Spoiler alert…
These cats are pretty awesome, which is why anyone who is currently considering either purchasing a kitten or adopting a rescue cat should seriously consider making one of these blue eye beauties their own!
But…
That said, there are a lot of different cat breeds out there and while we here at IndulgeYourPet will freely admit that the Balinese cat breed is one of our favorites, we can understand why these cats can sometimes get on a person’s nerves!
This is why…
We wanted to take a moment and discuss what it would be like to own a Balinese cat so that if you do decide to include one of these energetic little guys into your family, you won’t be disappointed six months from now.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Balinese Cat Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: United States
Size: Medium
Weight: 5 to 10 pounds
Eyes: Almond-shaped (blue)
Shape of Head: Triangular
Life Span: 18 to 22 years!
Origin of Breed
Essentially, the Balinese cat breed is simply a long-haired version of a Siamese cat which has been recognized by the Cat Fancier Association as a separate and unique breed.
Which means that…
When it comes to trying to determine when and where the Balinese cat breed was first created, we need to try to determine when that long-haired gene was first “bred” into the Siamese gene pool.
And here is…
Where we run into several competing theories which make understanding where the Balinese cat originally came from essentially impossible to determine for sure.
Some common theories as to how the long-haired gene was introduced into the Siamese cat breed include:
Introduction after World War I in Europe…
During this time, cat breeders selectively interbred several different cat breeds including the long-haired Persian or Turkish Angora with the Siamese cat breed in an effort to help rejuvenate the war-destroyed breeding stock of the Siamese cat.
This caused longhaired Siamese kittens to seem to spontaneously appear in the early 1900s in litters that otherwise would have been shorthaired.
Another theory is that…
The gene for long-haired cats in Siamese litters is a natural mutation of the breed, and the appearance of the Balinese cat breed is simply the result of a wonderful genetic accident!
And while we…
Would love to be able to give you a definitive answer as to which theory is correct, the truth is, your guess is as good as ours because as of right now, no one is quite sure which version of how the Balinese cat breed came into existence is correct.
What we can tell you is…
That these “long-haired Siamese” cats where called Balinese cats in honor of the exotically beautiful and graceful Balinese dancers from the island of Bali which just “seems” appropriate considering how pretty and graceful these little guys are.
It’s also true…
That while the Balinese cats have been around since the early 1920’s, the Balinese cat breed itself was not “officially” accepted as a breed until the Cat Fanciers Federation began to recognize them in 1961, and the Cat Fanciers Association followed in 1970.
Physical Characteristics
The Balinese cat breed is essentially indistinguishable from the Siamese cat bred, except for its coat length, as Balinese cats are long haired.
And as we’ve already…
Mentioned, the Balinese are medium-sized cats that typically weigh from 5 to 10 pounds, and usually have muscular bodies with a head that is shaped like a long, tapered wedge or triangle. Balinese ears are also noticeably large with a point at the tip, and traditional Balinese will only have blue eyes. Breeders also say that Balinese have almond-shaped eyes but we here at IndulgeYourPet always wonder what breeders mean by this because they look pretty round to us.
Built for speed and agility…
The Balinese cats back legs will be higher than their front, and their legs will be long and slim. They’ll also contain all of the traits of a traditional Siamese cat when it comes to their paws which are dainty and oval-shaped, with a long and tapered tail as well.
The coat of a Balinese cat…
Will also be very similar to that of Siamese cats, which is very silky, but only now this fur will be much longer. It should be noted that the Balinese cats are considered hypoallergenic cats.
Their coats…
Will also come in the same colors as their Siamese cousins: chocolate, lilac, blue and seal. These are considered show Balinese, but the Traditional Cat Association also recognizes a fluffier, rounder type of Balinese.
Grooming and maintenance of a Balinese cat
One might think that with all this fur that the Balinese cat breed would be difficult to groom or care for but the truth is that, they are quite easy to care for in terms of grooming.
Most Balinese cats…
Will only need to be combed or brushed once a week and a bath is rarely needed. It’s a good idea to keep Balinese cats indoors-only, as they are susceptible to disease from other cats, attacks from dogs or other predators, and due to how pretty these guys are, its often very “tempting” for neighbors to suddenly try to adopt any outdoor Balinese cats roaming around the neighborhood!
Temperament of the Balinese Cat Breed.
Balinese are perfect cats for the lonely person, as they are very chatty and loving. They love to “help” their people by following them around and are usually found underfoot or supervising every single move that their owners make.
This makes them a bit of a nuisance…
Who like cats but don’t necessarily like super “needy” cats. Or for folks who walk with a cane or a walker simply because you may find yourself “swearing” that your cat is trying to KILL YOU!
This is why…
We mentioned at the beginning of our discussion that while we here at IndulgeYourPet love the Balinese cat breed, we can certainly understand why they aren’t always the “perfect” cat breed for everyone.
Did we mention they like to “meow” a lot?
Well if not, we definitely should have because the Balinese cat does like to “speak up”. And while his voice is not as loud as the shorthair Siamese, that doesn’t mean you aren’t going to notice them.
Also…
Balinese cats and especially Balinese kittens love to play, and because they are highly intelligent they can often get bored sitting around the house all day without someone to play with or stimulate their minds.
And by play…
We mean “run and jump”. You see, these guys are very agile and athletic cats who love to chase and climb just about anything, including you!
Balinese are also…
Able to play fetch and have been proven able to walk on a leash, as well as learn tricks, like many dog breeds. Essentially, they need to be constantly entertained, so be ready to have toys out that they can play with, or you may find your house in disarray when you come back after work.
And you know…
Who else this describes? Kids! Which is why the Balinese cat breed being such a great cat breed for those with small children. Their pleasant disposition and constant desire to have someone to play with “meshes” perfectly for any parent looking to entertain both a cat and a toddler.
But be warned…
If you love the look of the Balinese cat and you want to make one your own, if you’re not willing to put in the time to make sure your little buddy is happy, chances are both of you will end up miserable.
This is why…
You really want to ask yourself if this is the “right” cat breed for you.
Common health issues associated with the Balinese cat breed
Overall, its safe to say that the Balinese cat breed is generally a pretty health cat breed even though it is known to be at risk for many of the same hereditary medical conditions which also affect the Siamese cat breed as well.
Conditions such as:
- Crossed eyes
- Asthma
- Bronchial disease
- Amyloidosis
- Congenital heart defects
- Megaesophagus
- Lymphoma
- Hyperesthesia syndrome
- Nystagmus
- Progressive retinal atrophy
And while…
Being sure to only work with a “reputable” breed that only specializes on breeding Balinese cats can certainly help you avoid adopting a kitten that may develop on of these conditions, one can never know for sure!
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet always like to advise any new pet owner particularly one who intends to spend a lot of money in order to purchase their new pet, take a few moments and consider what it might cost to also purchase a pet insurance policy for your new animal as well.
This is because…
If your new pet does become sick or injured, chances are it could be quite expensive to provide the care he or she needs.
Now will a pet insurance policy be “right” for everyone?
No, certainly not. But until you know what a pet insurance policy will provide coverage for and how much it would cost, how will you be able to determine if purchasing one might be “right” for you?
For more information about who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies in the industry right now, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
