Balinese

The Balinese is the long-haired Siamese. Longhaired kittens appeared now and then in Siamese litters, and in the 1940s and 1950s American breeders, including Marion Dorsey and Helen Smith, began to develop them as a breed. The name is not for the island of Bali, but for the graceful dancers of Bali, which the cat’s movement recalls.

The look is the Siamese in silk. A Balinese has the same long, slim body, wedge-shaped head, large ears and sapphire-blue almond eyes, and the same pointed coat, but with a long, silky, flowing fur and a magnificent plumed tail. It has no undercoat, so the fur lies smooth and rarely mats.

The points come in seal, chocolate, blue and lilac, and in lynx, red and tortoiseshell as well. Kittens are born pale and the points develop with time, darkening as the cat ages. The long coat is at its most dramatic on the tail, which the cat carries like a banner.

The personality is the Siamese’s, with a softer voice. Balinese cats are clever, social and talkative, but their voices are gentler, and they are often described as the more mellow of the two. They are affectionate, they like to be involved, and they follow their people from room to room.

These cats are great climbers and leapers, and they like puzzles, fetch and games of all kinds. They like company, and they do best with people at home or a feline friend. Many are fascinated by running water, and many will help with anything that involves a faucet.

Grooming is easier than it looks, a weekly comb. Health notes include eye problems, amyloidosis and dental disease, so ask breeders about screening. A healthy Balinese often lives into its mid-teens. Give it company, height and a conversation, and it will give you a ballet.