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Balinese Cat Breed Introduction
Balinese Cat (also called Long-haired Siamese) is a medium-sized cat breed from the United States. These cats are known due to their silky fur and beautiful blue eyes. Balinese cats are also always vocal and rather demanding. These cats arose due to an unplanned genetic mutation in purebred Siamese that made the cats have a longer coat type.
Balinese Cats have no undercoats. Bodily, these cats are longer than normal and have a flowing coat that sets them apart from other, almost alike breeds. Another key trait of Balinese cats is they have long and elegant tail plumes. Besides, under their soft coat hides a muscular frame, as they are strong cats recognized for their agility and athleticism. Balinese cats’ slender bodies are sometimes visible via the fur as, unlike most related breeds, it only has a single coat.
These cats are medium in size, but they can mature to be up to 1.5 feet long. Because their coats tend to be long, Balinese cats usually need brushing at least twice a week. Because of their playful and affectionate traits, these cats make the best companions for children and adults. In addition, Balinese cats get along perfectly with other pets and are recognized to be healthy cats. However, Balinese cats can be more prone to certain conditions because of genetic imperfections.
Origin
These cats were created in the United States. They are longhaired versions of the Siamese, developed as the result of an accidental mutation in the 1940s in California when longhaired kittens were born to a Siamese. Helen Smith from New York and Marion Dorsey from California who are Siamese breeders worked together to start breeding to develop longhaired Siamese in the mid-1950s. The two ladies chose the name “Balinese” because of the longhaired breed’s beauty and grace.
They don’t have any connection to Indonesia (their Siamese association is initially from Thailand); the name was developed as the breeders thought the cat’s grace and elegance resembled that of the dancers in the Temples of Bali. Balinese cats don’t have an ancient origin. These cats were first introduced in the 1940s in America following long-haired Siamese kittens appearing in a litter. This accidental mutation caused the breeders to strive towards nurturing more of these cats, and the first Balinese breeding program came about in the 1950s.
Balinese Cat Lifespan
The lifespan of Balinese Cats is 18 to 22 years.
Care
They have a fine, silky coat that needs brushing to get rid of loose fur and distribute skin oils. The parts that have skinfolds on the face should be cleaned with a damp cloth. Use a stainless steel comb to brush Balinese cats from head to tail once or twice a week. This will get rid of any dead hair and keep its coat healthy.
Balinese cats also require a bath every 4 to 6 weeks unless they roll in something messy. A hypoallergenic shampoo, warm water, and conditioner are used for bathing them. Always rinse off the grooming products from their coat to avoid skin irritation.
To avoid tartar buildup and gingivitis Balinese cats’ teeth are cleaned using a brush and a canine-formulated toothpaste two to three times a week. Clean their ears with a damp cotton ball soaked in an ear cleanser to remove dirt and wax once a week. Trim their nails once a week or whenever they seem to be growing long. Keeping Balinese cats’ nails trimmed will prevent scratching on the surface of floors and furniture.
Shedding
The have a single coat hence shed at low levels as compared to cats that have an undercoat.
Coat
These cats have a medium-length, silky coat.
Long Hair
These cats are a long-haired breed of domestic cat having Siamese-style point coloration.
Short Hair
Although the Balinese cats are also known as long-haired Siamese, they are technically regarded as short-haired cats. They are only longer-haired relative to a Siamese.
Balinese Cat Hypoallergenic
Although there no totally hypoallergenic cats, Balinese Cats are regarded allergy friendly. This is because the contain minimal amount of Fel d 1 protein that aggravates allergies in people who suffer from cat allergies. However, the protein is also present in the dander, saliva, and urine hence owners should spend lots of time with Balinese Cats before adopting to ensure they are tolerable.
Training
Balinese Cats are intelligent cats that are eager to learn new tactics making them highly trainable. Due to their demanding nature, Balinese Cats may have a stubborn streak. However, patience, consistency, and the use of positive reinforcement will make their training manageable.
You should keep the training sessions short, upbeat, and interesting to prevent them from getting bored and distracted. Every cat training session should be for 5 minutes which are distributed throughout the day to avoid boredom. It is good to make use of treats, interactive toys, verbal praise, and petting to inspire positive behaviors. Shouting and yelling scare Balinese Cats hence they shut down during training sessions.
Socialization is the key to raising well-mannered Balinese Cats. To socialize them, expose them to a wide variety of places, people, sights, smells, and sounds like doorbells, whistles, sirens, and lawnmowers. Teach them basic command words like eat, heel, come, in, out, etc. Effectively housebreak Balinese Cats by creating a feeding guide, leash training, and crate training.
Balinese Cat Personality
– Friendly.
– Playful.
– Inquisitive.
– Outgoing
– Lovable.
– Affectionate.
– Social.
– Talkative.
– Demanding.
– Incredibly intelligent.
– Smart.
Cat Behavior
They are affectionate, talkative, and friendly. They associate well with people and pets in the home. These cats are also demanding and will thrive on attention, fun, and games but may become vocal and destructive if left alone.
Exercise
These cats are highly energetic which means they need mental stimulation as much as they perform physical exercise. These cats find joy in interactive games. Even if it is fetching a ball or navigating through an obstacle course, these cats are eager to please and relish the chance to engage mentally and physically. Normalize using puzzle feeders and snuffle mats. Balinese Cats can stay stimulated by climbing up towers and scratchers.
Meow
These cats have chatty and talkative nature if left alone for long periods of time. Balinese cats ranges from soft meows to chirps and trills.
Size
These cats have a height of 8 to 11 inches ( approx. 20 to 28 cm ) and weigh 8 to 15 pounds ( approx. 3.6 to 6.8 kg ).
Other Cat breeds include:
Height
Mature Balinese cats have a height of 8 to 11 inches ( approx. 20 to 28 cm ).
Weight
The Balinese cats have a weight of 8 to 15 pounds ( approx. 3.6 to 6.8 kg ).
Balinese Cat Health Issues
They are generally healthy cats, but Balinese cats can suffer due to a few health problems, such as:
- Asthma: These cats are more prone to developing asthma, a respiratory problem that can be detected through coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
- Neurological Problems: They can suffer neurological problems, like Siamese Nystagmus, a problem that causes involuntary eye movements.
- Liver Amyloidosis: Liver amyloidosis is an uncommon but fatal condition that alters the liver functioning in these cats.
- Eye Problems: They can be affected by many eye problems, such as glaucoma and progressive retinal atrophy.
- Heart Problems: These cats can suffer heart problems, like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a state that thickens the heart muscle.
Eye Problems
These cats can suffer from eye problems, such as glaucoma and progressive retinal atrophy. Balinese Cats with eye problems tend to show discharge or tearing as well as dry eyes with itching or burning. Affected Balinese Cats with Conjunctivitis tend to have red, swollen tissue near the eye and discharge.
Balinese Cat Allergies
Balinese Cats can be prone to allergies such as:
Flea Allergies – Most Balinese Cats can have allergies once infested with fleas. They may itch their bodies and manifest licking and scratching themselves to ease itching.
Pollen Allergies – Balinese Cats can be allergic to tree, grass, and weed pollens. Balinese Cats that are allergic to pollen can show signs such as watery eyes and regular sneezing.
Food Allergies – Some Balinese Cats can have allergies to specific ingredients present in most cat foods. The Balinese Cats with food allergies mostly display gastrointestinal problems like vomiting, gassiness, and diarrhea.
Names
Balinese cats’ parents may find a name for the pet before it joins them at home or days after it has already settled to know its traits better. They may get name inspirations from the heritage of the breed, coat color and texture, movies, books, and historical songs. If Balinese cats have a name that rhymes with the command words it will create confusion. Some of the names that Balinese cats’ parents give to their pets include:
- Finn.
- Apollo.
- Archie.
- Bailey.
- Arthur.
- Jack.
- Domino.
- Sebastian.
- Theodore.
Balinese Cat Food
The amount of food Balinese Cats feed on depends on their age, size, metabolism, body build, and activity level. Balinese Cats thrive on either commercial cat food, homemade, or raw food. On overage, the kitten feeds on a lean protein diet which supports the growth of muscles, tendons, and tissue.
Kittens should be fed three times a day while full-grown Balinese Cats eat twice a day. If you feed them cat dry kibble, always provide them with enough fresh water to avoid dehydration. Some Balinese Cats may be prone to getting overweight. Therefore, parents should watch the weight level and calorie intake as well as treats that aid in training.
Balinese Cat Colors
These cats come in many various colors but the most common are seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac, and these are the four that are known as required official breed standards. They can also be in color points like red, lynx, and tortoiseshell.
White
White Balinese cats have blue eyes that can range from medium to violet blue. Their kittens are born pure cream or white and later develop visible points in colder parts of their body.
Black
Black Balinese Cats are black on the face, tail, and legs. Others are generally black.
Blue
Blue Point Balinese Cats have a darker base coat with dark gray/blue points on their head, tails, and paws. The Blue Point Balinese Cats are always confused with Lilac Points.
Color Points
These cats are distinguished by their charming color point that is on their face, ears, legs, and tail. These colors are seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac.
Types
– Seal Point.
– Seal Lynx Point.
– Chocolate Point.
– Chocolate Lynx.
– Blue Point.
– Blue Lynx.
– Lilac Point.
– Lilac Lynx.
Seal Point
Seal Point Balinese cats have a dark brown color almost black on their paws, faces, and tails, and a light brown ivory or cream on their bodies.
Lilac Point
Lilac Point Balinese Cats have a light gray color which reflects lilac and pink when seen in bright light hence their name. They are a diluted version of the Chocolate Point and appear like the Blue Point.
Balinese Cat Vs Siamese
– Balinese Cats are from the United States while Siamese cats are from Thailand.
– Siamese cats have very short, silky, and bright hair while Balinese Cats have medium-long hair, which is longer on the frill.
– Balinese Cats have a longer silky coat and are slightly smaller and lighter than Siamese cats.
Balinese Cat Cost
The price of Balinese Cats is $1000 to $2000 depending on the age of the cat and the location of the breeder.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Balinese Cats Hypoallergenic
Yes. Balinese cats have minimal amount of Fel d1 protein as compared with other cat breeds hence they are described as allergy friendly.
What Is A Balinese Cat
They are medium-sized cats that are intelligent, affectionate, and also social. These cats have medium-length, silky coats, and do shed seasonally. Balinese cats arose due to an unplanned genetic mutation in purebred Siamese that made the cats get a longer coat type.
How Long Do Balinese Cats Live
Healthy Balinese cats can live for 18 to 22 years.
Are Balinese Cats Friendly
Yes, they are friendly cats as they make the best companions for children and adults.
How Big Do Balinese Cats Get
They weigh 8 to 15 pounds ( approx. 3.6 to 6.8 kg ) and stand 8 to 11 inches ( approx. 20 to 28 cm ) tall.
Are Balinese And Siamese The Same
No, Balinese cats and Siamese cats are not the same. Balinese cats appear similar to a Siamese but with a longer silky coat.
What Does A Balinese Cat Look Like
They have a single semi-long-haired coat which is fine and silky. Balinese cats have no undercoat. These cats have large pointed ears and almond-shaped eyes. They also have long legs and tails.
Do Balinese Cats Shed
Yes, they shed at low levels due to their single coat.
Do Balinese Cats Shed A lot
No. Balinese Cats are less likely to mat, tangle, or shed a lot due to lack of an undercoat.
Balinese Cat Quick Facts
- These cats have no matting problems.
- They have a lithe body that is athletic and muscular.
- Balinese Cats have a single coat that is silky to the touch.
