Balinese cats are purebred long-haired Siamese cats. These cats have no connection to the Indonesian island of Bali, even though it is named Balinese.
The Balinese cats were first registered with American Cat Fanciers’ Federation in 1928 as show cats. The initial breeder Ms. Helen Smith named this breed 'Balinese' as she was inspired by the graceful Balinese dancers.
The Balinese cats are social, playful cats with the highest intelligence in all of the long-haired breeds. The tail of the Balinese cats has a definite plume or fringe of longer hair.
Their eye color ranges from pale blue and lilac through deep sapphire and violet. The different Balinese cat breeds include blue point siamese, seal point siamese, and longhaired siamese.
Some people often ask 'is Balinese cat hypoallergenic'? Cats of this cat breed are not hypoallergenic, yes, it is true that the Balinese cat is not hypoallergenic.
Balinese cats are slender cats, with beautifully shaped paws, ears, and eyes. Balinese cats are very curious beings and need constant stimulation. Therefore it is a good idea to have lots of toys, scratching pads and many such ideas.
Another important thing to have is clear climbing spaces as it is a vertical cat. Four variants of this breed, from seal point, to blue point, chocolate point and lilac point are recognized by the International Cat Association as well as the Cat Fanciers Association.
Balinese Cat Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Balinese cat?
The Balinese cat is a kind of cat. Initially, they had heavier bodies with apple-shaped heads. Over the years, the breeders have improved the physical traits of the Balinese cats by outcrossing the parents as well as through natural mutation.
What class of animal does a Balinese cat belong to?
The Balinese cat belongs to the mammal class as it gives birth to offspring like all animals. It is an active, social-friendly animal bred to provide company to its pet parents.
How many Balinese cats are there in the world?
The exact number of Balinese cats in the world would be difficult to come by. This breed of cat is popular among pet lovers around the world. They have become a popular breed in western countries since the 1950s.
Where does a Balinese cat live?
The Balinese cat is an ideal companion in the urban setup or a house with a medium yard. As they are medium-sized, they can adjust well in apartments too.
We must be careful that there are clear spaces, especially at heights from which to climb on and sit. They have the need to be left alone from time to time.
What is a Balinese cat's habitat?
The Balinese cat habitat can be urban or rural as long as they stay active and are left to explore their spaces. They are intelligent beings and like attention from parents too. You must treat them to toys, scratch pads and spend quality time with them, indulging in various play activities to keep them busy and engaged.
Who do Balinese cats live with?
The Balinese cats are comfortable living with humans and other animals too. They are very affectionate towards children and other pets too. They love attention and ask for it by making noises. They reciprocate love too.
How long does a Balinese cat live?
The Balinese cats live for 12-20 years. Despite their fine bone structure, they are sturdy animals who live long and healthy life.
We must be careful about overeating as that could hamper the overall health of the cat. A regular regime of exercise and an active lifestyle with a well-balanced diet can help immensely in the overall health and well-being of the cat.
How do they reproduce?
For the reproduction process to take place, both the male and female cats should be of age and adequate size. The female must be going through her "heat cycle."
Cats are reflex ovulators, which means that they only ovulate once they’re bred. The male will mount the female from behind and the entire process can last anywhere between 5-25 minutes. Thereafter, the pregnancy will last for between 60-70 days, after which the female will give birth to the kittens.
The litter size can be up to three kittens. The Balinese cats have a longer gestation period as compared to other cats.
What is their conservation status?
The Balinese cats’ conservation status is of the Least Concern. As it is a domesticated animal, it is mostly bred as a pet.
Balinese Cat Fun Facts
What do Balinese cats look like?
The Balinese cats have a very distinct look and personality. These Siamese cats are known for their striking beauty with bright blue beautiful eyes, large triangular years, pretty plumed tails and well built body.
They have a curious friendly face and are known for their sense of humor. They are known for their jumping capabilities.
Cats of this breed come in a variety of colors. The main color would be creamy white with distinctive color points on their face, ear, full tail and legs.
The popular colors of the fur are seal, chocolate, blue and the lightest shade of purple. The standout physical features of this Siamese cat breed include wedge shaped head, silky coat, plumed tail, and long hair.
How cute are they?
The Balinese cat breed was popularized through being show cats during the 1950s. And eventually, they become much-loved house pets. They are very cute, not just in their looks but also in their actions.
They are social cats with intelligent personalities. Cats of this Siamese breed have the most amazing vivid blue eye color that is mesmerizing to stare at.
Their fluffy tail, pointy ears, and soft fur makes them extremely adorable. They are attention-seeking little fur balls and love to climb to higher places to relax. It is in fact amongst the cutest cat breeds.
How do they communicate?
The Balinese cat is known for its voice. This Siamese cat breed love to talk and can hold interactive sessions with their pet parents. Their intense vocals can be considered a form of communication. They may cry to get your attention and need regular interaction.
How big is a Balinese cat?
The Balinese cats are medium-sized cats. They are known for their delicate body structure and soft hair. They are agile, well-built bones that help them to climb higher places.
How fast can a Balinese cat run?
The Balinese cat can run for an average speed of 30 mph. Cats, in general, are known for their quick running gait. The Balinese cat, because of its agile body with a fine bone structure, can run fast too. The Siamese cats are sprint runners. That is, these longhaired cats can run faster for a short distance.
How much does a Balinese cat weigh?
The Balinese cat weighs 6-11 lb. They have a well-balanced medium-sized body that is agile and light like most other cat breeds. It is very important that your cat maintains its weight and is active throughout the day.
What are their male and female names of the species?
The male Balinese cat is called tomcat. The female Balinese cat is called a queen.
What would you call a baby Balinese cat?
The baby Balinese cat is called a kitten.
What do they eat?
The Balinese cat should be fed a high quality diet that is portion controlled. They are known to be picky eaters. The cats also enjoy a wet diet more than dry kibble. Remember to get their oral and dental checkups done regularly if they eat wet food more.
Are they hypoallergenic?
The Balinese cats are hypoallergenic cat breeds. Balinese cats are not likely to cause an allergic reaction to people who suffer from allergies, more so than any other long-haired cats. They are an ideal pet for people with cat hair allergies due to this very reason.
Would they make a good pet?
The Balinese cats are excellent pets. Due to their social, friendly nature, they are ideal pets for family and people with more than one pet too. They are curious attentive cats who love to play and spend time with the pet parents making them highly suitable for active children too.
They are well suited for an apartment-like setup. They are ideal companions for all active pet lovers. Regular grooming is essential to maintain their coat length as well as ensure shining long hair all over the silky coat.
Did you know...
The Balinese cats make their presence felt. It is difficult to ignore them. They are very vocal and love to have a communicative interaction with the parents. They have beautiful and mesmerizing eye colors, from pale blue to the brightest of sapphire.
They come in brilliant fur color points of chocolate brown, lilac, seal, and blue. Since the Balinese cat doesn't have an undercoat, their fur won’t get matted or tangled. Therefore the grooming needs are medium. They clean themselves very well. The only cleaning we need to carry out for them is their ears as they are upright.
It is advisable to keep the Balinese cats indoors and to only take them out on a leash. They need protection from cars, diseases spread by other cats, and possible attacks too.
The Balinese cats need their teeth brushed regularly as they are known to suffer from dental and oral health issues.
Where do Balinese cats come from?
The Balinese cats come from Thailand. Although their name would suggest, they are not actually from the island of Bali in Indonesia. They traveled from Thailand to the UK and America in the 1800s. They were bred consistently for a naturally expressed genetic trait, which makes them popular to date.
The breed of this Siamese cat was promoted by breeders Marion Dorsey and Helen Smith in the 1950s. The breeders were inspired to name them Balinese cats after the graceful Balinese dancers.
Sylvia Holland is another breeder who worked hard to establish this breed in the 1960s and 1970s. They are a much-loved cat breed and are popular in the UK too.
Are Balinese cats friendly?
Yes, but they are also mischievous. The Balinese cats are very social and love interacting with their pet parents. They are goofy and funny, too, and love seeking attention. The cat loves it alone time, and the parent must make provision for the same.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Balinese cat coloring pages.