BALINESE CATS

Siamese cats were first officially exported from "Siam" in the late 1800's. The first in UK were a gift to a returning ambassador. They began appearing in UK cat shows almost immediately and in USA shows by the early 1900's. Their strikingly colored points against a glacial or cream body with sleek lines, finely chiseled aristocratic heads, deep blue almond eyes, and short silky coats make them "living art". Combine this beauty with acute intelligence, inquisitive personality, and loving nature, and you have the essence of the Siamese.

Records show that Balinese cats derived directly from the Siamese abroad, as a natural mutation for long hair coming from Siamese. A longhaired cat of pure Siamese ancestry was first registered with CFF (Cat Fanciers' Federation, UK) in 1928. But there was no serious effort to promote the breed until the 1940's. Before that, longhaired kittens appearing in Siamese litters were quietly sold as pets and their existence conveniently forgotten so as to preserve the purity of the Siamese breed. Thanks to 2 adventurous Siamese breeders (Helen Smith, NY and Marian Dorsey, Calif) who bred two of these strange new longhair offspring together, the Bali breed was created. Still it took until 1961 in UK (CCF) and 1970 in USA (Cat Fanciers' of America, CFA) for the breed to be accepted for Championship competition.

It is often said that if you take one Siamese and add one ermine coat, you have a Balinese.  Named after the island of Bali by Helen Smith, the svelte body lines, flowing coat, and effortless grace reminded her of Balinese dancers. Under that long, silky ermine coat worn so proudly, this beautiful cat is all Siamese. But despite a regal bearing and aristocratic appearance, Balis are clowns with a heart as big as a circus tent.

Javanese ( Blue Lynx Point Balinese) male pet,
Sacchidanand Sweet Sir Galahad

They are bluebloods whose lofty rank has never gone to their heads.  Their sapphire eyes sparkle with alertness, intelligence, and healthy curiosity. Balis are as affectionate as the Siamese but more gregarious, loving all family members rather than choosing 1 special someone as the Siamese do.  They are less vocal and  their voice is softer. Grooming is simple since the coat never mats unlike the double coat of Persians and other longhair breeds. Mischievious and fun-loving, Balis exhibit beauty with a bounce. With the unmistakable aura of nobility, it is not surprising that their ancestors were considered sacred in Siam. Yet despite their regal bearing, they are never too dignified to play the clown or to speak their minds freely and entertain you with their antics.  (from the description of Balinese on the www.CFA.org website)

History of Javanese & Balinese Cats| Pictures of Javanese & Balinese Cats