Balinese

The Balinese is **the long-haired variant of the Siamese** — essentially a distinct breed derived from a **recessive long-hair mutation (FGF5)** that appears sporadically in the Siamese gene pool.

**Early records**: - The CFA registered long-haired Siamese offspring as early as 1928 - In the 1940s and 1950s, New York breeder **Helen Smith** and California breeder **Marion Dorsey** began systematically breeding long-haired Siamese - Helen Smith felt the silky long coat and graceful movements evoked **Balinese temple dancers**, and named the breed **Balinese** — **with no geographic connection to Bali, Indonesia**

**Molecular basis**: the Balinese long coat comes from a **recessive mutation in FGF5 (Fibroblast Growth Factor 5)** (Kehler 2007), the same gene mutated in Persians, Maine Coons and other long-haired breeds — but at an **independent locus**.

**Recognition history**: - **CFA**: 1970 - **TICA**: recognized with Javanese included as a color variant - **FIFe**: 1983 - **GCCF**: 1986, as 'Balinese' and 'Balinese-Javanese'

**Classification dispute**: - **CFA**: recognizes only the 4 traditional pointed colors (seal, blue, chocolate, lilac) as Balinese; other colors (red, cream, tortie, lynx) are called **Javanese** - **TICA / FIFe**: all color variants are Balinese

Genetically, the Balinese and the Siamese are extremely close — effectively 'two coat-length variants of the same breed'.

The Balinese combines **a Siamese body with a medium-length single-layer coat**. The CFA standard reads *svelte, dainty, long silky coat, plumed tail*.

- **Head**: **extreme wedge** (modern type) — the tip of the nose to the tips of the ears form a perfect equilateral triangle - **Ears**: **very large and high-set**, pointed, bat-like - **Eyes**: **brilliant sapphire blue** (a byproduct of the pointed-color gene) — every Balinese must have blue eyes - **Body**: **slim, dainty, tightly muscled** on a fine skeleton — identical to the Siamese; adults 2.5-5 kg (petite to small) - **Legs and tail**: extremely long, slender legs; a long **plumed tail** - **Coat**: **single-layer medium-length hair (no down)** — the Balinese's signature, completely different from the double coat of a Persian - Silky in texture, lying close to the body - Longest on the tail (plumed), medium on the body, shortest on the face - **Single-layer structure means low shedding and minimal matting** - **Colorpoint**: face, ears, legs and tail are darker than the body — a byproduct of the temperature-sensitive **TYR/cs tyrosinase mutation**

**Four traditional CFA Balinese points**: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac

**Javanese variant colors**: red, cream, tortie, lynx points

**Distinguishing from other long-haired breeds**: - **Himalayan**: Persian body (round face/body) + colorpoint + double coat - **Ragdoll**: medium-large + colorpoint + semi-long coat, much larger than a Balinese - **Balinese**: slim Siamese body + colorpoint + single-layer long coat

The Balinese personality is **essentially identical to the Siamese** — it is 'the long-haired Siamese' and belongs to the **Oriental camp** psychologically, the opposite of the quiet British Shorthair, Persian or Russian Blue.

**Key behavioral traits**: 1. **Very vocal**: frequent, medium-volume, baby-like plaintive meowing — the Balinese may be **the most talkative of all long-haired breeds** 2. **Dog-like devotion**: follows the owner from room to room; will accompany you into the bathroom 3. **Very intelligent**: learns to open doors, fetch and press switches — **one of the top 3 cat breeds by intelligence** (alongside Siamese and Oriental Shorthair) 4. **One-owner tendency**: like the Siamese, may **favor one family member** especially 5. **Very high social need**: **>6 hours alone triggers visible anxiety**, overgrooming, food refusal or destruction 6. **Active but not frantic**: calmer than the Cornish/Devon, livelier than the Persian — mid-to-high energy 7. **Great with children, dogs and other cats**

**Watch out for**: - The Balinese is **not a 'quiet ornamental' cat** — for silence, look at the Persian or British Shorthair - **Keeping in pairs or with a dog** is the recommended setup — prevents separation anxiety

The Balinese is a perfect combination of **'affectionate + long-haired + blue-eyed'**, ideal for households who love 'conversations' with their cat.

Balinese care is **remarkably simple** — no down layer, and the long coat rarely mats.

1. **Brushing**: - **1-2 times a week** with a **wide-tooth comb plus boar-bristle brush**, root to tip - Moulting (spring/autumn): step up to 3 times a week - **No professional trimming needed** (unlike a Persian)

2. **Bathing**: - **Every 8-12 weeks** with a low-allergen pet shampoo - Low-heat blow-drying with a straightening comb is fine (no need to preserve curl)

3. **Diet**: - **High metabolism, high protein**: 3 meals daily, protein >38% - Like the Siamese, low body fat — small frequent meals suit best - Some individuals crave sweets (Siamese trait) — do not offer human sweets

4. **Eyes**: - The extreme wedge head places eyes close together — **wipe daily** - Some individuals have **strabismus** (Siamese-gene trait) — no vision impact, but note it

5. **Ears**: - Large ears build wax — **clean every 2 weeks**

6. **Exercise**: - **20-30 minutes of high-intensity daily interaction** (wand toys, laser, fetch) - Cat tree **>2 m tall** (Siamese-type strong verticals) - **Tip**: 5-10 minutes of daily clicker training

7. **Teeth and claws**: standard care

**Shedding**: - **Surprisingly low** — single-layer long coat and no down produces less shedding than a double-coated shorthair (like a British Shorthair) - But **Fel d 1 output is normal** — **not hypoallergenic**; do not buy just because shedding is low

Because the Balinese shares almost the entire Siamese lineage, hereditary risks overlap heavily:

1. **Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)**: - Moderate-to-high incidence (Siamese line) - **Annual echocardiogram from age 4 is recommended**

2. **Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)**: - **Siamese-specific recessive mutation in CEP290** (Menotti-Raymond 2010) - Symptoms: reduced night vision progressing to total blindness in adulthood - **UC Davis VGL and Optigen offer PRA genetic testing** — mandatory before purchase

3. **Amyloidosis (AA)**: - **The Siamese line is prone to hepatic/renal amyloid deposition** - Symptoms: liver/kidney failure after age 7 - Genetic mechanism not fully defined

4. **Strabismus and tail kink**: - **Byproducts of the TYR (colorpoint) gene** — abnormal optic-nerve crossings - Some individuals show crossed eyes plus a kinked tail tip; health is unaffected but breed standard is

5. **GI sensitivity (IBD)**: - Common in the Siamese line — inflammatory bowel disease and food allergies

6. **Gingivitis and FORL**: - High incidence — **weekly brushing plus annual dental cleaning**

7. **PK-Def (pyruvate kinase deficiency)**: - Recessive Siamese-line mutation, testable at UC Davis VGL

8. **Anesthesia risk**: - **Low body fat plus some undiagnosed HCM** — a cardiac ultrasound is mandatory before anesthesia

**Average lifespan**: **12-20 years** — the Balinese is a **long-lived breed**, with healthy individuals routinely reaching 15+ years.

**Before you buy**: request from the breeder **HCM echo, PRA test, PK-Def test and a three-generation pedigree**.

The Balinese combines **'long-haired Siamese + high interaction + long lifespan'**, ideal for **households that can provide consistent company**.

**A good match for**: - **Large families** (multiple members share company) - Multi-pet homes with Devon Rex, Sphynx, Siamese or dog already present - Cat lovers wanting 'colorpoint + blue eyes + long coat' without the double coat of a Persian or Ragdoll - Owners who enjoy 'conversations' with their cat and can tolerate frequent meowing - Homes with room for a >2 m cat tree and a runway of open space - Buyers who can afford HCM, PRA and PK-Def testing

**Not a match for**: - **Owners who live alone and are away >6 hours a day** — separation anxiety is severe - **Households requiring silence** (newborns, recording work, hypersensitive neighbors) - Owners seeking an independent, non-clingy pet (see Persian, Chartreux, Russian Blue) - Homes with severe cat allergies (**the Balinese is not hypoallergenic** — despite low shedding, Fel d 1 output is normal) - Households that cannot tolerate high interaction and shoulder-climbing

**Special notes**: - **Strict indoor housing**: long fur soils easily, blue eyes disorient outdoor cats - **Frequent vocalization**: verify household members and neighbors will tolerate it - **Market confusion**: in China, 'long-haired Siamese mixes' are often sold as Balinese; a legitimate breed requires a three-generation pedigree plus a PRA test - **Consider adoption first**: shelters occasionally have long-haired colorpoint mixes at a fraction of the breeder price - **Pair recommendation**: if you are home <6 hours a day, **keep two together** — the Balinese is one of the most social breeds