Do Balinese cats shed a lot?
Table of Contents
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Must-know grooming tips for long-haired Balinese cats
- Tip #1 — All long-haired cats need help grooming
- Tip #2 — All long-haired cats need a DAILY grooming routine
- Tip #3 — Grooming a long-haired cat is considerably harder than a short-haired cat
- Tip #4 — Watch out for any signs of discomfort during grooming
- Tip #5 — If your long-haired cat hates grooming, stroking helps
Are Balinese Cats from Bali?
No. Balinese cats are not from Bali or any part of Indonesia. The name “Balinese” is thought to derive from these cats appearing as graceful as Balinese dancers.
How much do Balinese shed?
Long-haired cats shed heavily, especially during molting season when they shed the thick undercoat for warmer weather.
Much more accurately, a Balinese has what would be considered a semi long-haired coat. These types of coats have a silky topcoat and a minimal undercoat, so their far remains mostly free from tangling and matting.
Balinese will shed more than Siamese cats because they have longer coats. As we’ll see, long coats require extra grooming and extra time than all other coat types i.e. short, and special coats.
Must-know grooming tips for long-haired Balinese cats
Tip #1 — All long-haired cats need help grooming
All long-haired cats need help with grooming. Cats spend a significant part of their time self-grooming—wetting their paws to wipe their face, between toes and awkward areas such as their shoulders.
The surface of a cat’s tongue is covered with minute barbs that act as a fine comb that collects shed hair, skin debris and smooths out tangles.
For long-haired cats, the undercoat can be very thick collecting debris from around the home and garden forming tangles that no amount of licking can remove. Neglected tangles with turn to impenetrable mats, especially around friction areas such as armpits.
Tip #2 — All long-haired cats need a DAILY grooming routine
Most cats are so particular about daily grooming that it might not seem necessary to give them any extra help.
While it’s often advisable to establish a weekly grooming to keep short-haired coats in glossy and good condition, long-haired coats need daily brushing sessions to prevent the formation of painful snarls and mats in the fur and to help remove loose hairs.
Without daily brushing, these hairs will be ingested by your cat while it tries to groom itself leading to large hair balls in it’s stomach and subsequent regurgitation.
Balinese cats, however, are said to have low-moderate grooming needs and low matting tendency because they have semi long-haired coats. A weekly grooming routine will suffice.
Tip #3 — Grooming a long-haired cat is considerably harder than a short-haired cat
If you’ve ever brushed a short-haired cat, you probably already know it’s child’s play. You simply need to run your brush gently down its coat to remove loose hairs.
When grooming a long-haired cat, you need to be gentler and careful not pull — there might be snarls stuck in the fur that need to be untangled.
The belly and legs are particularly sensitive, if there are snarls or mats, you need to loosen them with your fingers first rather than the comb and then finish untangling with a wide-toothed comb.
Tip #4 — Watch out for any signs of discomfort during grooming
You should always groom a cat in a relaxed environment and while grooming, you should watch out for any signs of nervousness or discomfort. Regular handling of your cat allows you to become aware of any abnormalities or lumps on your cat’s body.
Tip #5 — If your long-haired cat hates grooming, stroking helps
Not all cats enjoy grooming.
Vets say that regularly stroking your cat while grooming them goes a long way in maintaining a healthy, glossy coat. Evidence also suggests that stroking a cat has been shown to lower blood pressure and relieve stress too.
Do Balinese cats like to be held or cuddle?
While some individual cat can be slightly aloof, Balinese cats are highly social and need plenty of human contact. Although not as affectionate as Burmese cats, they are also known as excellent lap cats that will follow their favored human around the house.
Regular handling your cat allows you to spot any abnormalities that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Are Balinese hypoallergenic?
All cats produce proteins in their saliva, skin, and urine that are transferred to their coats and can cause reactions in some people. If this causes allergic reactions to you or someone in your home, this might be a reason to look for one of the hypoallergenic breeds.
Are Balinese cats loud?
Balinese cats are a bit softer voiced, and a bit less active than the Siamese cat. It is more attention-seeking than the Siamese with a strong streak of mischief—this is not a cat to leave to its own devices for a long time.
Are Balinese cats good with other pets?
Balinese cats are good with children, other cats and dogs. They are known to curl up and sleep with a favored dog and even let themselves be groomed by that dog. If left alone for long periods, they will benefit from another cat in the household because they are not suited for the outdoor lifestyle of dogs.
What is the difference between Siamese and Balinese cats?
Although Balinese share most of the same conformation points as Siamese cats, the longer coat with the well-plumed tail is the distinguishing feature. The longer coat makes Balinese appear less angular than Siamese but they are built the same.
In a nutshell, the Balinese is a long-haired version of the Siamese with the familiar slender, graceful outlines but in a flowing silky coat.
Do Balinese cats change color? Do Balinese cats get darker?
Because Balinese originated primarily from Siamese, and outcrossing continues, gene effects on coat are similar.
Balinese kittens are born white and then gradually develop points starting before weaning until about one year of age when the points are fully developed for most cats. Older Balinese cats become gradually darker.