longer hair while the contemporary look more like Siamese and are the only types recognized by cat judges.
- The Cat Fanciers Association granted recognized the Balinese in 1970.
Balinese Behavior Concerns
- If you want a toned-down version of the ever energetic and intelligent Siamese, then a Balinese is a good choice.
- Balinese are very adaptable and do well in active households with other pets. They crave social interaction, but will not be overly demanding.
- Offer this breed plenty of high spots to survey the scene. Favorite Balinese picks are the tops of refrigerators, high shelves and the top level of a tall cat tree.
- Balinese are balanced in their need for play and cuddle times.
- They are considered to be among the smartest of all cat breeds and easily learn new tricks when taught in a positive reinforcement manner.
Look of Balineses
- The Balinese looks like a longhaired Siamese from the neck up - sport almond-shaped blue eyes, wedge-shaped heads and big ears. However, the difference is in the coat length and the fact that the Balinese bears a beautiful and full tail plume.
- The single coat is silky to the touch.
- The body is lithe but athletic and muscular.
Grooming Balinese Cats
- The single, silky coat is virtually maintenance-free, but benefits by having you run a damp washcloth across it occasionally.
- Minimal shedding with no matting problems.
Suggested Nutritional Needs for Balinese
Please consult with your veterinarian about the type of diet and amount to feed your cat during their different life stages. Different breeds may have a greater risk of obesity based upon their diet, metabloism, activity and age. Thus, your veterinarian is your best source of information on this topic.
Fun Facts of Balineses
- The Balinese can come in many color points, but the CFA only recognizes these four: seal point, blue point, chocolate point and lilac point.
- Balinese pride themselves on their manners and do their best to deftly avoid knocking over objects while prowling on high shelves.
