Balinese

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Appearance
A Balinese looks a lot like a Siamese, but with long hair. Balinese have coats that are soft, silky, and relatively easy to care for. Balinese are pointed like Siamese. Seal (dark brown) and blue (bluish gray) are the most common colors. Chocolate and lilac are more rare. Balinese kittens are born white; their markings appear during the first few weeks.

There are three different types of Balinese: Traditional, Classic, and Modern.

Traditional Balinese have sturdy builds and heavy bone structures. They have rounded heads shaped like apples.

Classic Balinese are more elongated. While these cats are often ignored by judges at shows, most people think they're beautiful.

Extreme or Modern Balinese are long and lean. Their bone structure is light and fine, and their paws are dainty. You'll notice an Extreme Balinese right away because its head is triangular-shaped, like a slice of pie. (This is why some people call them Extreme-Wedge Balinese.) Extreme Balinese have large pointed ears and slanted eyes.

Personality
A Balinese is a talker that will follow you around the house 'chatting,' but it won't yowl obnoxiously like a Siamese. Balinese need plenty of companionship from their family members and a lot of exercise. They love to climb and play, and can easily open cabinets and doors. A Balinese will even ride on your shoulder if you want it to.

History
A Balinese is a hybrid--a cross between a Siamese and an Angora. The breed originated when some British breeders introduced the long-haired gene into some Siamese bloodlines. In the beginning, some Siamese breeders were outraged when a few long-haired kittens showed up in their otherwise normal Siamese litters. A few breeders even euthanized these kittens. Fortunately, some breeders liked the look of the longhaired Siamese kittens, and decided to continue breeding them.

The Balinese gets its name from a breeder who thought the breed's light, floating movements were similar to the native dancers on the Indonesian island of Bali. Balinese were registered with cat registries in 1963.

Health
Traditional and Classic Balinese are hardy. Extreme Balinese are subject to upper respiratory infections and heart disease. Also, since Extreme Balinese are often produced by extensive inbreeding and breeding with Extreme Siamese, some of these cats are also hyperactive.