Mary Allen
The Balinese cat is a breed directly descended from the Siamese cats. What these graceful beauties have in common is their point pattern, blue eyes, and a tendency to talk. In contrast to the Siamese cat, however, the Balinese have a semi-long coat and a bushy tail.
With its large ears, straight nose, and triangular head shape, the Balinese cat looks really classy. Not only is it pretty, but she’s also smart and cuddly. Here we have summarized five interesting facts about Balinese cats.
Balinese Cat is Not From Bali
The Siamese cat may originally come from Siam – today’s Thailand – but its cousin, the Balinese cat, does not reveal its origins by its name. It doesn’t come from Bali, but from the USA and is, so to speak, a Siamese cat with half-length hair. The silky coat and bushy tail are thought to have been created by crossing Persian Colourpoint cats or Turkish Angora. Although the first Balinese cats existed as early as the 1920s, they were neither recognized as a breed nor approved for breeding.
The American cat breeders Marion Dorsey and Helen Smith only began breeding the Balinese cat about 30 years later. Smith felt that “long-haired Siamese” was not an appropriate name for the elegant beauties. Since the supple gait of the velvet paws resembled the graceful movements of Balinese temple dancers, she called the cat breed Balinese without further ado.
Balinese Cats are Particularly Smart
The Balinese cat is one of the most intelligent cat breeds. It is eager to learn and loves to challenge her clever little head with clicker training , intelligence games and tricks. However, this also means that if there is a lack of species-appropriate activity, she tends to be stubborn and looks for fun things to do herself. If she gets too bored, she may make herself known loudly, escape from the apartment at a moment when you are not being watched, or scratch your furniture. Therefore, keep in mind that you need a lot of time and imagination to keep your Balinese busy before you buy such a pedigree cat .
Balinese Kittens are Born White
Like the Siamese cat or the Ragdoll , the Balinese belongs to the so-called Pointed Cats . This means that she is born all white and only gets her splashes of color on her ears, face, tail and legs with time. The colors permitted for the Balinese cat by the European association FIFé differ from the colors permitted in the breed’s country of origin, the USA. In America, only those Balinese are considered typical of the breed that have the following point patterns and coat colors :
● seal-point (black)
● blue-point (dark grey)
● chocolate-point (brown)
● lilac-point (light grey)
In Europe, Balinese cats are also allowed to have a so-called ghost pattern – that’s what a shimmering or suggested tabby pattern is called – and not only have the variants of the coat color black, but also the coat color red. In addition, tricolor or completely white Balinese are allowed. This means that the following options are added to the above-mentioned variations:
● red-point (red) and red-tabby-point (red with stripes)
● creme-point (cream-colored) and creme-tabby-point
● cinnamon-point (cinnamon) and cinnamon-tabby-point
● fawn-point (grey-beige) and fawn-tabby-point
● tortie-point (tricolor) and tortie-tabby-point
● foreign white (all white)
Balinese Cat Needs a Lot of Space
Balinese cats are not only very smart , they are also real bundles of energy. To be adventurous, she needs plenty of room to climb, explore, claw sharpen and play. A great, large scratching post is a must, it’s even nicer if small pedestals, corridors and platforms for the Balinese are installed everywhere in the apartment. Secured freedom or a large enclosure with an adventure playground is also a joy for the active kitty.
Balinese Cats Don’t Like to be Alone
The Balinese is usually very affectionate and forms a close bond with their favorite people – assuming they are kept and employed in a species-appropriate manner. However, this has the consequence that the Balinese cat does not like to be left alone at home and can express its displeasure quite loudly. They can sometimes meet their need for company with a conspecific. However, you need to be careful when choosing, as the Balinese can be stubborn and will not accept every cat as a companion.
It is optimal if you adopt two littermates right from the start. That being said, it is advisable not to leave your Balinese alone for too long during the day, otherwise the cats will miss you . So if you have to work all day and can’t do it from your desk at home, another breed of cat might be a better fit for you.