|
History of the
Balinese:
Little is known about the early history of the Balinese. Some
say that at least one Chinese tapestry depicts pointed
longhairs. The Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF) had a longhair
Siamese (which is what Balines actually are and what they were
originally called) registered in 1928. However, the history
starts later, in the 1950's, when true breeding programmes were
established.
It
is believed that "fuzzy" kittens were born to Siamese
litters from time to time. This longer coat being undesirable,
the breeders would quietly pet these kittens out. All of this
changed forever in the 1950's when two Siamese breeders, Mrs.
Marion Dorsey of Rai-Mar Cattery in California & Mrs. Helen
Smith of MerryMews Cattery in New York, both found longhairs in
their Siamese litters and were quite taken by their beauty.
Rather than petting them out as others had done, they began line
breeding to produce longhair Siamese.
It was Helen Smith who came to name these cats Balinese, because
she felt that the name Long Hair Siamese did not flow well and
that they greatly resembled the grace & elegance of the
Balinese dancers. She was the first to exhibit Balinese in CFA
& in the AOV (all other varieties) class at the Empire Cat
Show in New York City. Helen & Marion worked together during
the 1950's & 1960's to develop breeding stock and to gain
recognition as a new mutation breed. Mrs. Dorsey showed in a CFF
show in Glendale, California as early as 1956. It is due to
these two women and their foresight that we have the Balinese to
enjoy today.
Standard
of the Balinese:
The
ideal Balinese is a svelte cat with long tapering lines, very
lithe but strong & muscular. Excellent physical condition.
Neither flabby or bony. Not fat. Eyes clear. Because of the
longer coat, the Balinese appears to have softer lines and less
extreme type than other breeds of cats with similar type.
The
head should be shaped in a long, tapering wedge. Medium size in
good proportion to the body. The total wedge starts at the nose
& flares out in straight lines to the tips of the whiskers.
No less than the width of an eye between the eyes. When the
whiskers and face hair are smoothed back, the underlying bone
structure is apparent.
The
skull should be flat. In profile, a long straight line should be
felt from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. No bulge
over the eyes. No dip in the nose.
The
ears should be strikingly large, pointed, wide at the base,
continuing the lines of the wedge.
Almond
shaped, medium size eyes. Neither protruding nor recessed.
Slanted towards the nose in harmony with lines of the wedge
& ears. Uncrossed, blue in varying shades, the deeper, the
better.
Long
& straight nose. A continuation of the forehead with no
break.
Fine,
wedge-shaped muzzle.
Graceful,
long, and svelte body with a long & slender neck. A
distinctive combination of fine bones & firm muscles.
Shoulders and hips continue same sleek lines of tubular body.
Hips never wider than shoulders. Abdomen tight. The male may be
somewhat larger than the female.
Long
and slim legs. Hind legs higher than front. In good proportion
to body. Paws should be dainty, small & oval.
Tail
should be long & thin, tapering to a fine point. Tail hair
spreads out like a plume.
Medium
length coat, fine, silky without downy undercoat, lying close to
the body, the coat may appear shorter than it is. Hair is
longest on the tail.
Point
colour on the body: even, with subtle shading when allowed.
Allowance should be made for darker colour in older cats as
Balinese generally darken with age, but there must be definite
contrast between body colour & points.
Points: mask, ears, legs, feet, tail dense and clearly
defined. All of the same shade. Mask covers entire face
including whisker pads and is connected to ears by tracings.
Mask should not extend over top of head. No ticking or
white hairs in points.
Balinese
Colours:
Allowable
colours vary depending on the cat club but generally the
Balinese come in the same colours that Siamese come in,
including Tortie & Tabby Points.
Balinese
Cat Purrsonality:
If you are lucky
enough to share your life with a Balinese, you will never be at
loss for a best friend. Balinese adore their people and need to
be involved with everything their person does, from working on
the computer to helping you make your bed. They have
extraordinarily loving temperaments & bond closely with their
people. They make excellent pets & want to enjoy fun & games
with the family.
If you are sad, they will weep with you, if you are sick, they
will comfort you, and if you are happy, they will play with you.
And play, and play!!!
The Balinese cat was named because the way they move was
reminiscent of the grace & elegance of the Balinese dancers.
Balinese have the
same gregarious personalities as their Siamese cousins. They are
very vocal & will chat to you on just about any subject. In
fact, they are essentially a Siamese except for the coat which
is medium in length, fine & silky. It lies close to the body,
flowing towards the rear where it ends in a graceful plumed
tail. It does not require much grooming, all that is really
needed is the occasional brush or comb, routine nail clipping &
oral hygiene. Show cats of course need to be bathed before every
show.
Balinese are
highly intelligent cats & can usually train their companions to
perform many tricks for their amusement. Just like Siamese, they
demand lots of attention & can be very mischievous when they are
bored. They love toys & will make anything into one. They love
to play fetch and will carry a piece of screwed up paper back to
you for hours. They also love furry mice, little balls & any
catnip toy.
A good diet and
plenty of exercise are essential to maintain the Bali's firm,
tubular body & silky coat. The ideal Balinese body feels like
steel sheathed in silk.
So, except for the
attention which they feel is their right to obtain, Balinese are
a fairly low maintenance cat. Generally Balinese show cats are
extremely well mannered & easy going. Most are quite at home on
the bench & know how to please the judges & audience.
As pets of course,
Balinese are indeed integral members of the family. I know that
my life has been made richer by having my beautiful Balinese in
it. If you eek a highly intelligent, interactive, verbal, loving
pal, then a Balinese is the right breed for you.
Suitable
for:
Balinese
are suitable for all family situations, they are easy going
& get along with children & other pets.
Lifespan:
10
- 14 years.
Special
thanks to:
Jen Rogers of SmudgeWillow Cattery for the article & photos
& Melanie Wood of
Templeton
Cats for the use of her photos.
|
