The Balinese cat breed

History and origins of the Balinese cat breed

Balinese cats have long hair and thick plumed tails, with Siamese-style colorpoints and blue eyes. They first came about from the development of the long-haired kittens that occasionally occur in (usually short-haired) Siamese litters.

Originally, these kittens were thought of as flawed and only suitable as pets.

However, in the 1940s two American Balinese cat breeders saw potential in developing the kittens into a new breed, and this new breed was eventually recognized in its own right (and given Championship status) by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1970.

Balinese colors

Balinese cats are found in all the same point colors as the related Siamese cat. As with their relatives, the CFA only recognizes the seal, blue, chocolate and lilac point colors, referring to all other point colors (see below) as Javanese.

Most other registries, however, do recognize all the different Siamese point color variations, including the reds, torties, tabbies (lynx) and tortie-tabbies.

Seal lynx (tabby). See the lovely thick tail!
(Note: the CFA would classify this point color as Javanese)

photo : Wikimedia Commons | Angelica Andersson

So what does a Balinese cat look like?

Balinese cats are long-haired, with flat, silky coats. These are very different to the Persian style of coat; they don't have the thick undercoat of a Persian cat and are much easier to maintain and groom.

Nowadays there are two distinct types. The contemporary or modern Balinese looks very like the modern wedge Siamese, with a long slim body and tapering, wedge-shaped head, a comparatively short coat, and the characteristic plumed tail.

The second type is the 'traditional' version, which has a longer coat than the cat above (generally about two inches long all over) and looks more like a long-haired version of the Traditional or Applehead Siamese, with a more stocky body and round face.

Balinese health and character

They are generally healthy and long-lived cats, and like their Siamese cousins, they are active, sociable, intelligent and talkative! (Balinese cat breeders generally say that their cats have softer voices than Siamese cats, though!)

Where did the Balinese cat breed name come from?

The breed is so-called because one of their original breeders, Helen Smith, felt that they looked rather like dancers from the island of Bali, with all the agility, grace, poise and elegance that these dancers possess.

More pages about Siamese relatives:

• The Snowshoe Cat Breed
  
• The Birman Cat Breed
• The Himalayan Cat Breed

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