The Balinese is a
breed of
oriental
cat with long hair and Siamese-style markings, or
points. They resemble a
Siamese with a medium-length silky coat and a plumed tail, but
not nearly as fluffy as a
Himalayan, and they require much less grooming. Balinese are
extremely intelligent cats, although less talkative than their
Siamese ancestors.
The Balinese was originally registered as a 'longhaired Siamese',
and examples were known from the early
1920s.
The occasional long-haired kittens in a Siamese litter were seen as
an oddity, and sold as household
pets
rather than as
show cats. This changed in the mid-1950s,
when two breeders, Mrs. Marion Dorsey of Rai-Mar Cattery in
California and Mrs. Helen Smith of MerryMews Cattery in
New York, decided that they would commence a breeding program
for the longhaired cats. Helen Smith named the cats 'Balinese'
because she felt they showed the grace and beauty of
Balinese dancers, and because 'longhaired Siamese' seemed a
rather clunky name for such graceful felines. The breed became quite
popular after this, and a number of breeders began working on
'perfecting' the Balinese appearance. This led eventually to the
development of two entirely separate 'strands' of Balinese cat -
some owners prefer a traditional or 'apple-headed' Balinese, while
breeders and judges tend to prefer a more contemporary appearance.
Like the Siamese, there are now two different varieties of
Balinese being bred and shown - 'traditional' Balinese and
'contemporary' Balinese. The traditional Balinese cat has a coat
approximately two inches long over its entire body and it is a
sturdy and robust cat with a semi-rounded muzzle and ears. The
traditional Balinese closely resembles a
Ragdoll cat although they do not share any of the same genes or
breeding other than having a partially Siamese ancestry. A
'contemporary' Balinese has a much shorter coat and is virtually
identical to a standard show Siamese except for its tail, which is a
graceful silky plume.
Physical Description
Depending on the cat association, the terms "Balinese" and
"Javanese" mean different things. In Europe, "Javanese" refers to a
solid-coloured Oriental Longhair. However, for this FAQ, we will use
these terms as used by American cat associations.
Basically, Balinese and Javanese are longhaired cats in the
Oriental family, similar in both type and personality to a Siamese.
A show-quality Balinese or Javanese will have a long, lithe body,
tubular when the cat is stretched between your hands. Balinese and
Javanese should be muscular, and will be deceptively heavy when
lifted. Legs are long, fine-boned, and slender, with small paws.
The head is wedge-shaped, with large, alert ears which follow and
complement the shape of the wedge. The eyes are distinctly Oriental,
slanted slightly to fit in with the overall head shape, and sapphire
blue, the deeper the colour the better. The nose is straight, with
no break or rise between the eyes.
Balinese and Javanese both have longer hair than a Siamese, but
don't have dramatically long fur like a Persian or Maine Coon. The
body hair should be silky and close-lying, not "fluffy". The fur on
the tail is longer -- about two or three inches -- and when brushed
out forms a full, graceful plume. Most people seeing a Balinese or
Javanese for the first time may mistake it for a Siamese, until they
see the gorgeous, full tail.
Colour is the difference between the Balinese and the Javanese
breeds. Like Siamese, Balinese and Javanese are "pointed" cats,
which means that the face, legs, and tail are a darker colour than
the body colour. The darker colours are referred to as the points.
Some cat associations, such as TICA, make no distinction between
Balinese and Javanese, and in these associations both Balinese and
Javanese are categorized as Balinese.
In those associations that do make a distinction, such as CFA,
Balinese are accepted in the four "traditional" Siamese solid
colours of seal (black), blue, chocolate, and lilac. Javanese are
accepted in the "nontraditional" colours of lynx (tabby) points
(seal lynx, blue lynx, chocolate lynx, lilac lynx), tortoiseshell
points, flame (red) points, and cream points.
An easy chart for reference*:
Siamese: short coat; seal, blue, chocolate, lilac
Colourpoint Shorthair: short coat; lynx, tortie, flame, cream
Balinese: long coat; seal, blue, chocolate, lilac
Javanese: long coat; lynx, tortie, flame, cream
*In associations that make distinctions between breed based on
colour
The body colour is lighter than the point colour, although it
will be considerably lighter in a younger cat. The body colour tends
to darken with age. Point restriction (restriction of the darker
colours to the face, legs, and tail) is desirable. On lynx-point
Javanese, some "shadow striping" (light striping on the body) is
permitted but not desired. A clear coat with excellent point
restriction is best.
Characteristics and Temperament
Balinese and Javanese are active, busy cats, like their related
breed, the Siamese. Balinese and Javanese love people, and are
constantly following "their" people around the house and getting
underfoot. They can be quite demanding when they want attention, but
they are also true cuddlers and lap cats. They require a lot of
interaction and active play.
Balinese and Javanese also love high places; if you don't provide
somewhere high for them to perch, they will find a spot of their
own. Many love to ride on the shoulders of their favourite humans.
Both Balinese and Javanese need toys, but fancy ones aren't
necessary. Many love something simple, such as a ping-pong ball slit
enough to drop in a few grains of rice for noise, or a peacock
feather. A bored Balinese or Javanese may find something else to
make into a toy, such as pens, papers, boxes of envelopes, or other
things you may wish not to become toys!
Balinese and Javanese are insatiably curious and quite fearless.
There is little they will not investigate: a noise, an open
cupboard, water dripping from a faucet, a toilet flushing, the
inside of a shopping bag, a running vacuum cleaner, a blow dryer.
Because of this curiosity, their lithe build, and a penchant for
getting toys under things, they are also accomplished contortionists
who can scoot under low couches, beds, and cabinets with astonishing
ease. Beware of this ability in strange houses and hotel rooms; you
may find your Balinese or Javanese taking a tour of the air
conditioning ducts! The only hole too small for a Balinese or
Javanese is one the cat cannot squeeze the head through.
Like their cousins, the Siamese, Balinese and Javanese are
"talkative" cats, with loud voices they seem to use at any
opportunity. Many just seem to "chat" for no apparent reason. The
quality (and quantity) of the voice varies from cat to cat. Some can
be very quiet -- others rival Joan Rivers for talkativeness.
Is This Breed for Me?
Balinese and Javanese need human contact. If you don't have a lot
of time for a cat, a Balinese or Javanese may not be the right breed
for you. They do fine in a household where everyone is away all day,
but be prepared to spend some time every day playing and interacting
with the cat. Sometimes, that just means letting the cat sleep in
your lap while you watch TV, or it can mean up to an hour of all-out
play. They are marvelous jumpers, and toys that exploit this ability
are fun for the cat and amusing to watch.
If you're looking for an active, fun, devoted companion with
elegant good looks, a Balinese or Javanese is a wonderful choice.
The longer hair softens the Siamese type and adds refinement.
Like many active cats, Balinese and Javanese get underfoot a lot.
It may not be the best choice for someone with mobility problems.
They are good with children and keep up admirably with even the most
active kids. They do best in households with at least another cat
for company if their people are away all day.
Care and Training
The main concern when showing a Balinese or Javanese is keeping
the weight ideal. These are lithe cats with fast metabolisms, but
some cats may not be able to free-feed without getting fat. Some
Balinese and Javanese cats can free-feed without trouble, but
others, particularly alters, may eat more heavily. Exercise and play
can help burn off extra fat and calories. An excellent, show-ready
Balinese or Javanese should not be skinny, but maintain lithe and
elegant lines. A Balinese or Javanese run to fat may appear
"slab-sided", or flat on the sides.
Balinese and Javanese need little daily grooming if they are
pets, as their silky coats do not mat. They enjoy being combed and
fussed over, but their coat will not suffer unduly because of it. A
Balinese or Javanese being shown may need more care than that,
including regular baths to keep the coat, particularly the tail, in
top condition.
Balinese and Javanese are intelligent cats, which means that they
can be trained, but also that you may find them training you!
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