Mary Allen
The Balinese is the perfect compromise between elegant long hair and easy-care short hair. And: It is also suitable for some allergy sufferers.
When the fur on the body is a few shades lighter than on the cooler regions (face, ears, feet, and tip of the tail), this is called a point in the technical jargon. Siamese and Birmans are among the most popular breeds of cats with this pattern.
Some Points fans regret that cats with this trait are almost always short-haired. The Balinese cat, however, is an exception: it has the popular points on a half-length coat. It is also suitable for mild allergy sufferers.
Here you can find out everything you need to know about the little-known cat from the Far East.
Where do the Balinese come from?
Strict breed standards result in kittens being killed or, at best, given away if they are out of character. Breeders try to achieve the clearest possible breed characteristics.
Such a “genetic mishap” happened to the Siamese cat, which was only accepted in the short-haired variety. Here and there unwanted, long-haired Siamese puppies resulted from matings. Under no circumstances should these cats be used for further breeding. So they tried to eradicate the recessive gene for long hair.
In the 1950s, however, interest in Siamese cats with slightly longer hair suddenly awoke. Long hair became “en vogue”, so to speak. It became fashionable. In this way, attempts were made to breed the long-haired Siamese cat while preserving its points. The Balinese cat is therefore one of the cat breeds that did not come about through natural selection, but through targeted breeding from an existing breed.
The first successes soon became apparent. Now a name had to be found for the new breed. In the end, they decided on: a Balinese or a Balinese cat.
The name is not related to the island of Bali. It was probably only chosen because of its geographical proximity to the Malaysian peninsula on which Siam (Thailand) is located.
But the story of the Balinese cat does not end there. Breeders experimented not only with hair length and coat markings but also with the physique. The goal was and is a slimmer body with larger ears on a pronounced, wedge-shaped skull.
Today, breeding the traditional Balinese cat is rare. She was much more like the original Siamese cat. By the way: Balinese whose fur is red or tortoiseshell (tortoise shell) are also known as Javanese.
What does the Balinese look like?
Balinese are beautiful cats. In addition to the enchanting character, this cat breed also casts a spell over many people with its appearance.
The body
The head and body of the Siamese cat and the Balinese cat are very similar. However, the main distinguishing features are:
- the bushy tail,
- the long fur.
As with most cats from the Far East, the same applies here: slim and wiry are required! A Balinese cat should never appear bulky or even corpulent. She should be strong and athletic with an elongated body.
The fur
The point pattern mentioned above is one of the most important characteristics of the Balinese cat. This is due to partial albinism. Albinism occurs in all vertebrates. The affected animal lacks the skin pigment melanin to a large extent or entirely. As a result, hair and skin appear almost white, and the blood vessels in the eyes shine through.
Points develop when the production of melanin does not fail completely but is only limited. This phenomenon is called partial albinism. The pigmentation is then only present on exposed parts of the body such as the face and extremities; it is absent on the rest of the body. So the cat stays white.
According to the European breeding association, Balinese dogs are allowed to have the following colors and points:
- Light base color with black points: seal point
- Blue base color with dark gray points: Blue-Point
- Brown base color with dark brown points: Chocolate Point
Next to that, there are
- red point pattern (redpoint),
- the cinnamon point pattern (cinnamon point), and
- Foreign White.
The latter house tiger has no points but is exclusively white all over the body.
The head
The traditional Balinese cat has an inconspicuous head shape. In the modern breeding variant, the strongly wedge-shaped head is striking. Clearly defined edges in the facial skull are expressly desired.
The eyes
What is most striking about this cat breed’s larger-than-average eyes is their bright blue color.
How big is a Balinese?
A medium-sized breed, the cat stands 20 to 30 cm in height, with males being slightly larger than females.
How heavy is a Balinese?
Animals of this cat breed weigh on average between three and four kilograms, tomcats naturally weigh a little more than females. Well-built Balinese males can weigh up to 5 kg.
Temperament and essence of the Balinese
The most distinctive feature of cats from the Far East is their vocalization. As close relatives of the Siamese, Balinese cats are just as loud and talkative. They try to get their owner’s attention and to be noticed by vocalizing. When they feel they are missing out, they forcefully demand what they want.
Opinions differ on that. One loves the talkativeness of his cat, the other cannot get anything from the meowing with the deep, all-penetrating voice. Potential buyers should be aware of this! Anyone who brings a cat of this breed into their home will always have an eager conversation partner. And owners of these cat breeds must be willing to give them time and spend time with them every day.
The Siamese and Balinese cats are dominant animals. They manage to assert themselves in a cat pack in a short time and to subordinate other cats. With a dog or child, however, hierarchy is not an issue. Socialization with these family members usually runs without problems.
Balinese are also very cuddly. Cuddling hours with them are therefore always possible. They are also one of the most active cat breeds.
Proper posture of the Balinese
This breed is well suited to apartment keeping. She rarely feels the urge to step out of her comfort zone and into “danger.” Furnishing your home appropriately for your species is all the more important.
Owners should offer their house cats plenty of opportunities to play and climb. Balinese love to observe their surroundings from above. At the same time, they need hiding spots where they feel safe and undisturbed for a while. A suitable scratching post is therefore mandatory.
If the apartment has a balcony or terrace, these should be made cat-proof with nets. (You can find out how this works here: cat net for the balcony with and without drilling) Balinese are sometimes careless in their playfulness and their temperament. Due to their lack of experience, they often misjudge heights. Good security is therefore important when keeping it.
What care does the Balinese need?
Although this breed has a medium to long coat, it does not require any extensive grooming. Twice a week the owners should devote themselves to the fur of their pet with a comb, brush, or fur glove. With this care, a large part of the excess hair is removed without it ending up in the apartment or in the stomach of the house cat. In this way, you prevent unnecessary housework and hairballs.
Regular care of the fur further builds the relationship of trust between animals and humans. (Also read: Strengthening the bond with the cat – Here’s how it works) At the end of the care session, a small reward in the form of a treat should be a matter of course.
Of course, proper care also includes obligatory vaccinations and regular visits to the veterinarian. The most important thing for the health of the cat and important for reaching old age is species-appropriate and high-quality food. Avoid poor-quality or cheap industrial products, which unfortunately are too often offered and bought in stores.
What typical diseases do the Balinese have?
With the Balinese cat, we are dealing with a breeding cat, which means that it was not created through natural mating and selection. This results in the typical problems of inbreeding and overbreeding: species-specific diseases and hereditary diseases are much more likely in such cat breeds.
In the Balinese, this is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The heart muscle is thickened and the heart muscle tissue becomes fatty tissue. This forces the heart to perform at a permanently higher rate. Even if the disease is diagnosed, it doesn’t really help your cat or yourself. The disease cannot be cured, but diagnosed cats can at least be excluded from breeding.
Certain medications can also support the heart muscle. Luckily, cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are not doomed to die but can have a good feline life if cared for properly.
How old does a Balinese get?
This breed is one of the longest-lived cat breeds with few others. With good care, they can live to be between 15 and 20 years old.
How much does a Balinese cost?
A kitten from an average breed costs around 800 euros. If you want to use the animal for your own breeding, you may have to pay up to 2000 euros. The high price is easy to explain: cats like the Balinese are in fashion because they combine a half-length coat with the ability to spread fewer allergens.
When looking for a purring housemate, it is best not to get stuck on one breed. There are many cats of all ages who have lost their homes. They have at least as lovable characteristics as the Balinese in our example. Check out the local animal shelter to see who is waiting hopefully.
If you absolutely want to call a cat from a pedigree your own, you should rely on reputable breeding companies. Cats are often offered on the Internet – especially from Eastern Europe – whose breeding and sale are associated with great animal suffering. Separated from their mother too early, without socialization by siblings or people, they grow up. Therefore, lovers should definitely avoid a cat of uncertain origin. This is the only way to avoid unnecessary animal suffering.
What makes the Balinese so special?
People who are allergic to cats cannot tolerate the enzymes present in saliva. These spread through the cat’s wash on the skin and fur of the animal. A few breeds are considered hypoallergenic. This means that the residues on human skin and hair cause little or no allergy.
So far there is no breed that does NOT excrete any allergens (substances that cause allergies). However, Balinese are considered to be one of the breeds of cats that cause less or no trouble for allergy sufferers. Your saliva contains a few of the allergy-causing enzymes. As described above, this is only one point that makes Balinese absolute dream cats.