Balinesisk kat

Smuk balinesisk kat med buske i baggrunden

Balinesisk kat liggende på en hvid baggrund

Balinesisk kat sidder og ser nysgerrig ud

En balinesisk kat med store ører og dybblå øjne

History

The Balinese cat is essentially a long haired version of the Siamese cat. Like many distinguishing characteristics of many breeds the longhair trait occurred due to a random mutation. It is generally accepted that this mutation happened mid 19th century as there are records of long haired Siamese kittens being born in the 1800s in America. At the time these kittens were considered as a fault in the Siamese bloodline and nothing more. However fast forward to 1928 and the ‘Long-haired Siamese’ was first registered as a show cat by the American Cat Fanciers Federation. Come 1950 there were many breeders setting up breeding programmes to further develop the Balinese line. The name was changed from ‘Long-haired Siamese’ to ‘Balinese’ by the original breeder Helen Smith in reference to the elegance and grace of Balinese dancers. TICA (The International Cat Association) recognised this breed for show in 1979.

Behaviour

The Balinese cat has a wonderful personality. These larger than life cats are very people orientated and are very inquisitive and attentive. Like their Siamese counterparts Balinese cats are very vocal and will chatter away to you until they are tired. However unlike the Siamese their voice is softer and slightly quieter, and they aren’t quite as demanding. Balinese cats are very playful and can be pretty mischievous. They need lots of mental stimulation to keep them happy, and leaving them alone for too long may not be the best idea if you want all your prized possessions left intact. They are very muscular, and athletic cats known for their acrobatic ability. These cats make a great family pet, as they get on well with children and other pets. Life with a Balinese cat is certainly never dull, or quiet.