Balinese cat, the long-haired Siamese?

The Balinese cat is a domestic cat known as the long-haired Siamese because of his color and pattern variation. But also, these cats are one of the favorites of many cat lovers because of their affable character and aristocratic personality.

For these reasons, they are an ideal cat for all cat lovers, besides being an excellent loyal companion to their owners.

Stay here to learn more about the characteristics and care of this cat breed.

Origin of the Balinese Cat

In the year 1928, something unusual happened in Great Britain, a long-haired Siamese was registered due to a recessive trait, which led to the suspicion that the first Siamese that arrived in Europe carried this gene.

The Balinese are considered to be long-haired Siamese. Although its name leads us to think the contrary, the Balinese cat does not come from Bali nor does their origin have anything to do with Indonesia.

Their origin is in the United States, in the 1940s, between New York and California, and is the result of programmed breeding by humans.

After the Second World War, specifically in 1955, Helen Smith and Marion Dorsey, who were dedicated to the breeding of purebred cats, wanted to get a cat with the characteristics of the Siamese but with long, silky, and abundant hair.

So they resorted to crossbreeding Siamese with long-haired breeds, such as the Angora, which resulted in the first specimens of this breed.

Through the selection implemented in their breeding programs, they managed to refine them until they obtained the current specimens.

This breed was recognized in the USA in 1960, while in Europe in 1983.

The name “Balinese” comes from the resemblance that the breeders found between this cat and the grace and elegance of the dancers of the Temples in Bali.

Physical characteristics of the Balinese cat

Size: 25 - 30 cm

Weight: males are large and can weigh between 5 kg and females between 3 to 5 kg.

Eyes: their eyes are almond-shaped and completely blue, like the Siamese.

Ears: large, wide and pointed.

Coat: long, silky, smooth, and has no undercoat. Within the breed are officially recognized only those who are color point, with the tail, legs, and the center of the face of color and the rest of the body white, but also allowed different shades such as blue, light gray, seal, lilac, tawny, chocolate, red or cream.

Body: their head is triangular with a thin snout. They have a fairly light body with thin but muscular legs, the hind legs are longer than the front legs, and their tail is long and tapering.

Life Expectancy: 8 - 13 years

The character of the Balinese cat

Although they are very sociable cats, they tend to be attached only to their owner, eventually omitting other family members or people around them. But generally, you will find that they are affectionate, active, very intelligent, and, as a good cat, curious.

They accept to be with children, which is helped by their docile and non-aggressive character, but they are jealous with other pets, and they want all the attention for them, even though they can get used to coexisting with other animals.

They are very communicative. Able to hold long conversations using a soft meow.

These cats like physical activity love to jump and they are able to jump up to considerable heights, can live indoors. They still spend less time sleeping than the average cat and love to observe their environment, it is their greatest passion.

Care of the Balinese cat

• To keep your their coat perfect, it is recommended to brush them at least 2-3 times a week.
• Wipe their eyes weekly with a damp cloth to help remove eye secretions.
• Clean their ears with a damp cloth once a week to avoid ear infections, and trim their nails weekly.
• They are very neat cats, so bathing can be only when necessary or every two months.
• Balinese cats do not tolerate strong scents such as cleaning products or scented litter, so it is best to avoid using them in their litter box.
• These cats love to play and will accept any toy they can chase or grab. They also enjoy playing intelligence games.
• It is necessary to provide them with stimulation and physical activities such as games and short walks to keep your cat in good shape.
• The temperament of the Balinese cat is strong and dominant and can fight with other pets for the attention of humans, to avoid this he will need good socialization as a puppy.

Feeding

As they are carnivore, their menu has to be based on animal proteins, it should also be related to the exercise your cat does.

These cats eat a lot and can have a tendency to put on weight if their diet is not watched. The basic food should be fodder, it is convenient to offer them, also, wet food, in a suitable quantity and in several intakes per day.

The health of Balinese cats

Due to their relationship with the Siamese, they are prone to suffer from the health disorders of their Siamese ancestors.

Eye problems are quite frequent, some specimens have strabismus, nystagmus, which are rapid and involuntary eye movements, or heart problems such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

They may also suffer from otitis, deafness, behavioral disorders, urolithiasis (formation of stones or calculi in the bladder) and respiratory problems such as chronic bronchial disease and liver failure.

Now you know more about the Balinese cat!

These cats of elegant and aristocratic demeanor, as pets are very easy to care for and love.

And with these guidelines, your Balinese cat will be happy and balanced, and you will enjoy the best relationship between the two of you.

But if what you are looking for is to adopt one, nowadays it is easier to find specimens in all parts of the world, as well as good breeders.

However, do not forget that the resemblance of this animal with other breeds is very high, so you should only trust breeders with good references that can offer you all the guarantees of the origin of your puppy.