Balinese (More...)

Appearance
The Balinese, a longhaired Siamese, is a slim, medium-size cat. The head is long and triangular, with large, pointed ears and blue, almond-shaped eyes. The tail is long and plumed. The medium-long, silky coat is not particularly prone to matting. The Balinese comes in the four Siamese point colors--seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac.
Origins
Some believe the longhaired Balinese derives from Siamese-Angora or Siamese-Persian crossing begun in the 1920s; others credit a spontaneous mutation as the source of the longhaired gene. In the 1950s, a California breeder began a program to develop the Balinese into a new breed.
Special Alerts
These cats crave companionship and affection and need plenty of exercise and opportunities for scratching. They have the same breed-related health problems as the Siamese: crossed eyes due to an inherited neurological defect; nystagmus (a slight but very rapid jerking back-and-forth of the eyes); congenital heart defects.