Balinese cat: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Breed of cat}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date= |
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} |
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{{Infobox Catbreed |
{{Infobox Catbreed |
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| name = Balinese cat |
| name = Balinese cat |
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| image = Old-Style_Balinese_Cat.png |
| image = Old-Style_Balinese_Cat.png |
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| imagecaption = Old-style seal point Balinese |
| imagecaption = Old-style seal point Balinese |
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| altname = Long-haired Siamese |
| altname = Long-haired Siamese, Thai Siamese |
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Thai Siamese |
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| cfastd = https://cfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/balinese-standard.pdf |
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| ticastd= https://tica.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/si.pdf |
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| acfastd = https://www.acfacat.com/Breed%20Standards/BALINESE.pdf |
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| ticastd= http://tica.org/pdf/publications/standards/si.pdf |
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| ccastd = https://www.cca-afc.com/documents/BreedStandards/BALINESE_20220530_210839.pdf |
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| ccastd = http://www.cca-afc.com/en/BreedStandards/Balinese.pdf |
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| gccfstd = https://www.gccfcats.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Balinese.April2024.CinnamonFawn.pdf |
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| gccfstd = http://www.gccfcats.org/regpols/baliregpol.pdf |
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| otherstd = |
| otherstd = |
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The '''Balinese''' is a long-haired [[List of cat breeds|breed]] of [[domestic cat]] with [[Siamese cat|Siamese]]-style [[point coloration]] and sapphire-blue eyes. The Balinese is also known as the '''purebred long-haired Siamese''' |
The '''Balinese''' is a long-haired [[List of cat breeds|breed]] of [[domestic cat]] with [[Siamese cat|Siamese]]-style [[point coloration]] and sapphire-blue eyes. The Balinese is also known as the '''purebred long-haired Siamese''' since it originated as a natural mutation of that breed and hence is essentially the same cat but with a medium-length silky coat and a distinctively plumed tail.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://breedguide.trupanion.com/cat/balinese|title=Balinese - Trupanion Breed Guide|website=breedguide.trupanion.com|language=en-us|access-date=20 April 2018|archive-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620180624/https://breedguide.trupanion.com/cat/balinese|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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As is the case with their short-haired counterparts, a genetic distinction is made between traditional or "old-style" and modern body types. In the American standard, color variants derived from the [[Colorpoint Shorthair]] are further considered a separate breed, known as the [[Javanese cat|Javanese]]. There is no particular connection between these cats and the Indonesian islands of [[Bali]] and [[Java]], from which they derive their names. |
As is the case with their short-haired counterparts, a genetic distinction is made between traditional or "old-style" and modern body types. In the American standard, color variants derived from the [[Colorpoint Shorthair]] are further considered a separate breed, known as the [[Javanese cat|Javanese]]. There is no particular connection between these cats and the Indonesian islands of [[Bali]] and [[Java]], from which they derive their names. |
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Like their Siamese ancestors, Balinese are sociable, vocal, playful |
Like their Siamese ancestors, Balinese are sociable, vocal, playful, inquisitive, and intelligent.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Barron's Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds: A Complete Guide to the Domestic Cats of North America |last=Helgren |first=J. Anne |publisher=Barron's Educational Series |year=2013 |isbn=9780764165801 |edition=2nd |location=Hauppauge, NY |oclc=818865672}}</ref> |
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==History and development== |
==History and development== |
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[[File:Sylvia Moberly Holland.png|thumb|left|Sylvia Holland, pioneer Balinese breeder]] |
[[File:Sylvia Moberly Holland.png|thumb|left|Sylvia Holland, pioneer Balinese breeder]] |
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The "Balinese" is not actually from [[Bali]] or any part of [[Indonesia]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hyew7|title=CATS 101 - Balinese [ENG] - Video Dailymotion|date= |
The "Balinese" is not actually from [[Bali]] or any part of [[Indonesia]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hyew7|title=CATS 101 - Balinese [ENG] - Video Dailymotion|date=24 February 2015|website=Dailymotion|language=en|access-date=20 April 2018}}</ref> Its history begins with the first Siamese cats that were imported from [[Thailand]] to the U.S. and U.K. in the mid-1800s, some of whom carried the recessive long-haired gene. The Balinese breed subsequently originated from deliberate breeding efforts based on this naturally expressed genetic trait. |
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Initially, occasional long-haired kittens in Siamese litters were considered a fault in the |
Initially, occasional long-haired kittens in Siamese litters were considered a fault in the bloodline and sold exclusively as pets. There are records of these cats as early as the 1900s;<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Cat Fanciers' Association complete cat book |date=2004 |publisher=HarperResource |last=Siegal |first=Mordecai |isbn=978-0062702333 |edition=1st |location=New York, NY |oclc=56713821 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/catfanciersassoc0000unse }}</ref> "Long-haired Siamese" were first registered as show cats with the American Cat Fanciers' Federation in 1928. In the mid-1950s, breeders in the US began serious efforts to develop the long-haired variant as a separate breed.<ref name=":3" /> Considering Long-haired Siamese too cumbersome a name, initial breeder Helen Smith dubbed the new breed "Balinese" as a reference to the grace of [[Balinese dance|Balinese dancers]].<ref name=":0" /> |
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[[File:Sylvia_Holland's_Balinese_Kittens.png|thumb|right|Sylvia Holland's Balinese kittens, circa 1971]] |
[[File:Sylvia_Holland's_Balinese_Kittens.png|thumb|right|Sylvia Holland's Balinese kittens, circa 1971]] |
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A breeder named [[Sylvia Holland]] (who was also an illustrator for Walt Disney Studios) worked to further establish the breed standard in the 1960s and 1970s. She recognized only cats showing the classic Siamese points in seal, chocolate, blue and lilac as true Balinese, refusing to accept others |
A breeder named [[Sylvia Holland]] (who was also an illustrator for Walt Disney Studios) worked to further establish the breed standard in the 1960s and 1970s. She recognized only cats showing the classic Siamese points in seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac as true Balinese, refusing to accept others because they had likely originated from crosses with other breeds.<ref name="Somerville" /> The American [[Cat Fanciers' Association]] had meanwhile officially classified Siamese with the newer red and cream as well as lynx (tabby) and tortoiseshell (or "tortie") patterned points as a separate breed, the [[Colorpoint Shorthair]], and the long-haired cats derived from these colors and patterns were subsequently likewise classified separately as "Javanese", in keeping with the Indonesian island theme. |
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Like their Siamese ancestors, the Balinese gradually split into two separate varieties based on physical type.<ref name=":0" /> The traditional Siamese (also called old-style or "apple-head", now being separately developed as the [[Thai cat|Thai]]), was the type in vogue when the Balinese was established, and hence used in its development; these old-style Balinese still closely resemble those from the early breeding programs. |
Like their Siamese ancestors, the Balinese gradually split into two separate varieties based on physical type.<ref name=":0" /> The traditional Siamese (also called old-style or "apple-head", now being separately developed as the [[Thai cat|Thai]]), was the type in vogue when the Balinese was established, and hence used in its development; these old-style Balinese still closely resemble those from the early breeding programs. |
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As the parent short-haired Siamese gained in popularity, however, a trend developed in favor of a more extremely elongated, slender type with a distinctively wedge-shaped head. The modern (or "contemporary") Balinese was subsequently derived directly from this newer Siamese ideal.<ref name=":0" /> By the mid-1980s, the old-style Balinese, like their Siamese counterparts, had disappeared from most cat shows, |
As the parent short-haired Siamese gained in popularity, however, a trend developed in favor of a more extremely elongated, slender type with a distinctively wedge-shaped head. The modern (or "contemporary") Balinese was subsequently derived directly from this newer Siamese ideal.<ref name=":0" /> By the mid-1980s, the old-style Balinese, like their Siamese counterparts, had disappeared from most cat shows, except a few breeders who maintained the original Balinese type. The two varieties of Balinese thus have very few if any recent ancestors in common. |
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=== Balinese-Javanese === |
=== Balinese-Javanese === |
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[[File:Ghislaine 6028.jpg|thumb|right|Modern chocolate tortoiseshell-point Javanese]] |
[[File:Ghislaine 6028.jpg|thumb|right|Modern chocolate tortoiseshell-point Javanese]] |
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There was discussion in the Cat Fanciers' Association about merging the two breeds into one breed with two color divisions as early as 2006. The [[Javanese cat|Javanese]] is a |
There was discussion in the Cat Fanciers' Association about merging the two breeds into one breed with two color divisions as early as 2006. The [[Javanese cat|Javanese]] is a cross between the [[Siamese cat|Siamese]], [[Colorpoint Shorthair]], and Balinese.<ref name="CFA">{{Cite web |title=Javanse cat |url=https://cfa.org/javanese-article/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=www.cfa.org}}</ref> In 2008, breeders in the Balinese Breed Council and Javanese Breed Council<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://cfa-files.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/minutes/20080201-summary.pdf|title=CFA Executive Board Meeting|year=2008|publisher=CFA|pages=79–91|access-date=9 May 2018}}</ref> voted to combine the Balinese and [[Javanese cat|Javanese]] as one breed and declared Javanese as a color division of the Balinese.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |title=Balinese cats |last=Finne |first=Stephanie |publisher=ABDO Publishing |year=2015 |isbn=9781624033223 |location=Minneapolis, MN |oclc=864753000}}</ref> The Cat Fanciers' Association was the only organization to believe that Javanese was a separate breed. This does not affect the colors or description of Balinese, since they are two separate divisions but they are just placed under the Balinese. Javanese will still have the same colors as before, along with Balinese having the same colors mentioned below.<ref name=":5" /> |
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This movement has brought The Cat Fanciers' Association more in line with the other worldwide registries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.subali-klm.com/javanese/index.html|title=What is a Javanese Cat?|website=www.subali-klm.com|access-date= |
This movement has brought The Cat Fanciers' Association more in line with the other worldwide registries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.subali-klm.com/javanese/index.html|title=What is a Javanese Cat?|website=www.subali-klm.com|access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref> The Cat Fanciers' Association made this change since the two councils in their organization (Balinese and Javanese) were overlapping around an average of 50 to 75% with the same members who breed and exhibited the two types.<ref name=":5" /> It is hoped that combining the two breeds will increase Balinese registration in the Cat Fanciers' Association, by encouraging new breeders and exhibitors of Balinese to come forth and present their cat. They also wished to show more Javanese of the appropriate coat length in the shows. This will also help decrease the number of cats needed to maintain a healthy breeding program.<ref name=":5" /> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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===Appearance=== |
===Appearance=== |
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The two types of Balinese are still analogous to their [[Siamese cat|Siamese]] counterparts. While both are relatively slender, graceful fine-boned cats with long legs and |
The two types of Balinese are still analogous to their [[Siamese cat|Siamese]] counterparts. While both are relatively slender, graceful fine-boned cats with long legs and tails, neat oval paws, almond-shaped eyes, and large pointed ears, the traditional type is overall the more substantial, with a broader head and sturdier body. The modern type features a noticeably more wedge-shaped head with long tapering muzzle and longer, broader ears, atop a more slender and elongated body. |
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[[File:Old-Style_Lilac_Point_Balinese.png|thumb|left|Old-style lilac point]] |
[[File:Old-Style_Lilac_Point_Balinese.png|thumb|left|Old-style lilac point]] |
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===Coat and color=== |
===Coat and color=== |
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The coat is |
The coat is medium-length (although there can be considerable variance by individual) and should be soft and silky, without the fluffy undercoat typical of most long-haired breeds. The offspring of two Balinese will have a longer coat than that of a Balinese and a Siamese. In all cases, the tail should have a definite plume, or fringe, of longer hair. Eye color ranges from pale blue through sapphire/violet; the intensity of color can change slightly with age and diet. The paw pad color can be used to identify the color point in kittens. Pink pads are found in chocolate and lilac points; while dark pads are found in blue and seal points. |
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Like all cats with the point pattern, Balinese [[kitten]]s are born pure cream or white and gradually develop visible points in colder parts of their body |
Like all cats with the point pattern, Balinese [[kitten]]s are born pure cream or white and gradually develop visible points in colder parts of their body – the face, ears, paws and tail. Their color is identifiable by the time they are four weeks old. Some cats tend to darken with age, and generally, adult Balinese cats living in warm climates have lighter coats than those in cool climates. |
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The Cat Fanciers' Federation and most other associations worldwide accept the Balinese breed in seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream point, besides tortoiseshell and [[lynx point]]s in all of these colors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Breed Standard Balinese |url= |
The Cat Fanciers' Federation and most other associations worldwide accept the Balinese breed in seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream point, besides tortoiseshell and [[lynx point]]s in all of these colors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Breed Standard Balinese |url=https://wcf.de/pdf-en/breed/BAL-EN_2023-01-01.pdf |publisher=World Cat Fancy |access-date=4 July 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506220436/https://wcf.de/pdf-en/breed/BAL-EN_2023-01-01.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2023 }}</ref> The Cat Fanciers' Association standard continues to accept the Balinese in only the classic seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac points, with all other possible colors and patterns classed separately as [[Javanese (cat)|Javanese]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Breed Standard Balinese|url=https://cfa.org/balinese/balinese-breed-standard/|publisher=Cat Fanciers' Association|access-date=22 May 2012}}</ref> |
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[[File:Old-Style_Balinese-Seal_point.png|thumb|right| Old-style seal point]] |
[[File:Old-Style_Balinese-Seal_point.png|thumb|right| Old-style seal point]] |
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===Temperament=== |
===Temperament=== |
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Balinese share the traits of the short-haired Siamese, and hence are notably social and playful cats with an intense interest in the activity around them and a tendency to vocalize often and persistently, albeit at a lower volume. They are reputed to have the highest intelligence of all the long-haired breeds.<ref>{{cite book |first=J. Anne |last=Helgren |year=1997 |title=Barron's Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds: A Complete Guide to the Domestic Cats of North America |publisher=Barron's Educational Series |isbn=978-0-7641-5067-8}}</ref> They are also reputed to be notably acrobatic |
Balinese share the traits of the short-haired [[Siamese cat|Siamese]], and hence are notably social and playful cats with an intense interest in the activity around them and a tendency to vocalize often and persistently, albeit at a lower volume. Akin to their short-haired counterparts (i.e the [[Siamese cat|Siamese]] cats), they are quite clingy and can be high-maintenance in terms of attention, they are often described as dog-like. They also tend to have high energy levels and are quite active and playful like their short-haired [[Siamese cat|Siamese]] counterparts. They are reputed to have the highest intelligence of all the long-haired breeds.<ref>{{cite book |first=J. Anne |last=Helgren |year=1997 |title=Barron's Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds: A Complete Guide to the Domestic Cats of North America |publisher=Barron's Educational Series |isbn=978-0-7641-5067-8}}</ref> They are also reputed to be notably acrobatic and to enjoy intimate contact with their owners.<ref name="Somerville">{{cite book |last=Somerville |first=Louisa |title=The Ultimate Guide to Cat Breeds|year=2007|publisher=Chartwell Books|location=Edison, N.J.|isbn=9780785822646|page=52}}</ref> |
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===Hypoallergenic claims=== |
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Anecdotally, Balinese are claimed to cause many fewer problems with allergies than most breeds. While strict scientific evidence for this is lacking, it has been determined that, in comparison to most cats, the Balinese produces very low amounts of the [[Fel d1]] and [[Fel d 4|Fel d4]] protein allergens.<ref name=catster>{{cite web|title=Top Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds for People with Allergies|url=http://www.catster.com/cat-breeds/hypoallergenic-cat-breeds|website=Catster|accessdate=20 August 2014}}</ref> As with the Siberian cat breed, some Balinese breeders and clubs are working together to produce more rigorously tested evidence of the Balinese's hypoallergenic quality.<ref name=catster /> |
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==Genetics== |
==Genetics== |
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The [[Point coloration|pointed pattern] |
The [[Point coloration|pointed pattern]] is a form of partial [[albinism]], resulting from a mutation in [[tyrosinase]], an [[enzyme]] involved in [[melanin]] production. The mutated enzyme is heat-sensitive; it fails to work at normal [[Thermoregulation|body temperatures]] but becomes active in cooler areas of the skin.<ref> |
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{{cite journal | author = D. L. Imes |author2 = L. A. Geary | author3 = R. A. Grahn | author4 = L. A. Lyons |date=April 2006 | title = Albinism in the domestic cat (''Felis catus'') is associated with a ''tyrosinase'' (''TYR'') mutation | journal = Animal Genetics | volume = 37 | issue = 2 | pages = 175–178 | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2005.01409.x | pmid = 16573534 | pmc = 1464423}} |
{{cite journal | author = D. L. Imes |author2 = L. A. Geary | author3 = R. A. Grahn | author4 = L. A. Lyons |date=April 2006 | title = Albinism in the domestic cat (''Felis catus'') is associated with a ''tyrosinase'' (''TYR'') mutation | journal = Animal Genetics | volume = 37 | issue = 2 | pages = 175–178 | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2005.01409.x | pmid = 16573534 | pmc = 1464423}} |
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</ref> This results in dark coloration in the coolest parts of the cat's body, including the extremities and the face, which is cooled by the passage of air through the [[Nostril|sinuses]]. Though crossbreeding with other breeds took place |
</ref> This results in dark coloration in the coolest parts of the cat's body, including the extremities and the face, which is cooled by the passage of air through the [[Nostril|sinuses]]. Though crossbreeding with other breeds took place to produce the less traditional Javanese colors, they are considered purebred cats if they are registered and have at least 3-4 or more generations of Siamese or Balinese lineage. |
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== Health |
== Health == |
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They are a pedigree breed, which means they are developed from such a small gene pool of Siamese with the long hair mutation. The smaller the gene pool, the more chances they have to inherit many unknown health disorders.<ref name=":4" /> A possible confirmed disease for Balinese is [[Progressive retinal atrophy|Progressive Retinal Atrophy]] (PRA),<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://icatcare.org/advice/cat-breeds/balinese|title=Balinese {{!}} International Cat Care|website=icatcare.org|language=en|access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref> which is a degeneration of the retina in the eye; that may lead to weak or impaired vision.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://icatcare.org/advice/cat-health/progressive-retinal-atrophy|title=Progressive retinal atrophy {{!}} International Cat Care|website=icatcare.org|language=en|access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref> |
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There has been some cases of Balinese having [[dilated cardiomyopathy]], which is a disease that enlarges the heart muscles that decreases heart function.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/cat-breeds/balinese|title=Balinese Cat {{!}} Embrace Breed Library|website=www.embracepetinsurance.com|access-date=2018-04-30}}</ref> There are also some claims that they are at a low risk for [[hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]] (HCM). <ref name=":0" /> |
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Another potential health problem is liver amyloidosis,<ref name=":0" /> or systemic amyloidosis which eventually leads to failure of some organ, most commonly the liver. Liver amyloidosis typically occurs in any members of the Siamese and the Balinese is a mutation off the Siamese, so it may have any inherited disorders directly to [[Siamese cat|Siamese]]. <ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/balinese-cats#/slide/1|title=Balinese Cat Breed Information, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts|work=CatTime|access-date=2018-04-30|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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They sometimes developed a rare inheritance that makes their blue almond shaped eyes look cross eyed. It is called [[Strabismus]], which is common in Siamese cat breeds.<ref name=":2" /> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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*{{Cite web|title=Balinese cat breed-History, Personality, Health, Care and Facts|url=https://www.pettract.com/2020/10/balinese-cat-breed.html|access-date=27 October 2020}} |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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{{commons category|Balinese}} |
{{commons category|Balinese cats}} |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160411170402/http://www.balinesecat.com/faq.htm Balinese cat information] |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160411170402/http://www.balinesecat.com/faq.htm Balinese cat information] |
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* [ |
* [https://www.azureyscats.com/baliinfo.html Old-Style Balinese Cat History & Information] |
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*[https://www.pettract.com/2020/10/balinese-cat-breed.html Balinese cat Personality and Health] |
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{{Cat nav}} |
{{Cat nav}} |
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[[Category:Cat breeds]] |
[[Category:Cat breeds]] |
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[[Category:Cat breeds originating in the United States]] |
[[Category:Cat breeds originating in the United States]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:20, 4 November 2024
| Balinese cat | |
|---|---|
 Old-style seal point Balinese | |
| Other names | Long-haired Siamese, Thai Siamese |
| Origin | United States |
| Breed standards | |
| CFA | standard |
| FIFe | standard |
| TICA | standard |
| ACF | standard |
| ACFA/CAA | standard |
| CCA-AFC | standard |
| GCCF | standard |
| Domestic cat (Felis catus) | |
The Balinese is a long-haired breed of domestic cat with Siamese-style point coloration and sapphire-blue eyes. The Balinese is also known as the purebred long-haired Siamese since it originated as a natural mutation of that breed and hence is essentially the same cat but with a medium-length silky coat and a distinctively plumed tail.[1]
As is the case with their short-haired counterparts, a genetic distinction is made between traditional or "old-style" and modern body types. In the American standard, color variants derived from the Colorpoint Shorthair are further considered a separate breed, known as the Javanese. There is no particular connection between these cats and the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java, from which they derive their names.
Like their Siamese ancestors, Balinese are sociable, vocal, playful, inquisitive, and intelligent.[2]
History and development
[edit]
The "Balinese" is not actually from Bali or any part of Indonesia.[3] Its history begins with the first Siamese cats that were imported from Thailand to the U.S. and U.K. in the mid-1800s, some of whom carried the recessive long-haired gene. The Balinese breed subsequently originated from deliberate breeding efforts based on this naturally expressed genetic trait.
Initially, occasional long-haired kittens in Siamese litters were considered a fault in the bloodline and sold exclusively as pets. There are records of these cats as early as the 1900s;[4] "Long-haired Siamese" were first registered as show cats with the American Cat Fanciers' Federation in 1928. In the mid-1950s, breeders in the US began serious efforts to develop the long-haired variant as a separate breed.[5] Considering Long-haired Siamese too cumbersome a name, initial breeder Helen Smith dubbed the new breed "Balinese" as a reference to the grace of Balinese dancers.[2]
A breeder named Sylvia Holland (who was also an illustrator for Walt Disney Studios) worked to further establish the breed standard in the 1960s and 1970s. She recognized only cats showing the classic Siamese points in seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac as true Balinese, refusing to accept others because they had likely originated from crosses with other breeds.[6] The American Cat Fanciers' Association had meanwhile officially classified Siamese with the newer red and cream as well as lynx (tabby) and tortoiseshell (or "tortie") patterned points as a separate breed, the Colorpoint Shorthair, and the long-haired cats derived from these colors and patterns were subsequently likewise classified separately as "Javanese", in keeping with the Indonesian island theme.
Like their Siamese ancestors, the Balinese gradually split into two separate varieties based on physical type.[2] The traditional Siamese (also called old-style or "apple-head", now being separately developed as the Thai), was the type in vogue when the Balinese was established, and hence used in its development; these old-style Balinese still closely resemble those from the early breeding programs.
As the parent short-haired Siamese gained in popularity, however, a trend developed in favor of a more extremely elongated, slender type with a distinctively wedge-shaped head. The modern (or "contemporary") Balinese was subsequently derived directly from this newer Siamese ideal.[2] By the mid-1980s, the old-style Balinese, like their Siamese counterparts, had disappeared from most cat shows, except a few breeders who maintained the original Balinese type. The two varieties of Balinese thus have very few if any recent ancestors in common.
Balinese-Javanese
[edit]
There was discussion in the Cat Fanciers' Association about merging the two breeds into one breed with two color divisions as early as 2006. The Javanese is a cross between the Siamese, Colorpoint Shorthair, and Balinese.[7] In 2008, breeders in the Balinese Breed Council and Javanese Breed Council[8] voted to combine the Balinese and Javanese as one breed and declared Javanese as a color division of the Balinese.[2][5] The Cat Fanciers' Association was the only organization to believe that Javanese was a separate breed. This does not affect the colors or description of Balinese, since they are two separate divisions but they are just placed under the Balinese. Javanese will still have the same colors as before, along with Balinese having the same colors mentioned below.[8]
This movement has brought The Cat Fanciers' Association more in line with the other worldwide registries.[9] The Cat Fanciers' Association made this change since the two councils in their organization (Balinese and Javanese) were overlapping around an average of 50 to 75% with the same members who breed and exhibited the two types.[8] It is hoped that combining the two breeds will increase Balinese registration in the Cat Fanciers' Association, by encouraging new breeders and exhibitors of Balinese to come forth and present their cat. They also wished to show more Javanese of the appropriate coat length in the shows. This will also help decrease the number of cats needed to maintain a healthy breeding program.[8]
Description
[edit]Appearance
[edit]The two types of Balinese are still analogous to their Siamese counterparts. While both are relatively slender, graceful fine-boned cats with long legs and tails, neat oval paws, almond-shaped eyes, and large pointed ears, the traditional type is overall the more substantial, with a broader head and sturdier body. The modern type features a noticeably more wedge-shaped head with long tapering muzzle and longer, broader ears, atop a more slender and elongated body.
Coat and color
[edit]The coat is medium-length (although there can be considerable variance by individual) and should be soft and silky, without the fluffy undercoat typical of most long-haired breeds. The offspring of two Balinese will have a longer coat than that of a Balinese and a Siamese. In all cases, the tail should have a definite plume, or fringe, of longer hair. Eye color ranges from pale blue through sapphire/violet; the intensity of color can change slightly with age and diet. The paw pad color can be used to identify the color point in kittens. Pink pads are found in chocolate and lilac points; while dark pads are found in blue and seal points.
Like all cats with the point pattern, Balinese kittens are born pure cream or white and gradually develop visible points in colder parts of their body – the face, ears, paws and tail. Their color is identifiable by the time they are four weeks old. Some cats tend to darken with age, and generally, adult Balinese cats living in warm climates have lighter coats than those in cool climates.
The Cat Fanciers' Federation and most other associations worldwide accept the Balinese breed in seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream point, besides tortoiseshell and lynx points in all of these colors.[10] The Cat Fanciers' Association standard continues to accept the Balinese in only the classic seal, blue, chocolate, and lilac points, with all other possible colors and patterns classed separately as Javanese.[11]
Temperament
[edit]Balinese share the traits of the short-haired Siamese, and hence are notably social and playful cats with an intense interest in the activity around them and a tendency to vocalize often and persistently, albeit at a lower volume. Akin to their short-haired counterparts (i.e the Siamese cats), they are quite clingy and can be high-maintenance in terms of attention, they are often described as dog-like. They also tend to have high energy levels and are quite active and playful like their short-haired Siamese counterparts. They are reputed to have the highest intelligence of all the long-haired breeds.[12] They are also reputed to be notably acrobatic and to enjoy intimate contact with their owners.[6]
Genetics
[edit]The pointed pattern is a form of partial albinism, resulting from a mutation in tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin production. The mutated enzyme is heat-sensitive; it fails to work at normal body temperatures but becomes active in cooler areas of the skin.[13] This results in dark coloration in the coolest parts of the cat's body, including the extremities and the face, which is cooled by the passage of air through the sinuses. Though crossbreeding with other breeds took place to produce the less traditional Javanese colors, they are considered purebred cats if they are registered and have at least 3-4 or more generations of Siamese or Balinese lineage.
Health
[edit]They are a pedigree breed, which means they are developed from such a small gene pool of Siamese with the long hair mutation. The smaller the gene pool, the more chances they have to inherit many unknown health disorders.[14] A possible confirmed disease for Balinese is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA),[14] which is a degeneration of the retina in the eye; that may lead to weak or impaired vision.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "Balinese - Trupanion Breed Guide". breedguide.trupanion.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Helgren, J. Anne (2013). Barron's Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds: A Complete Guide to the Domestic Cats of North America (2nd ed.). Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 9780764165801. OCLC 818865672.
- ^ "CATS 101 - Balinese [ENG] - Video Dailymotion". Dailymotion. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ Siegal, Mordecai (2004). The Cat Fanciers' Association complete cat book (1st ed.). New York, NY: HarperResource. ISBN 978-0062702333. OCLC 56713821.
- ^ a b Finne, Stephanie (2015). Balinese cats. Minneapolis, MN: ABDO Publishing. ISBN 9781624033223. OCLC 864753000.
- ^ a b Somerville, Louisa (2007). The Ultimate Guide to Cat Breeds. Edison, N.J.: Chartwell Books. p. 52. ISBN 9780785822646.
- ^ "Javanse cat". www.cfa.org. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d "CFA Executive Board Meeting" (PDF). CFA. 2008. pp. 79–91. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ "What is a Javanese Cat?". www.subali-klm.com. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Breed Standard Balinese" (PDF). World Cat Fancy. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Breed Standard Balinese". Cat Fanciers' Association. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ^ Helgren, J. Anne (1997). Barron's Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds: A Complete Guide to the Domestic Cats of North America. Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0-7641-5067-8.
- ^ D. L. Imes; L. A. Geary; R. A. Grahn; L. A. Lyons (April 2006). "Albinism in the domestic cat (Felis catus) is associated with a tyrosinase (TYR) mutation". Animal Genetics. 37 (2): 175–178. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2005.01409.x. PMC 1464423. PMID 16573534.
- ^ a b "Balinese | International Cat Care". icatcare.org. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Progressive retinal atrophy | International Cat Care". icatcare.org. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- "Balinese cat breed-History, Personality, Health, Care and Facts". Retrieved 27 October 2020.
External links
[edit]
- Balinese cat information
- Old-Style Balinese Cat History & Information
- Balinese cat Personality and Health
