Can a person’s shadow have four paws? Absolutely, because if you have a Balinese cat, she’ll follow you everywhere like a shadow. But today, Balinese kittens are stepping out of the shadows, and we’ll shine a light on everything that makes them special!
Breed History
The Balinese cat was born in America in the 1940s. The breed’s home country took creating it seriously: at first, breeders crossed Siamese cats whose coats were longer than usual. The results delighted everyone with their looks and gentle nature, and the breeders decided to fix that combination of genes. And so the world gained one more breed.
The longhair gene gave the newcomer a plume on the tail, an unusually smooth silhouette, and especially graceful movements. By the way, these traits also influenced the choice of the breed’s name. The cat’s soft movements and lines reminded the breed’s creators of the famous dancers of Bali. The new breed was named in their honor.
The Balinese only gained worldwide recognition in the 1970s.
Balinese Personality and Traits at a Glance
| Affection for family | ★★★★☆ |
| Shedding | ★★★☆☆ |
| Health | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Playfulness | ★★★★☆ |
| Vocality | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Good with kids | ★★★★☆ |
| Friendliness toward strangers | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of grooming | ★★★★☆ |
| Gets along with other pets | ★★★★☆ |
| Intelligence | ★★★★☆ |
Balinese Cat Breed Overview
What does a Balinese cat look like? Have you seen a Siamese? Not the same at all! Of course, shared genes show, but neither the personality nor the looks of the Balinese really resemble their Siamese great-great-grandmothers anymore.
Pictures and photos of the first Balinese cats show sturdy, solidly built animals. But a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then, and the 21st-century breed standard differs from last century’s.
- A Balinese must have a wedge-shaped head with a narrow muzzle and a strong jaw. The bite is level.
The nose is long, with no dip. The profile is straight. The ears are very large, triangular, and pointed. They’re set so they continue the line of the wedge.
The eyes are almond-shaped. The distance between them is equal to the width of one eye, or more. The eyes are slanted. The iris is blue or deep blue. Gray is possible but not desirable.
There’s an old myth that crossed eyes are normal for Balinese cats. It seems to have come from a lack of “fresh blood” in some breeding lines. Today we can say for sure that permanently crossed eyes disqualify a cat.
- The Balinese is on the small side. At the same time, she’s very slender, elegant, and strong. The body is long and tapering. The shoulders, chest, and hips are the same width.
The legs are long, with the hind legs higher than the front legs. The paws are oval, with long toes. The tail is whip-like, very long, and thin, and it’s thin along its whole length. A kink in the tail bars a cat from shows, with all that implies.
No matter how much you feed a Balinese, she stays petite and graceful. Adults weigh about 5 to 11 lb.
- Coat
The Balinese beauty’s coat is medium-length and silky to the touch. There’s no undercoat. The coat lies smooth on the body, but it’s a little wavy at the chin, neck, and tail. A plumed tail is a must.
Kittens, by the way, are born shorthaired and only grow the breed’s characteristic coat as adults. In general, Balinese kittens don’t win you over with charm and beauty right away. A Balinese kitten: short fur, huge ears, gangly. Only an experienced or very loving eye can see a future elegant beauty in this awkward creature.
- A white snowflake: that’s what a Balinese kitten looks like. The special Siamese coloring also appears with age. A Balinese can choose any of about 20 colors listed in the breed standards for her coat. The classic colors are seal point, chocolate point, blue point, and lilac (frost) point. There are other options too, and in some registries solid colors are allowed as well; in some registries these cats are called Javanese. Red or black solid coloring isn’t typical of this breed.
Too dark a body, no pigment on the nose leather or paw pads, and dark spots on the belly are faults in this breed. White toes are a disqualifying trait.
Personality
Balinese cats’ “reviews” of their owners are always the most enthusiastic: their person is the best, the most generous, and the most fun. And there’s nothing surprising about it: the cat really could write a review. Her high intelligence, natural chattiness, and devoted love for her owner make it possible. They’re as devoted as dogs, ready to “wag a smile” every time their person appears, and they’ll even walk on a leash just to spend another minute by their side.
A Balinese cat will never show aggression, so she’s ideal for families with small children. Balinese cats also get along with other pets and neighbors, as long as they treat the fluffy little one with proper respect.
At any age, Balinese cats are ready to chase a sunbeam or a crinkly candy wrapper, so they’re fun to watch and never boring to live with.
Health
Cats of this breed are prone to a number of health problems. These can include liver and kidney amyloidosis in adults, heart problems (dilated cardiomyopathy), and mouth diseases. Less often, but still, they can have diabetes, asthma, “Siamese” crossed eyes, and hip and elbow dysplasia.
How can you spot the start of diabetes in your pet and not miss it? Watch for these symptoms:
- weight gain or sudden weight loss;
- thirst and frequent urination;
- an unusual appetite (increased or decreased);
- low mood;
- an unsteady walk;
- ketones in the blood or urine.
If your concerns are confirmed and the vet diagnoses diabetes, don’t panic. The disease can be managed and treated. With regular monitoring, your pet can live a full, good life.
Balinese cats live about 15 years.
Care and Living Conditions
This unique cat doesn’t need unique care. Regular brushing, wiping the eyes, and cleaning the ears are the classic steps for keeping a Balinese looking presentable.
IMPORTANT! These cats are made for indoor life. Living outdoors is completely out of the question for them. First, over the course of their development they’ve lost the instincts they’d need, and second, a changeable climate is bad for the color and condition of a Balinese cat’s coat.
Feeding
It’s best to feed this dancing cat commercial food. But this beauty will also be grateful for a natural menu. Don’t offer her people’s three-course meals, though. Good options for a Balinese are grains, vegetables, and a mix of different meats in a ratio of 3:1:6.
Photos
There’s a belief that the Balinese is a great rat catcher. Sadly, that’s another myth about the breed. These cats have never had to hunt for their own food, and that refined life has made them very poor hunters. But they’re wonderful companions and soulful friends!
Where to Buy a Balinese Kitten in the US
Catteries that focus specifically on the Balinese are fairly rare today, and waitlists of several months are common. Where should you buy a kitten if you dream of a Balinese? Not from random online ads. Dishonest sellers are too tempted to pass off some other Siamese-colored kitten as a Balinese. The price of a “fake” can be a pet with a difficult temperament and disappointed owners.
How Much Does a Balinese Kitten Cost?
In the US, a pet-quality Balinese kitten from a reputable, health-testing breeder usually costs about $1,000–$2,500, and show-quality or champion-line cats can cost $3,500 or more.
IMPORTANT! A responsible Balinese cattery won’t let a kitten go until it’s 12–18 weeks old. Only then does the long fur start to show a little, along with the difference from an ordinary Siamese.
Catteries
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
- Azureys Cats (Bergen County, New Jersey; CFA; Balinese and Siamese) – https://azureyscats.com/;
- Tresor Cats (California; CFA and CFF; applehead Siamese and Balinese);
- Ceylon Eyes (Minnesota; TICA; applehead Balinese);
- Bella Mia Cattery (West Greenwich, Rhode Island; Siamese and Balinese).
The Balinese cat. A dancing shadow!
