Balinese Cat
The longhaired Siamese — all the elegance, voice, and personality with a silky, flowing SINGLE coat that NEVER mats. Those sapphire blue eyes, those dramatic points, that plumed tail. Complete guide: the surprising grooming truth (single coat = no undercoat = no matting = weekly brushing is enough!), the Siamese voice, and how a spontaneous longhair mutation in Siamese litters created this graceful, low-maintenance beauty.
📋 Breed Overview
📖 About the Balinese — The Longhaired Siamese
The Balinese is essentially a longhaired Siamese — created when a spontaneous recessive longhair mutation appeared in Siamese litters in the 1940s-50s. Breeder Helen Smith named them "Balinese" because their graceful movement reminded her of Balinese temple dancers — the breed has nothing to do with Bali. CFA recognized them in 1970. Critical grooming fact: Balinese have a SINGLE coat (like Siamese, just longer) — meaning NO undercoat, NO matting. This makes them one of the easiest longhaired cats to maintain — weekly brushing is sufficient. Same Siamese health concerns: Amyloidosis, PRA (DNA test), nystagmus. Same Siamese voice: loud, persistent, and used frequently.