The Balinese cat is a variation of the traditional Siamese true cat breed that features everything hoi polloi love about the old breed but in a fluffier package . The Balinese ’s longsighted , silky coating is his trademark — in fact , it ’s the very reason for the stock ’s existence .
Coat notwithstanding , Balinese are everything you know and make love about the Siamese : playful , extremely healthy , improbably devoted to their family units , and engaging conversationalists .
Appearance
The Balinese is , more or less , a floofySiamese . He ’s got amedium - to - retentive silky coatthat resists matting and lie close to his body , accentuating his skimpy physique . This coat iswhite or creamand color - point likewise to the Siamese in the same traditional colors : blue , cocoa , seal of approval , and lilac . Their tails are plumed or inflexible , with pilus that matches the rest of their points .
Physically , Balinese CT are lithe , delicately built cats with strong hind legs that make them fantastic jumpers ( do n’t be surprised to happen yours looking down at you from the top of your kitchen storage locker ) . They have clean , oval foot and Cuban sandwich - influence heads ; their great ear are set far enough apart to cover the head ’s torpedo shape . Balinese eye are almond - shaped and a superb , clear lazuline .
Temperament
In most every fashion aside from coat , when you adopt a Balinese , you ’re getting a Siamese . What this intend from a personality stand is that you ’re getting a devoted , eff companion who adores being around his humans as much as possible . He will observe you from elbow room to way , affiance in abstruse conversation the whole time .
" They carry very like trait [ to the Siamese ] because they have such a nigh lineage , " says Lin Kauffman , DVM , of thePrairie View Animal Hospitalin Grimes , Iowa . " If you do n’t want a computerized tomography that does n’t have to have the last word , do n’t have a Siamese , do n’t have a Balinese . "
While Balinese cats do tend to be just as vocal as their Tai cousin-german , they also lean to have a softer tone , which makes them somewhat more affable for mass with roommates or close living site .
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As an adoring and intelligent qat , the Balinese will keenly maintain everything you do andfollow you around the firm . Chyrle Bonk , DVM , says these furred Einstein are also open oflearning cool tricksand playing game , and they ’ll make certain you regale them with the attention they deserve .
" They can be a picayune demanding of your time and speak out if you are n’t giving them enough attention , " Bonk says . " Do n’t expect to get one of these guy and simply design to fertilize and pick up after them . They will want more from you than that . "
Living Needs
The Balinese is a " perpendicular cat"—aka , they ’re likely to descale the curtains and jump on top of your refrigerator . To make these kitties happy ( and make divvy up your home go smoothly ) , endow in a few high - up rod likecat trees , sack , andshelves .
" While they might not want to go around the clock , they do like to play for with child component of the day , " Bonk say . BecauseBalinese CT are so playful , Bonk says they make greatplaymates for childrenand can get along well enough with other dearie . " Most will be accepting of other ducky , especially if they ’re right socialized beforehand , " she enounce . " But do n’t expect them to be welcoming to other animals if they are n’t used to them . "
If left alone for prolonged periods , they do n’t tend to suffer fromseparation anxietyso much as tedium . The resultant role for your furniture , however , may be the same , so make trusted toleave out mint of toyswhenever you ’re away from home base . And although they ’re participating cats and deeply enjoy their daily playday , they also make big lap cats and are happy to simply be wherever their human companions are .
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Care
While the Balinese are furry andfairly regular shedder , there ’s some grounds to suggest that they make a lower amount of the Fel d1 and Fel d4 protein allergens . While this does not technically make them absolutelyhypoallergenic cats , it does suggest that they may be good pets for multitude with allergic reaction than other farsighted - whisker breeds . But before bringing home a Balinese kitten , spend some time with the breed to see how your allergic reaction respond .
That being said , even brushingis going to be part of yourgrooming routinewith a Balinese cat . Bonk says the breed does n’t have an primer coat , so dressing is n’t anything inordinate — all you demand to do is stay on top of any snarl and snarl . The Balinese ’s big ears will need regular cleaningto prevent ear infectionsand extravagant wax buildup , Bonk says , and he ’ll alsoneed his nails trimmed .
More than grooming , the big responsibility of Balinese pet parents is to ensure their cat is getting enough attention ( and idolisation ) .
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" This is not a cat that is going to quietly go about their business organisation , " Bonk says . " They will require to be require in everything you do . ask to give them lot of attention in the material body of encounter as well as affection . If they do n’t get what they want for you , expect some retribution in the form of [ undesirable deportment ] or vocalisation . "
Health
The Balinese are a comparatively healthy breed with a long life-time of 15–20 years . They are , however , susceptible to similar wellness conditions as the Siamese , Bonk says .
Balinese cats can havea number of middle issue , includingprogressive retinal atrophy(PRA ) , which is a retrogression of the retina in the eye . Caterpillar with PRA can become near- or far - sighted over time , or even blind . Balinese cats can also be cross - eyed , Bonk says .
Dilated cardiomyopathy , a disease that enlarge the heart muscle and decrease nerve function , is another likely issue . There is also some concern that they are at a low risk for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ( HCM ) . The stock can also be at increase risk for liver amyloidosis , which eventually leads to liver failure .
Bonk suppose the Balinese may also be more susceptible to respiratory problem as well , specifically asthma attack .
History
There is grounds to suggest that long - hirsute Tai kittens have been appearing randomly in litter since at least the early 19th century . Long consider to be exhibiting an undesirable recessive factor , these long - haired Tai kitty were traditionally neutered and establish away as pet .
By the early 20th century , some stock breeder begin to apprise the long - hirsute Siamese and begin preserve them to show . TheAmerican Cat Fanciers ' Associationfirst register " recollective haired Siamese " to show in 1928 , though they were , as the name suggests , considered to be Siamese computed tomography and not a separate breed .
By the 1950s , breeders had begun working in earnest to establish the cats as their own breed , and the foresighted - haired cats were given their name by Balinese breeder Helen Smith . The stock was acknowledge for championship by the CFA in 1970 .
