My name is Angie and I live in Somerset with my family, several cats and an extremely patient and gentle Labrador cross named Jambo.

What is a Balinese?
Back in the 1940’s longhaired kittens appeared in Siamese litters and as they did not meet the Siamese show standard they were sold off as pets.

Later on people took an interest in breeding these beautiful cats and the New York breeder Helen Smith chose the name Balinese because their graceful movements reminded her of the dancers of the Indonesian island of Bali.

They were introduced to Britain in 1974 and went from strength to strength, obtaining GCCF recognition and eventually achieved championship status in 1986.

Nevertheless they remain relatively rare with only 183 registrations in 2008, compared with 3,404 Siamese.

Why Choose a Balinese?
If you want an exceptionally beautiful and intelligent cat with a flowing coat, that needs little attention; this is the breed for you.

The hair is described as ‘Ermine Like’ and having no undercoat it is silky, flat lying and tends not to matt or tangle. A brush with the hand is sufficient!

There are many adjectives used to describe Bali’s – Bright, Inquisitive, Lively and Playful being just a few. They are very sociable and need companionship, a breed that loves to give and receive attention.

They are definitely not cats for owners who intend to leave them alone for long periods of time, and with their friendly nature two’s company! (and twice the fun)

They do have a mischevious side to them and a Favourite game is to run at top speed round the bedroom without touching the floor at 3am!!