Ratings

Breed Introduction

The Bali Cat is a long-haired variant within the Havana breed, evolved from naturally occurring long-haired individuals among Siamese kittens born in the United States. The Bali Cat has smooth and beautiful fur and an elegant demeanor. Animal experts named this breed due to its graceful physique and lithe movements, which evoke the postures of indigenous Balinese dancers; in reality, there is no geographical link to Bali.

The historical origin of the Bali Cat dates back to its recognition as a famous long-haired breed developed in the United States, being a long-haired mutation of the Siamese Cat. It first appeared among cats believed to have pure Siamese bloodlines. Initially, breeders showed little interest, but the allure of the Bali Cat gradually expanded, leading to the development of the breed. Since long hair is a recessive trait, any two Bali Cats will inevitably produce medium to long-haired Bali kittens, but hybrid breeding with short-haired variants was also employed to maintain the Siamese Cat’s short-haired appearance.

In the early 20th century, Mrs. Beren Smith in New York discovered a long-haired mutation among her Siamese offspring, which at that time was termed “defective Siamese Cat.” Although this breed participated in cat shows as early as 1930, it did not win awards until after more than 30 years of selective breeding efforts by breeders. It was finally recognized by the American Cat Fanciers Association in 1963. The first breeder was Marion Dorsey from California, who collaborated with another breeder in New York and had planned the breeding program as early as the 1960s.