Balinese

Temperament

The Balinese is as curious and people-oriented as the Siamese, but usually a little gentler to live with. It chats with its family all day long, though in a quieter, less raspy voice. It adores fetch, and after a vigorous session it happily falls asleep on a lap. It learns quickly, so clicker training, tricks and harness walking come easily. It likes dogs and usually gets along well with other cats, especially those with a similar temperament. It does well with children, although older ones keep up with its energy better. It makes friends with guests quickly if they are willing to play. The breed's weak spot is being alone: the Balinese bonds very strongly, and when bored it may loudly demand attention or go looking for something to do in the cupboards.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Talkativeness

quietchatterbox

Indoor-only life

needs outdoor accessgreat

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Balinese for?

The Balinese suits someone who wants a chatty, engaged cat with the looks of a Siamese, but without a troublesome undercoat. It does well with someone who works from home, or in a home with a second cat. It is a poorer fit for people who value quiet, travel often or leave the cat alone all day. People with allergies should not rely on promises that it is hypoallergenic.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

Despite its long look, the Balinese coat is a single coat without a fluffy undercoat, so it does not mat and does not need daily combing. Combing it a few times a month is enough, and the tail and britches once a week. When the coat starts to look greasy, you can bathe the cat with a mild shampoo and let it dry in a warm room, without a hair dryer. Keeping it busy matters more than grooming: the Balinese needs tall cat trees, interactive toys, daily fetch sessions and ideally the company of a second cat. It takes well to learning tricks, which helps burn off energy. It grows until about 18–24 months. Regular toothbrushing or dental treats are a good habit in Oriental cats, as are weekly ear checks and nail trims.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Balinese shares not only its looks with the Siamese, but also some of its health predispositions. The CFA lists crossed eyes and tail kinks as minor defects inherited from its ancestors, as well as diseases that call for genetic or clinical testing, which is why breeders remove carriers from their programs. Siamese lines are known for progressive retinal atrophy, which leads to blindness, and for amyloidosis, for which there is no test. International Cat Care also lists asthma and some cancers in Siamese-type breeds. TICA describes the Balinese as generally healthy and notes that it can live past 20. The popular claim that the Balinese produces fewer allergens has not been confirmed by independent research.

• progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)Inherited from the Siamese; a DNA test identifies carriers.
• amyloidosisKnown in Siamese lines; there is no genetic test, so ask about the family history.
• crossed eyes and tail kinksMinor defects inherited from the Siamese, now less common thanks to selective breeding.
• asthma and respiratory diseaseSiamese and related breeds are listed among those predisposed to asthma.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

Longhaired kittens have turned up in Siamese litters since at least the early 20th century, but for a long time they were sold as pets. In the 1940s, American breeders Helen Smith and Sylvia Holland began breeding them on purpose. The name was inspired by Balinese dancers, since these slender cats move with similar grace. In 1970 the CFA allowed the Balinese to compete for championship titles, initially in the four classic Siamese colors. From 1979, the other colors (such as red point and lynx point) were registered as a separate breed, the Javanese. In 2008, CFA breeders voted to merge the two into one breed with two divisions: Balinese and Javanese.

Fun facts

• The breed's name is a nod to the grace of Balinese dancers.
• In the CFA, the Javanese was a separate breed from 1979 to 2008 and is now a division of the Balinese.
• With its long hair, a Balinese tail looks like a plume.
• Balinese kittens are born almost white, and the dark points develop with age.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Long-haired cat breeds

Sources

1. 1CFA – Balinesecfa.org
2. 2TICA – Balinese breedtica.org
3. 3VCA Animal Hospitals – Balinesevcahospitals.com
4. 4International Cat Care – Inherited disorders in catsicatcare.org
5. 5CFA – Siamese (PRA, amyloidosis)cfa.org
6. 6FIFe – Breedsfifeweb.org
7. 7WCF – Breed standards Siamese/Orientalwcf.de

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.