Cat Balinese

The Balinese cat is a man-made feline breed. It is very similar to the Siamese, with the difference that it has a semi-long coat. It used to happen that in Siamese litters of cats, a semi-long-haired specimen would occasionally be born, but it was not considered as not being in standard with the Siamese breed.

It was only in the 1950s that some breeders noticed this semi-long haired cat and decided to create a breed of its own. At first it was called the long-haired Siamese, but then in the United States it was classified in the category of Siamese and Oriental cats. The name Balinese is American and comes from the association between the sinuous movements of the cat very similar to those of the dancing women of Bali.

Another difference with their Siamese cousins is that they are much longer in build, have a silky coat and a very thick tail with very long hair.

Character of the Balinese Cat

The character of the Balinese Cat closely resembles that of the Siamese. They are inquisitive, sociable, intelligent and have excellent communication skills that often translate into frequent use of their strong voice, with which they respond to calls and try to make themselves understood.

This breed is considered to be one of the most intelligent in the world, if not the most intelligent at all. They can be taught a variety of tricks and games, they will learn very quickly to fetch, if desired they can be taught to jump through hoops and stand on their hind legs to claim a reward.

They are very affectionate with all members of the family, but they are particularly fond of one with whom they have a close relationship and from whom they cannot bear to be away for any length of time. If they feel neglected or left alone for a long time, they know how to express their disappointment and it is not uncommon for them to take their anger out on household objects.

It is not a cat suitable for elderly people, for whom it is a bit too playful and is very active, not spending a lot of time idling or napping, rather it is suitable for a young family, especially with children with whom it gets on very well. He is absolutely not aggressive and has a lot of patience.

He particularly likes to play so it is good to give him stimulation and spend time with him. Although he adapts very well to living indoors, however, being very active, he would need a safe garden to run and climb. He is a born hunter, so from the outside he tends to bring his master presents that are not always very welcome.

It adapts well to living with cats, especially if of its breed, for others a certain period of adaptation is necessary, but usually cohabitation is peaceful. Even with dogs, if presented appropriately, it gets along well. The important thing is that he has his own place to retreat to when he wants to be alone and in peace. With strangers it has no great problems, being a very curious cat. If he feels like it, he will have no problem going to meet them. Just don't force him.

Appearance of the Balinese Cat

This breed has an athletic and long-limbed build, and in this it is very similar to the Siamese, but unlike the Siamese, the Balinese has a much finer and more superb bearing. It has a rather fine bone structure that gives it a natural elegance. It is a medium-sized cat, the male can reach a maximum of 5 kilograms. It has long, thin legs and tiny paws.

The head is triangular in shape, the ears are large, pointed, wide at the base and aligned with the contours of the head. The eyes are almond-shaped and an intense blue colour.

Various shades of colour are permissible, the important thing being that the colour is uniform and degrades, little by little, from the darker shades of muzzle and paws, to lightening on the back. The coat is long and silky, on the neck, shoulders and tail most of the thick fur is distributed, it has no woolly undercoat. The tail is thick and long.

Health and care of the Balinese Cat

As far as care is concerned, this cat needs to be brushed at least two or three times a week, as its long coat may tend to tangle. During the moulting period, more often. It hardly loses any hair as it has no undercoat. It is a water lover so a bath now and then is appreciated.

As far as feeding is concerned, it is a very active cat, therefore it is always hungry, it is good to control the quantity of food given as it tends to eat more than it needs.

It has a long life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. As far as health is concerned, the Balinese has the usual problems of the Siamese, and especially at a young age it is possible for it to develop respiratory infections. Furthermore, the Balinese has a higher risk of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy than many other breeds.