The Balinese

Origin

The Balinese has its origins in the 1950s, when serious breeding was done with the aim of establishing the longhair factor. Although long-haired kittens from Siamese parents were registered as early as 1928, they were not seriously bred on at the time. It was Marian Dorsey of the Rai-Mar cattery who got two long-haired kittens in a litter of pure Siamese. By crossing these kittens together, she discovered that the longhair gene was passed on to all the offspring. In 1956, Sylvia Holland (Holland’s Farm cattery) also became interested in this variety, followed by Mrs. Helen Smith (Merry Mews Cattery), who is responsible for the name Balinese. This name was chosen because the charming kittens reminded her of exotic Balinese dancers, although you will not find a Balinese cat in Bali itself. In the U.S. CFA, only the classic colors are registered as Balinese, while other colors are given the name Javanese, a term also used for the Oriental Longhair in other parts of the world.

Appearance

The Balinese has the same physique as the Siamese: muscular, long and slender. The hind legs are set higher than the front legs, which are slender and long, with oval-shaped feet. The tail is long and thin, with no abnormalities. The wedge-shaped head, combined with the large, angled ears, forms a perfect triangle. The chin is firm, and the bridge of the nose is without stop. The almond-shaped eyes are slanted in the head and should be as pure in color as possible, with a preference for deep blue at shows. The coat of the Balinese is semi-long-haired and silky, with a fine texture that lies flat against the skin. There is little undercoat, and the hair on the tail is long, silky and not too thick. The Balinese comes in all the colors recognized in the Siamese: seal point, blue point, chocolate point, lilac point, red point and cream point. These colors are also available in tabby (striped) and tortie (red/cream spots). In the late 1980s, cinnamon point and fawn point were added, with the van der Horst family playing an important role. The most popular color is “Foreign White,” in which the Balinese is completely white with characteristic blue eyes. In the Netherlands, breeders such as A. Wilmering and M. Boogaard pioneered the development of this white variety. Balinese kittens are born white, just like their short-haired counterparts, the Siamese; the typical Himalayan (points) pattern develops only later. The final color of the coat is visible from the age of one year.

Character

The Balinese is a happy and lively cat that is playful and requires a lot of attention and affection. In general, it is slightly calmer than the Siamese and has a softer voice. This cat loves company and is very attached to its family and other pets. The Balinese needs plenty of exercise and thrives best if it can go outside regularly; preferably in an enclosed yard to avoid accidents, such as collisions. Although there is no maintenance-free cat coat, the Balinese’s lack of undercoat makes it less likely that his coat will become tangled easily. Regular brushing and combing are required, but usually require less work than in cats with full undercoat.

Standard (NOK)

The standard for the Balinese is similar to that of the Siamese, with the following additions:

• Type, markings and coloring: See Siamese.
• Coat: Rather long, fine, silky coat without woolly undercoat, which is smooth to the touch. At the chin, neck and tail, the coat may tend to wavy. The absence of a collar is preferred. Note: Kittens may have a shorter coat.
• Tail: Plumed tail.