Is A Balinese The Breed For You?

Thinking of buying a Balinese cat but not sure what to expect? Live in an apartment or have close neighbours? You might want to think twice before you buy a Balinese.

This article will looks at the Balinese in detail and will help you decide if this cat breed is the right one for you...

When people first see a Balinese cat, they often think that this elegant looking cat must be haughty and unsociable. 

However, nothing could be further from the truth. This breed may look refined, but it is actually incredibly friendly and fun loving.

The Balinese has a graceful body that can move in unusual ways and helps it get into all kinds of places.

This flexibility and ability to escape from seemingly impossible places causes many people to compare the Balinese breed to the great magician Houdini.

Since the Balinese actually began as a longhair Siamese, it is no surprise that this breed is incredibly vocal.

Balinese are very chatty cats...and loves people

If you have an apartment with thin walls, the chatty Balinese may actually bother your neighbors, so you may want to think about this before deciding to choose a Balinese cat.

Like the Siamese, the Balinese is a cat that enjoys the company of people and other cats. Because of this breed's need for attention, it is not a good choice for people who work long hours.

If you do have a time consuming job, you should consider adding a second Balinese to the household or you will have a depressed and mopey or neurotic and hyperactive cat on your hands.

These cats are very intelligent and need quite a few toys and activities to keep them occupied. 

Luckily, the Balinese will turn anything into a toy, from a paper grocery bag to a scrap of paper...or your favorite shoes.

The Balinese has typical Siamese colors, including seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac point.

In addition, if you are not concerned about having a CFA registered cat, the Balinese breed can have red, cream, tortie, and tabby point colors.

Even though the breed is considered a longhair, its coat is not extremely long and full. However, the Balinese's tail has hair that is quite long and gives a slightly busy appearance.

This breed is one of the smaller cat breeds, weighing in at only six to eleven pounds. The Balinese has ears that are big enough to appear slightly oversized on its graceful wedge shaped head.

Since the Balinese is an extremely active cat breed, most of these cats do not have a major problem with being overweight.

However, if your cat does become a little chunky, you may want to reduce his food intake and be sure he gets a bit more exercise.

Balinese tend to be quite healthy cats...

Overall, the Balinese is a fairly healthy breed, perhaps because it is still occasionally out crossed with Siamese or Angora cats, which widens the gene pool and alleviates genetic health problems that are caused by frequent inbreeding.

Since the Balinese is a long haired breed, you will need to spend some time grooming your cat.

However, since this breed's coat is not very thick or long, you should be able to thoroughly comb out your cat's coat once a week and keep it mat free.

You may also want to consider accustoming your cat to having his teeth brushed, since plaque build up and tooth decay can lead to serious health problems.

If you love the personality and graceful appearance of the Siamese but you prefer longhair breeds, then the Balinese may be the perfect choice for you.

To read more about owning cats and kittens including the Balinese, click here to return to the Cat Ownership Tips home page.