Balinese Cat History & Profile
Article by Annabel Cailles of Tresor Siamese & Balinese Cats (www.tresorsiamesecats.com)
Balinese Breed History::Balinese cats are the long haired version of the Siamese cat. They are considered to be a spontaneous mutation of the Siamese cat by some breed fanciers, but a stronger theory is that they are derived by past breedings between the Siamese & Turkish Angoras. This explains why many of todays Siamese cats still produce Balinese kittens in their litters from time to time. Balinese kittens that are resultant of Siamese breedings are explained as being the result of the ‘long hair recessive gene’ that is present in many of the Siamese lines today. Further proof lies in the fact that DNA testing facilities like UC Davis (CA) can actually test a Siamese cats DNA to find out if they carry the ‘long hair recessive gene’. Another strong fact that Balinese share a common link to the Turkish Angoras is that the Balinese are considered to be one of the top hypoallergenic breeds, but the Siamese cat is not.
In writing about the Balinese breeds history, I do need to mention that the breed originated in America. The Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF) had a longhair Siamese (which is what Balinese actually are and what they were formerly called) registered in 1928. But this history starts a lot later, in the 1950s, when true Balinese breeding programs were established for the Balinese breed. It is believed that “fluffy/fuzzy” kittens were born to Siamese litters from time to time, and unfortunately this was undesirable to Siamese breeders who bred for short haired cats. This all changed in the 1950’s when two Siamese breeders, Mrs. Marion Dorsey of Rai-Mar Cattery in California, and Mrs. Helen Smith of MerryMews Cattery in New York, both found longhairs in their Siamese litters and were quite smitten by their beauty. Instead of petting them out as other breeders had done, they began line breeding to produce longhair Siamese. Mrs. Helen Smith is credited with giving the Balinese breed their name, as they were formerly known and called “Long Haired Siamese”. Mrs. Helen Smith said that she decided to call them Balinese after Balinese Dancers, because their fur swayed gently and gracefully, which in turn reminded her of the Balinese Dancers from Bali. Marion Dorsey sold her cattery (Rai-Mar) to Sylvia Holland (Hollands Farm Cattery) in 1965. Sylvia Holland was a Siamese breeder originally, but once she was introduced to the Balinese breed she became the leading pioneer to have C.F.A., officially recognize the Balinese breed.
It is thanks to these three women’s efforts, that we are able to enjoy this breed today, and to see that it is recognized as an official breed by all cat registry associations in North America.
Balinese Breed Type’s::Similar to the Siamese, there are two known and accepted Balinese style type’s (head/body). There is the Original Balinese (commonly referred to also as the Applehead, Old Style type), and there is the Modern Balinese (aka Wedge Balinese, Show Style type)
Balinese (aka Applehead, Traditional, Original, Old Style):The Balinese breed is a hearty, robust type. The head is large and round, with small ears and large rounded shaped eyes with a small almond shaped slant at the ends. The body hair is about 2+ inches long throughout, with a thick and fully plumed tail. There is also a long top-coat, with a short-medium undercoat. They also have a thick lions mane type hairy chest and head of hair. The hair on their ears is also long fanning outwardly. The texture of the fur is silky, velvety that is clear of mats. The boning is thick on the legs, and the paws are large with fur tufts surrounding the paw pads. The nose is wide, and short.
Modern Balinese (aka Wedgehead, Show Style):The ideal Balinese is a medium sized, svelte, refined cat with long tapering lines, very lithe but muscular. The head is a long tapering wedge. The total wedge starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the tips of the ears forming a triangle, with no break at the whiskers. No less than the width of an eye between the eyes. When the whiskers are smoothed back, the underlying bone structure is apparent. The skull is flat. In profile, a long straight line is seen from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. The ears are strikingly large, pointed, wide at base; continuing the lines of the wedge. The eyes are almond shaped. Medium size. Neither protruding nor recessed. Slanted towards the nose in harmony with lines of wedge and ears. Uncrossed. The nose is long and straight. A continuation of the forehead with no break. The tail is long, whippy and plumed. Balinese Breed Personality::Balinese cats are highly intelligent, affectionate, playful and very fun to be around. Just like the Siamese, they are well known for their ability to communicate vocally. The Balinese breed has a special distinct vocal range, from a sweet low chirp to loud yowls when in distress. This breed is highly social, friendly, and sensitive to your moods and feelings. This is the type of cat you want around when you are feeling down, sad, or plain old bored. They are like little children, and need loads of attention and affection. They are the perfect companions for growing children, as they will be known to play for hours on end without being destructive. They have the most innocent little faces, that hide a sometimes mischievous personality trait. They crave attention from their human companions, and are known to sometimes act out to get it.
They are very agile, and can leap far distances of many feet. They can be taught to fetch just like a dog, and learn new games very easily and quickly. They can keep you entertained with their playful antics, and still maintain a loving disposition. They can be quite a bit assertive in their requests for love & attention, but will still possess a special dignity particular to the Balinese and Siamese breeds.
Color Points::There are four recognized color points in the Balinese breed. They are Seal Point, Chocolate Point, Blue Point & Lilac Point. I will describe the Color Points & Show Pictures of them as examples.
SEAL:Seal point Balinese cats have very dark, almost black, seal-brown points, with facial mask, ears, tail, paws, nose leather and paw pads all the same color.Of all the colorpoints, they have the widest variation in body color. At a young age they might be a pale cream, but seal points tend to change with age. There should always be a contrast between the body color, and the points. Though it is not unusual depending on the environmental climate for a Seal point to become the same color throughout. Although the fur on their chest, neck and stomach may stay lighter, their backs tend to darken to a warm-toned caramel-beige, and may even turn dark brown, so that in later life there may be little difference in color between the hair on their backs and their tails.
CHOCOLATE:The chocolate point generally has ivory-white fur which stays pale throughout their lifetime. This differs from seal points, whose coats tends to darken as they get older. Occasionally, though, you may find a chocolate point with a cinnamon tone to their coat. This is set off by warm-toned milk-chocolate colored points (facial mask, ears, tail, and paws). Their nose leather and especially their paw pads have a pinkish undertone. If in doubt, this pinkish undertone is a good way of telling a chocolate from a seal point, which has a dark brown nose and paw pads, with no pink showing at all. Chocolate point cats are less common than seal points and the kittens develop their coloring later than their darker seal and blue relatives.
BLUE:The blue point is related genetically to the seal point, being a ‘dilute’ or paler version of the very much darker seal. It has cold-toned, deep slate-grey-bluish points (facial mask, ears, tail, paws, nose leather and paw pads) and bluish-white body fur which, like that of seal points, tends to darken with age. All members of this point color should have this cold-toned, white fur rather than a warm-toned beige but occasionally you’ll find cats with lighter, silvery-blue rather than slate-grey points.
LILAC:Lilac points are the palest of pale, with pinkish-toned, light ‘frosty’ grey ears, tail and paws (lilacs are sometimes referred to, especially in the USA, as frost points). They are the lightest of the four major breed colors (seal, chocolate, blue and lilac). This color pattern is actually a paler version – what is known by breeders as a ‘dilute’ – of the chocolate point. Everything about a lilac should be pale, from their ears to their paws. Their nose leather and paw pads have a pale pink undertone and they should have light cream or magnolia-colored (not pure white) coats, which stay pale throughout their lives.
Grooming Of The Balinese Cat & Hypoallergenic Details::The Traditional Balinese shed very little and their coat is usually no longer than 2 to 2 .5 inches and does not mat, making grooming requirements minimal. However, there are certain hair textures that are very fine, and prone to static energy, that do require more care and brushing. According to “Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds” By J. Anne Helgren (which offers comparative evaluations of various traits of various breeds) lists Persians and Himalayans as a ’10’ on a scale of 1-10 regarding ‘need for grooming’ and the Balinese a ‘4’ on a scale of 1-10. Only short-haired cats require less grooming, the Siamese and Tonkinese being listed as a ‘2’.
It will be necessary at times to trim the hairs around the back-end area, as fecal matter or litter debris may clump onto the fur. This is only required on a need to basis depending on the cat. The paw pads do require some care and grooming, as there are hair tufts that grow around the paw pad that can grow quite long, and in order to help your cat with it’s grooming needs, these hairs should be trimmed to prevent excessive ingesting of litter over time. Bathing is not necessary except as needed.
Brushing as often as needed with a de-shedding tool is best advised as regular brushes do not remove enough loose fur, that subsequently ends up on furniture, clothing, and as hairballs after time. The best de-shedding tool I’ve found and currently use for my Balinese cats is the ‘furminator’, which can be found at select retail locations. You may find more information regarding the ‘furminator’ by visiting their web-site at: http://www.furminator.com.
There is great news for cat allergy sufferers! As mentioned earlier in this page, the Balinese breed is considered to be one of the top hypoallergenic cat breeds. The prefix ‘hypo’ in the word hypoallergenic means ‘less than normal’. Therefore the word hypoallergenic does not mean non-allergenic. A hypoallergenic cat is less likely than other cats to produce allergic reactions in some people.
The Balinese is one of the few breeds that produces less of the Fel d 1 protein than other cats, thus causing fewer allergic reactions in allergy sufferers. Cat allergies can be very serious in some people, so meeting a cat breed first before making a purchase or adoption is highly encouraged if a person suffers from cat allergies. “Cat Allergy” in humans is an allergic reaction to one or more of the five known allergens produced by cats. The most common of these are the glycoprotein Fel d 1, secreted by the cat’s sebaceous glands and Fel d 4, which is expressed in saliva. An allergic reaction is a histamine reaction that is usually characterized by coughing, wheezing, chest tightening, itching, nasal congestion, rash, watering eyes, sneezing and similar symptoms. Thankfully cat allergy sufferers now have several choices when picking a cat breed, listed are some of the other cat breeds considered to be hypoallergenic:
*Balinese*Oriental Shorthair*Javanese*Siberians*Sphynx*Cornish Rex*Devon Rex
Size & Longevity of The Balinese Cat::The Balinese breed is of a medium to large build. Males tend to weigh anywhere from 12-16 pounds and females average somewhere around 8-12 pounds full grown. A healthy diet, ensures proper growth and longevity. This breed is considered to be one of the longest lived in the long haired breed division. Wish proper diet, routine veterinary care, a Balinese cat can live anywhere from 17 years to mid 20’s.
Conclusion::The Balinese breed is a spectacular cat, with many benefits and positive breed traits. With an interesting history, breed type, personality and health benefits, they are the perfect choice for the most discerning cat fancier. This breed is highly exclusive, as only a small fraction of North American breeders specialize in Applehead Balinese. The Balinese is quickly gaining notoriety and popularity in the cat world so don’t wait any longer, enjoy one today!
www.tresorsiamesecats.com/BalineseCats.html
About the Author
Balinese cat breeder & aficionado since 2003. My articles may be viewed by visiting: http://www.tresorsiamesecats.com
Bali In Ancient History
Article by Yoss Baliman
Bali was populated by about 2000 BC by Austronesian peoples who migrated originally from Taiwan through Maritime Southeast Asia. Culturally and linguistically, the Balinese are thus closely connected to the peoples of the Indonesian archipelago, the Philippines, and Oceania. Stone tools dating from this time have been found near the village of Cekik in the island’s west.Balinese culture was strongly prejudiced by Indian and Chinese, and particularly Hindu culture, in a process beginning around the 1st century AD. The name of Bali dwipa (“Bali island”) has been exposed from various inscriptions, including the Blanjong column inscription written by Sri Kesari Warmadewa in 914 AD and mentioning “Walidwipa”. It was during this time that the complex irrigation system subak was developed to grow rice. Some religious and cultural traditions still in existence today can be traced back to this period. The Hindu Majapahit Empire (1293-1520 AD) on eastern Java founded a Balinese colony in 1343. When the empire declined, there was an exodus of intellectuals, artists, priests and musicians from Java to Bali in the 15th century.Tanah Lot, one of the major temples in BaliThe first European contact with Bali is thought to have been made in 1585 when a Portuguese ship foundered off the Bukit Peninsula and left a few Portuguese in the service of Dewa Agung. In 1597 the Dutch explorer Cornelis de Houtman arrived at Bali and, with the establishment of the Dutch East India Company in 1602, the stage was set for colonial control two and a half centuries later when Dutch control expanded across the Indonesian archipelago throughout the second half of the nineteenth century (see Dutch East Indies). Dutch political and economic control over Bali began in the 1840s on the island’s north coast, when the Dutch pitted various distrustful Balinese realms against each other. In the late 1890s, struggles between Balinese kingdoms in the island’s south were exploited by the Dutch to increase their control.
About the Author
Yoss is editor of website Bali Hotel Booking. He also maintain other websites such as Bali Holiday, Bali Transport Service and Wisata Ke Bali
Bali In Ancient History
Article by Yoss Baliman
Bali was populated by about 2000 BC by Austronesian peoples who migrated originally from Taiwan through Maritime Southeast Asia. Culturally and linguistically, the Balinese are thus closely connected to the peoples of the Indonesian archipelago, the Philippines, and Oceania. Stone tools dating from this time have been found near the village of Cekik in the island’s west.Balinese culture was strongly prejudiced by Indian and Chinese, and particularly Hindu culture, in a process beginning around the 1st century AD. The name of Bali dwipa (“Bali island”) has been exposed from various inscriptions, including the Blanjong column inscription written by Sri Kesari Warmadewa in 914 AD and mentioning “Walidwipa”. It was during this time that the complex irrigation system subak was developed to grow rice. Some religious and cultural traditions still in existence today can be traced back to this period. The Hindu Majapahit Empire (1293-1520 AD) on eastern Java founded a Balinese colony in 1343. When the empire declined, there was an exodus of intellectuals, artists, priests and musicians from Java to Bali in the 15th century.Tanah Lot, one of the major temples in BaliThe first European contact with Bali is thought to have been made in 1585 when a Portuguese ship foundered off the Bukit Peninsula and left a few Portuguese in the service of Dewa Agung. In 1597 the Dutch explorer Cornelis de Houtman arrived at Bali and, with the establishment of the Dutch East India Company in 1602, the stage was set for colonial control two and a half centuries later when Dutch control expanded across the Indonesian archipelago throughout the second half of the nineteenth century (see Dutch East Indies). Dutch political and economic control over Bali began in the 1840s on the island’s north coast, when the Dutch pitted various distrustful Balinese realms against each other. In the late 1890s, struggles between Balinese kingdoms in the island’s south were exploited by the Dutch to increase their control.
About the Author
Yoss is editor of website Bali Hotel Booking. He also maintain other websites such as Bali Holiday, Bali Transport Service and Wisata Ke Bali
A Guide to Bali History
Bali is a beautiful island that is in harmony with nature. It is also known worldwide for having a unique colorful spiritual culture. Inherent in the fascinating culture are its many rituals and practices which originated thousands of years ago, and till today they have survived. Such is the endurance of Balinese culture, which in turn reflects on the deep faith and resilience of the Balinese people.
Bali’s history remained vague for the first few centuries, though many Hindu artifacts have been found, which lead back to the first century, indicating a tie with that religion. Though it is strongly held that the first primary religion of Bali, discovered as far back as 500 AD, was Buddhism. Additionally, Yi-Tsing, a Chinese scholar who visited Bali in the year 670 AD stated that he had visited this place and seen Buddhism there.
• 1019-1042
Hindu influence
Hindu Java began to spread its influence into Bali during the reign of King Airlangga, from 1019 to 1042. At the age of 16.
• 1284-1292
After Airlangga’s death, Bali retained its semi-independent status until Kertanagara became king of the Singasari dynasty in Java two centuries later. Kertanagara conquered Bali in 1284, but his power lasted only eight years until he was murdered and his kingdom collapsed.
• 1343
In 1343 Gajah Mada, the legendary chief minister of the Majapahit dynasty, defeated the Pejeng king Dalem Bedaulu and brought Bali back under Javanese influence.
• Late 14th Century-16th Century
Here the ‘capital’ moved to Gelgel, near modern-day Semarapura (once known as Klungkung), around the late 14th century, and for the next two centuries this was the base for the ‘king of Bali’, the Dewa Agung.The Majapahit kingdom collapsed into disputing sultanates. As the Majapahit kingdom fell apart, many of its intelligentsia moved to Bali, including the priest Nirartha, who is credit¬ed with introducing many of the complexities of Balinese religion to the island. Artists, dancers, musicians and actors also fled to Bali at this time, and the island experienced an explosion of cultural activities. The final great exodus to Bali took place in 1478.
• 1597
European Contact
The first Europeans to set foot in Bali were Dutch seafarers in 1597. When they returned to Indonesia in later years, they were interested in profit, not culture, and barely gave Bali a second glance.
• 1846–1949 Period
Fight Against the Dutch
In 1846 the Dutch used Balinese salvage claims over shipwrecks as the pretext to land military forces in northern Bali. In 1894 the Dutch chose to support the Sasaks of Lombok in a rebellion against their Balinese rajah.
That era constituted with the period of fighting against the Dutch in Bali. Those years were marked by the out break of various wars in Bali. When the Dutch won all the battles and the Klungkung kingdom fell down into their hands, this meant that Bali as a whole was under the foreign influence.
• 1906
On 20 September 1906, the Dutch mounted a naval bombardment of Denpasar and then commenced their final assault. The three rajahs of Badung (southern Bali) realised that they were outnumbered and outgunned, and that defeat was inevit¬able. Surrender and exile.Bali was now under Dutch control and became part of the Dutch East Indies. Dutch rule over Bali was short-lived, however, as Indonesia fell to the Japanese in WWII.
The sense of Indonesian nationalism began to grow after the World War I, with the young generation declaring the national language in 1928, known as Bahasa Indonesia. During the height of World War II the Japanese arrived, expelling the Dutch and ruled the country for about 3.5 years, which ended later in 1945 when Indonesia declared independent led by its very first president, Sukarno. Yet the new-born nation was only recognized by the international community as an independent country in 1949.
• Modern Bali
The tourism boom started in the early 1970s and has brought many changes. It has helped pay for improvements in roads, telecommunications, education and health. Though tourism has had some marked adverse environmental and social effects, Bali’s unique culture has proved to be remarkably resilient.
Bali, like most places, has also been affected by global politics. The 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attack was the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia, killing 202 people with a further 209 people injured.
The island’s vital tourist industry was dealt a severe blow. It had mostly recovered by 2005 when in October of that year , a series of terrorist suicide bomb attacks that occurred. The bombs exploded at two sites in Jimbaran and Kuta, both in south Bali. Twenty people were killed, and 129 people were injured by three bombers who killed themselves in the attacks.
The Bali government tourism office says the number of visitors dropped following the October bombings. Normally, 5,000 to 6,000 tourists visit the island each day. Now it is only about 2,000. It is a big blow for a community that relies heavily on tourism. Bali was just recovering from the 2002 bombings, with a record-breaking number of tourists in 2004.
The tourism industry in Bali is making every effort to ensure safety. Security checks and extra officers are now standard operating procedure at malls and hotels. The tourists are slowly coming back to Bali .Inbound tourism to Bali is rebounding strongly, with a record-high 472,000 foreign visitors for the first four months of 2007.Australians, who make up more than 15 percent of the total foreign tourist arrivals in Bali, are flocking to one of their favorite destinations.
To learn much more about traveling to Bali, please visit Bali-Vacation Packages where you’ll find this and much more, including Seminyak Hotels
Bali Travel Offers Adventure, Wonder And History
The world is chockfull of destinations that are all worthy of consideration when it’s time to make holiday plans. There are not many places, however, that can compare to a particular island in the Indonesian archipelago. Bali travel melds adventure, history and wonder into a single experience that is virtually certain to create memories to last a lifetime.
Located only a few hours away from Australia by plane, this unusual destination packs a great deal of fun into 5,632 square kilometers. Here holidaymakers will find weather that is perfect practically year round. With warm tropical temperatures ranging between 20 and 33 degrees Celsius no matter the time of year, visitors to Bali are often surprised to find sunny days dominate even in the thick of the rainy season.
When Bali travel is under consideration, potential holidaymakers will find these reasons tend to draw travellers from all over the world like moths to a flame:
* The outdoor splendour – Bali is famous for its breathtaking geography. The island is surrounded by warm turquoise waters that lap at white sandy beaches. From quiet lagoons just right for swimming and snorkeling to more “active” beaches that call to surfers and adventure sports lovers, the waters here are ideal for year round fun. Whilst the beaches are certainly a draw, they are not the only outdoor wonder that awaits those planning Bali travel. This island is also famous for its lush tropical forests, active volcanoes, tiered rice paddies and incredible lakes and waterfalls.
* The history – Bali has a history that dates back thousands of years. Evidence of its most early inhabitants can be found in a variety of sites all over the island. From the temples in the Mount Agung complex to the wonderment of the Tanah Lot, visitors here will learn much about the peoples and cultures that have touched Bali throughout the ages. With its strong ties to the Hindu religion, holidaymakers will discover that many of the island’s most splendid outdoor attractions have also served as places connected deeply to religion through the ages.
* The culture – Balinese culture is known for its distinct arts, form of dance and cuisine. Those who plan Bali travel will find themselves arriving on a island that is known the world over for its welcoming hospitality and unique traditions.
* The adventures – Bali is one of the few places in the world where people can get up close and personal with gray monkeys, elephants and a variety of other tropical creatures all on a single vacation. If fauna doesn’t appeal, those on Bali tours will find that plenty of other adventures await. Bali tours can unlock adventures that are found nowhere else in the world. From Odyssey Submarine trips that take holidaymakers into the depths that surround the island to a trip to the 11th century Elephant Cave, there is no shortage of opportunities to do and see things that cannot be experienced anywhere else.
When an experience like nothing else is desired, Bali travel will deliver. Combining adventure, wonder and history, this legendary island offers holidaymakers an opportunity to explore paradise on earth.
Looking to book holidays to Bali? Then find Bali hotel accommodation, other tourism resources and Bali island tours with Bali Dream Tours. Make online bookings for hotels and villas in Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Tuban, Seminyak, Ubud, Kuta, Sanur and other areas of Bali by visiting Bali Hotels.
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