Balinese cat sitting in a meadow of flowers

Balinese Cat Insurance, Care and Health Advice

The Balinese cat breed began after long-haired Siamese kittens appeared in litters in the 1940s. Siamese breeders Helen Smith and Marion Dorsey decided to separate these kittens and breed them together to see if a long-haired Siamese kitten could be consistently produced. Breeder Helen Smith named the breed after the Balinese dancers due to their shared grace and beauty. 

The breed made its first UK appearance in 1973. There are now two versions of the Balinese breed, old style and modern, which have different body and head shapes but are still considered the same breed. The breed has the same piercing blue eyes, pointing, and cream colouring of Siamese cats but with a long coat instead. Point colours include seal, chocolate, blue and lilac.

Balinese Cat Facts

Cat breed type icon
Type
Domestic
Cat breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
12 - 20 years
Cat breed size icon
Size
Medium
Cat breed weight icon
Weight
2.3 - 4.5 kg
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Height
20 - 28 cm
Cat breed temperament icon
Temperament
Independent, friendly, inquisitive
Cat breed exercise icon
Exercise
60 mins per day
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Grooming
Low maintenance

Is a Balinese Cat Right for Me?

This demanding breed thrives on attention and may become destructive and loud if it doesn’t get the attention it craves! Balinese have a playful nature and are highly active. They need lots of outdoor time to burn off energy and stimulate their intelligent minds. 

They’re not suited to family life as they don’t like to share the attention with others - so may not make for the best family pet. A Balinese may find it difficult adjusting to children and other pets. Considered more high maintenance than other cat breeds, a Balinese would be best suited to an experienced cat owner.

Balinese Kitten looking up

What are Balinese Kittens Like?

Balinese kittens are playful, energetic, and friendly – traits that they never lose! From the moment you take your kitten home, they will make themselves comfortable. They’re not afraid of heights and will climb anything to get a good viewing point. They love nothing more than to sit at windows and watch the world go by.

A Balinese Cat relaxing

Life with a Balinese Cat

Their elegant and regal looks don’t suit their personality. They’re energetic, talkative, and cuddly. They thrive on lots of attention and don’t really like having to share it. They get along with dogs and cats, but they prefer to be the centre of attention.

Caring for Your Balinese

Balinese are fussy eaters and tend to prefer wet food to dry. But there are benefits to feeding dry food - it helps to clean their teeth and encourages chewing. A combination of wet and dry food is ideal. 

Their fine boned bodies aren’t designed to carry additional weight so make sure you’re feeding your cat the right amount and are avoiding any extra calories. Check the food packaging for guidelines.

Balinese have a single coat (no undercoat) so don’t need as much grooming as other long-haired breeds. Because they have a single coat, their fine hair lays close to their body giving it a silky appearance. Running a brush through your cat’s hair once a week will remove any loose hairs and keep their coats in good condition. 

Grooming is a great way to bond with your pet, and luckily Balinese cats tend to enjoy being brushed. It also provides a chance to check their eyes, ears, and teeth for any signs of ill health. You don’t need to trim your cat’s nails, but it’s a good idea to have scratch posts for them to use to keep them in check.

This intelligent breed is easy to train. To teach your cat to use a litter tray, place one away from their bed and food/water bowls. Show them where it is and then leave them to it. They’re inquisitive so will want to explore this new item and will soon be using it. 

You can also teach your Balinese cat tricks like sit and stay. Training is a great way to stimulate their minds and will strengthen the bond between you.

Balinese cats are athletic and curious, so need access to an outdoor area. A cat proof garden or large enclosure (‘catio’) will give them the space that they need to play, bird watch and climb. If kept indoors, your cat will likely climb your furniture and knock your ornaments off. Jungle-gyms, interactive food dispensing toys, and cat trees will keep your cat entertained, but nothing will please them more than spending time with you!

Balinese Cat Insurance

Balinese cats are delightful companions, and it's essential to consider getting them the right insurance coverage. You're in luck if you are looking for the perfect protection for your fluffy feline friend. At Everypaw, we offer various Lifetime Cat Cover options to safeguard your beloved Balinese cat.

Plus, vet fees are not the only thing wrapped up by your kitty cover; every policy is full of extras. You'll have access to round-the-clock veterinary support through Petcall. And if they don't find their way home, we can help with our theft and straying benefits.

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Common Balinese Cat Health Problems by Vetstream

It's not unusual for Balinese cats to be cross-eyed. The condition isn’t dangerous, will not affect their vision and doesn’t require treatment. But there are some other health conditions that do require attention. Everypaw has teamed up with veterinary experts Vetstream to give you all the information you need on common conditions in this breed.

PRA is a group of inherited eye diseases that eventually lead to blindness. Affected cats will show signs of poor vision, like nervousness in dimly lit areas. It’s untreatable but cats can live happily without their sight. However, blindness will affect their ability to hunt and their awareness of danger, like moving cars, so they should ideally be kept indoors or in a safe enclosed garden.

With DCM the heart muscle becomes stretched, which causes the heart to swell. This leads to weaker contractions meaning that blood isn’t pumped around the body properly. It’s often seen in cats that don’t have enough taurine in their diet. 

Taurine supplements can sometimes allow the heart muscle to recover, and medication can be given to increase the strength of contractions. Controlled exercise is also important for a successful recovery.

Kidney disease is common in middle-aged and elderly cats. The cells that filter natural toxins (normal waste) out of the blood become damaged as part of the normal aging process. Eventually, so much kidney tissue is affected that the waste products build up inside the bloodstream. 

There are some inherited defects in long-haired breeds that can make the damage worse. Affected cats will have dark urine, pass urine more often and be thirstier than normal. Unfortunately, the damage is irreversible and will ultimately be fatal. But there are supportive treatments available to help your cat feel better.

This condition belongs to a group of genetic disorders called storage diseases. It’s most commonly seen in kittens less than 6 months old. Symptoms vary but can include chewing, tremors, loss of balance, paralysis, behaviour changes, and an enlarged liver and spleen. Unfortunately, there’s no cure and most affected kittens die before 1 year of age.

Quick Balinese Cat Q&A

No cat is truly hypoallergenic, but Balinese cats produce less Fel d1 (the protein that causes allergies), so they're less likely to affect allergy sufferers. They also shed less than other long-haired breeds. But before bringing one home, you should spend time with this breed to make sure it doesn’t affect you.

Despite being high energy cats, they’re surprisingly cuddly. They love to play and climb, but they also love lots of attention. They’ll quite happily curl up on your lap for a stroke or brush. They’re friendly to people and other cats, and they’ll get along with cat-friendly dogs too.

The cost of this breed can vary between £400-£1300. This depends on the reputation of the breeder and heritage of the parent cats being used. A cat suitable for competition with an excellent pedigree will tend to cost more.

This breed is independent but friendly. They love attention and are very talkative, just like their Siamese ancestors. Although they’re active cats that enjoy playtime, they also make great lap cats. They’re best suited to homes with older children as they prefer a calm environment.

That’s All You Need to Know About Balinese Cats

This playful, active, and affectionate breed is best suited to experienced cat owners that can dedicate lots of time and attention. They need lots of mental and physical exercise and may become destructive if they don’t have climbing frames and toys to play with. Their silky coat is low maintenance and less likely to affect allergy sufferers. 

There are some health conditions to be aware of but if you buy from a reputable cat breeder with healthy breeding programmes, your cat could be with you for up to 22 years! If you notice any unusual behaviour or symptoms in your Balinese cat, it's always best to book a health check with your local vet!

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis – www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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