Balinese (cat)

From ArticleWorld

The Balinese cat is a highly intelligent, longhaired breed with Siamese Style markings or ‘’points’’. Originally registered as Longhaired Siamese, the traditional Balinese has a medium length, silky coat and plumed tail. Like their Siamese ancestors, they are very intelligent, although somewhat less talkative.

History

The Longhaired Siamese underwent a name change in the 1950’s. With their new name, Balinese, and the dedication of several U.S. breeders, they quickly grew in popularity. Named for the graceful Balinese dancers, they eventually evolved into two varieties of the breed, the traditional Balinese and the contemporary Balinese. Both are widely bred and accepted as show cats. As with most other breeds, the contemporary version is preferred by many breeders and show judges.

Characteristics

The traditional Balinese has a two-inch coat, plumed tail, and rounded head and muzzle. It has a heavier body than the more slender, contemporary Balinese. The contemporary Balinese has a much shorter coat, but still retains the silky, plumed tail. Unlike other longhaired cats, Balinese shed very little and their coat resists matting. They do like to talk to their owners, but lack the Siamese yowl and tend to speak in softer voices. Extremely friendly, Balinese make good kidnap victims, and should not be allowed to wander freely outdoors. Their intelligence makes them easy to train to use scratching posts and litter boxes, making them ideal indoor pets. Their high intelligence can also lead to them being confused, or easily spoiled, if care is not taken to maintain consistent rules and training tactics. Although more popular with breeders and show judges, the contemporary Balinese are also more prone to health problems than their traditional counterparts.