Balinese cat

History of the Balinese cat breed

Surprisingly, the Balinese have been around ever since their closest relatives siam formed into an independent breed. For decades, Siamese cats brought kittens with long hair, and even careful selection of producers did not help to completely eliminate this phenomenon. Of course, long-haired babies were immediately rejected, fusing them to promiscuous cat lovers, until one day the "wrong" Siams there were no fans among the breeders. As a result, by 1929, clubs in the USA began cautiously registering Balinese cats.

The breeders Marion Dorsey, Helen Smith and Sylvia Holland became the pioneers who "knocked out" the breed registration in international felinological systems. Not to say that the path to standardization was simple – the formation of a single exterior of Balinese turned into a real problem, since in the middle of the XX century siamese cats varied greatly. For example, for a long time the breed existed in two equivalent types – individuals with a round apple-shaped skull and animals with elongated marten muzzles. For some time, felinologists have been actively adjusting the appearance of Balinese to both of these varieties. However, already in 1958 siam received a new standard of appearance that recognized only animals with elongated heads as correct, so the breeders of Balinese cats had to "change their shoes on the go." In particular, a new Balinese type was created, which had a more pronounced resemblance to Siamese relatives.

In 1970, the Balinese cat breed was recognized by the commissions of the CFA and TICA systems. Moreover, the first association allowed only animals of chocolate, seal, blue and purple point colors to breed. Two years later, the Balinese were included in their lists by FIFe specialists. As for interbreed mating, for a long time Balinese cats were allowed to knit only with siamese . Then an exception was made to the rule, allowing the breed to be crossed with orientals and Javanese. However, by 2013 the experiment was closed.

Video: Balinese Cat

The breed standard of the Balinese cat

Balinezov and siam unites the lean type of constitution, but at the same time separates the length of the coat. Ideally, the Balinese kotofey should have a well-developed musculature, at the same time have a refined appearance and not differ in the looseness of the addition. This effect is achieved thanks to the elongated limbs, neck and body, making the appearance of the purr exquisitely aristocratic.

Head

The shape of the Balinese cat's head tends towards a narrowed wedge starting from the nose and ending in the ears. The skull is flat, smooth when viewed in profile, without protrusions in the eye area, with a continuous straight line of the nose. The tip of the chin is without sloping, the muzzle is pointedly pointed.

Eyes

The eye section is classic almond-shaped with a pronounced inclination of the inner corners to the nose. The eyeballs are not set deep, but they are not protruding either. The iris is painted in a pure blue tone.

Ears

Large ears are a natural extension of the head wedge. The base of the ears is very wide, the tips are pointed.

Body

The refined backbone is covered with developed muscles responsible for flexibility and grace of movements. The body of the Balinese cat is long and elegant. Shoulders and hips are straight lines, the belly is picked up. Prerequisite: the femoral part should not be wider than the shoulder girdle.

Neck

Balinese neck is elongated, very slender and graceful.

Legs

Proportional, well-length legs end in miniature oval paws. The hind limbs are necessarily higher than the forelegs. The number of fingers: on the hind legs – four, on the front – five.

Tail

Balinese tails are long, thin at the base and have a pointed tip shape.

Wool

The satin "fur coat" of the Balinese cat has practically no undercoat. Due to the fit to the body of the hair, it seems shorter than it actually is. The longest hair grows on the tail – the flowing awn on this part of the body forms an elegant lush plume.

Color

Traditional colors of Balinese are point colors. Animal bodies have a solid tone, sometimes complemented by barely noticeable shades. As the cat grows older, a gradual darkening of the body color is possible. Locations of points: muzzle (mask), ears, tail, legs and paws. All point zones are uniformly and intensely colored and have the same color. Unacceptable: tipping points, as well as the presence of light hairs on them. The mask covers the entire muzzle, including the pads of the vibrissae, and passes to the ear area in the form of thin lines. Mandatory requirement: the mask should not go beyond the top of the parietal area of the head.

Disqualifying vices

Balinese will not be able to attend exhibitions if he has:

• double coat with pronounced undercoat;
• eyes of any color except blue;
• white fingers or paws;
• obstruction of the nasal passages, due to which the animal breathes through the mouth;
• the number of fingers does not correspond to the number approved by the standard;
• weak hind legs;
• underdeveloped or excessively protruding chin, forming an incorrect bite;
• creases on the tail.

Exhausted and unhealthy animals are not allowed into the ring, so it is important to monitor the condition and general condition of the pet.

Character of the Balinese cat

Balinez is an ultra–sociable cat aimed at establishing friendly relations with a person. For the insatiable desire to be constantly present in the owner's life, the purr is often called boomerangs – in whatever part of the apartment you leave the pet, you can be sure that in a couple of seconds he will be sitting next to you. "Loneliness in bed" after the appearance of a Balinese cat in the house is also not threatened. A purring hot water bottle will protect the master's sleep throughout the night. Moreover, settling down side by side is not the only acceptable option for balinese, because you can still climb the owner on his stomach, back and even surreptitiously try to perch on his head.

Almost all Balinese cats are desperate gamblers. Chasing a rope mouse, fiddling with a candy wrapper, wrestling with a wool ball – an entertainment program is invented by a Balinese prankster on the go and is carried out immediately. At the same time, hurricane destruction does not occur in the apartment: balinese are moderately bouncy, but they never go to extremes like "flying" on the closet and overturning flower pots.

Intellectually, the Balinese cat is one of the most intelligent breeds, whose representatives are able to develop whole behavioral strategies. Well, to be more specific, balinez is always aware of when it is better to steal a cutlet from the table and how to silently open the kitchen cabinet, which hides interesting, from a cat's point of view, contents. At the same time, pets perfectly understand the prohibitions and try to comply with them. If the cat is not allowed to terrorize the hamster, the mustachioed bully will not run into a fine, although at the first opportunity he will quietly lick the rodent or pull it with his paw.

In general, the breed is friendly to representatives of the domestic fauna – Balinese cats do not fight with their fellow tribesmen and do not share spheres of influence with dogs. Affection for a person is also expressed in different ways by cats, since the division of family members into "pets" and "those who need to be tolerated" is very developed in purrs. It is easy to guess which of the household Balinez loves the most. It is this companion that the pet will faithfully wait for from work, dancing in front of the door while the object of cat worship is behind it.

In moments of rest, Balinese cats are not averse to whispering with the owner. Pets like to turn on the "murchalka", sitting side by side and on the lap of the owner, quietly vibrating in time with the whole body. Periodically, the "sound" is set to full volume – usually in cases when the cat is begging or excited about something. By the way, this is one of those rare breeds whose representatives are attached not to housing, but to its inhabitants. So you can safely go around the world with Balinese or start moving: the main thing for a cat is to have someone he loves next to him.

Education and training

The high level of intelligence inherent in the breed greatly simplifies the learning process of its representatives. Balinese quickly socialize, easily adapting to the changed living conditions, and perfectly assimilate new material. Experienced breeders recommend talking to the kitten as much as possible, explaining any actions – this approach works much better than dry commands. Speaking of commands: Balinese are so smart that they are able to recognize the meaning of more complex calls than the banal "kitty-kitty". For example, almost all pets know their own names and respond to them. Moreover, some kotofei agree to memorize up to three different nicknames and respond to each, which is considered an almost unique phenomenon.

Balinese cats are malleable and readily absorb the information presented by the owner. It's easy to learn funny tricks and play sports with them. In particular, the breed demonstrates good results in feline agility, which it perceives as a fun game. So if you come across a pet with a defect that does not allow you to be registered at breed exhibitions, such competitions will be an excellent alternative to performances in the ring, because not only purebred and show pets can participate in them, but also any healthy cat.

Balinese are excellent psychologists who masterfully read the emotions of the owner, so their habits are easier to correct. For example, cats quickly get used to all kinds of restrictions and try to follow them as far as possible. For the same reason, it makes no sense to apply serious punishments to Balinese fuzzies. It is better to take a four-legged bully to scare. The cat climbed onto the table – sneak around the corner and spray it with water from a flower sprayer. Balinese has got into the habit of sharpening his claws on your favorite chair – treat the fabric with lemon or orange essential oil so that the smell disgusts the pet.

Instilling norms of behavior in a kitten, always remember about the characteristics of the character and habits of the breed. For example, if a pet has made his toilet in an unintended place for this, do not punish him, but first of all check the tray. Balinese cats are perfectionists in matters of cleanliness and will not relieve themselves a second time in stale filler. Scolding an animal for this and trying to retrain it is pointless, so either clean the tray after each such "hike", or give up the dream of owning a balinese.

Maintenance and care

Balinese are thermophilic and easily catch a cold, so place the couch in the part of the apartment that is least susceptible to drafts. In the cold season, it is advisable not to let the cat out on the street, but in spring and summer it is better not to refuse to walk the animal, especially since the breed perceives the harness adequately. And please, no free range – the protective instincts of decorative balinese are muted, so in a force majeure situation, the animal will simply get confused and, most likely, will die.

Curious fact: balinese, who live in cool rooms and abuse winter promenades, usually change color. As a result, even the lightest areas of their fur darken significantly.

Be sure to think about how to satisfy the pet's need for games – balinez will be happy if a sufficient number of balls, mice and squeakers are given at his disposal, as well as a high-quality gaming complex with high-quality scratching posts.

Hygiene

The semi-long coat of Balinese cats requires regular but uncomplicated care. Due to the lack of undercoat, the "fur coats" of animals do not fall off and do not form tangled lumps. At the same time, seasonal molts are inevitable, so with the beginning of spring and autumn, you will have to comb the wool daily. The rest of the time, "preventive" combing is enough with a frequency of 1-2 times a week. The Balinese cat should be washed as needed, approximately every three months or six months. The breed is wary of any water "attractions", so it is very likely that another person will have to be involved in the process. It is better to dry the wool with a towel: a hair dryer dries up the soft balinese hair, coarsening its structure.

Teeth and oral cavity are considered to be the weak point of the breed, so it is extremely important to monitor their hygiene. It is advisable to clean your teeth every 2-3 days. If there is not enough time or the pet stubbornly resists this procedure, try to allocate time for mouth treatment at least once a week. Keep the cat's eyes and ears clean. Everything is standard here: for the hygiene of the ear funnel, use special drops or powder and cotton pads; to cleanse the eyes – a clean lint-free cloth, as well as a calendula-based lotion, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, chamomile decoction, saline or chlorhexidine in a concentration of 0.01% to choose from. If the eyes look healthy and you just need to remove dry crusts from them, boiled or distilled water is enough, as well as a clean cloth napkin.

Twice a month, a Balinese cat should have its claws trimmed. Remove only the very edge of the claw, so as not to touch the blood vessel located in it. It is also important to monitor the condition of the plate. If the claw has begun to layer, the fault may be both an improperly performed "pedicure" and a lack of vitamins. In this case, try to show the cat to the veterinarian so that he identifies the cause of the disease and assigns the pet a suitable vitamin and mineral complex.

Feeding

Balinese cats do not suffer from gluttony, although they also have their own taste preferences. The basis of the animal's diet can be natural products or dry industrial food at the discretion of the owner. However, in the first case, the menu will have to be further "refined" with the help of vitamin complexes. The main product in the balinese bowl is lean meat. Its share in the daily diet of the pet should be at least 60%. About 30% of the total amount of food is allocated to cereals, and only 10% falls on vegetables. Foods that should not be given to a Balinese cat:

• potatoes, tomatoes and legumes;
• any sweets and confectionery;
• semi-finished meat products, smoked meats and sausages;
• grapes;
• river fish;
• fish and meat bones;
• mushrooms, nuts;
• onion and garlic.

Balinese kittens under the age of six months should eat 4 times a day. From 6 months to a year (in exceptional cases up to one and a half years), animals are fed three times a day. The transition to two meals a day is carried out at 12 months, when the cat is considered an adult, but on condition that she managed to gain the necessary condition (cats – from 4 kg, cats – from 2.5 kg).

Health and diseases of Balinese

As an inheritance from siam Balinese cats got their diseases. For example, individual lines of the breed have a predisposition to amyloidosis – a violation of protein metabolism in the body, often leading to liver damage. Sometimes the effects of amyloidosis can affect the adrenal glands, spleen, gastrointestinal tract and pancreas of the animal.

In the past decades, many Balinese were born with Siamese strabismus syndrome. It was difficult to eliminate the defect due to the fact that the gene responsible for it was activated due to the point color, which, in turn, was a feature of the breed. To date, the problem has been solved and kittens with strabismus practically do not appear.

Dilated cardiomyopathy may occur in some individuals, characterized by a decrease in systolic myocardial function. Often the impetus for the development of pathology is the lack of taurine in the diet, so a properly compiled menu for Balinese is not a whim, but a vital necessity.

How to choose a kitten

• Before you go to visit the breeder, find out whether his kennel has a registration in TICA or CFA – this will give a certain guarantee of the quality of the litter.
• Carefully examine the kitten for the presence of an undercoat. If there is one, this is a significant defect that will not allow him to participate in exhibitions.
• Ask the seller to show all the litter in order to communicate with the kittens. See how the Balinese react to a stranger, whether they willingly make contact or try to hide.
• Do not contact a breeder who is trying to sell kittens younger than 2.5 months. This suggests that the seller is not interested in the further fate of the offspring and saves on mandatory veterinary procedures (vaccinations, deworming).
• Specify how many times a year a Balinese cat gives birth from which you plan to take a kitten. According to the requirements of European clubs, a cat should bring offspring no more than three times in two years.
• Take the pedigree of babies seriously. In Russia, the number of purebred Balinese is small, and mating with foreign producers is very expensive, which encourages unscrupulous breeders to resort to inbreeding (closely related crossing) more often than necessary.

The price of a Balinese cat

The search for a Balinese nursery will take some time - in Russia, single specialists are engaged in breeding the breed. Occasionally, ads for the sale of kittens slip on the pages of social networks, but often they are given not by professional breeders, but by amateurs. Prices for the offspring of Balinese cats are usually above average and start from $400 – $500.