Balinese Kittens

Balinese kittens are the longer haired relatives of the Siamese cat. Learn about this curious and intelligent breed.

It is thought that Balinese cat breed came about as a mutation of the Siamese cat gene. Around the 1900s, the longer-haired Balinese kitten began to appear in Siamese litters. The longer-haired kittens were sold as house pets and were not used in cat shows. It was not until later in the century that the longer haired kittens were specifically developed into a breed of their own.

The Balinese received their name because the cats reminded breeders of graceful Balinese dancers. The Balinese first received Championship status in the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in the 1970’s.

Physical Appearance

As expected, the Balinese look similar to Siamese cats. Balinese, however, have hair that is medium to long in length. The Balinese kitten has a medium-sized muscular build. The Balinese have long bodies and wedge shaped heads. They have petite sized paws. Balinese also have prominent pointed flared ears. They have slender noses and a very slender long plumed tail.

Balinese kittens can grow to up to be 8 pounds for male adults. Balinese have fine silky coats that lie close to the body. They also have average sized almond shaped eyes. The Balinese have straight long noses and an average-sized chin.

Colors

Like Siamese cats, Balinese felines have blue eyes. Also like the Siamese, Balinese cats have points. Points come in a variety of colors: blue, red, cream, seal, lilac, and, chocolate. However, some feline associations accept only a few select colors.

Temperament

Balinese cats are Siamese-like in temperament. They are active, talkative felines that love human companionship. Balinese cats love to “help” out their owners and will lie on a newspaper or watch while their human owners are washing the dishes. They are high energy felines that love human attention. Balinese also love to play games like fetch. They are smart animals and get along well with other house pets particularly dogs.

Care

Balinese coats are easy to care for and groom. The coats lie flat against the body and are quite silky. There is no wooly undercoat or double coat. So, a comb or brush can be used to keep the fur well-groomed. The fur is also not prone to tangling as Persian cat fur. Shedding is not a big problem with Balinese cats as they shed very little.

Be sure to train Balinese kittens as early as possible to tolerate combing and nail clipping. Early training can save you from hassles later on as kittens grow into adult cats that are set in their ways and more challenging to train.

Development

Like other breeds, Balinese kittens should not be removed from the mother and siblings until at least 10 to 12 weeks of age. This gives the kittens time to develop crucial social and behavioral skills needed to interact in humans and cat societies.

Health

Balinese cats face numerous potential health problems. As they are related to Siamese cats, they are susceptible to many of the same genetic health issues. Here are some common health concerns facing the Balinese breed.

• Crossed Eyes

  Crossed eyes are common in Balinese cats. While not a serious problem for most cats, the condition can make a Balinese ineligible to compete in cat shows. Crossed eyes are inherited and there is little that can be done to treat the condition.

• Glaucoma

  Balinese cats are prone to developing glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when pressure in the eye increases and causes pain and eventual blindness. Cats are treated with medications to reduce pressure in the eye.

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy

  In progressive retinal atrophy, the retinal is destroyed and no longer transmits visual signals to the brain. The result is progressive blindness in cats. In the Balinese, the disease is hereditary.

• Tetralogy of Fallot

  Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect that causes an opening between the ventricles of the heart. Therefore, blood cannot pump properly in the heart. Cats with this disorder have difficulty breathing and may have seizures. Luckily the disease is quite rare.

• FORL

  Feline oral resorptive lesions (FORL) occur primarily in adult cats. Lesions form on teeth causing extreme pain in cats. Some teeth may even break off while a feline is chewing food. Balinese have a genetic predisposition to developing FORL.

• Pancreatitis

  Balinese felines have a genetic propensity to developing an inflammation of the pancreas. Cats with pancreatitis may not eat and appear tired and sluggish.

Remember…Balinese kittens needs lots of love and companionship!

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