07/19/2026
Chewy asked me a few questions about the Balinese breed and my answers are as follows:
Please introduce yourself, including your cattery name, how long you've been breeding Balinese cats, and your preferred pronouns.
Lisa Young, Thai Dee Maew Cattery, since 2014
What drew you to the Balinese breed? Out of all the breeds you could have chosen, what made you fall in love with this one?
In September of 2013, I imported an original cream lynx point Siamese from Thailand and registered her with two registries. Looking to breed her, I found a small breeder in Canada who was moving and looking to find their only breeding cats a new home. One was an Old Style Balinese male born in 2009. The other was a lilac point Siamese female and together this pair had already had many litters of Siamese/Balinese kittens. I bred the male to my imported female from Thailand. He is still alive/healthy at 17.5 years and and producing beautiful Siamese/Balinese kittens! My first litter of Balinese were born in early 2014. I fell in love with the breed because I loved their coats, rarety, beauty, and low-allergen quality that attracts people who are allergic to cats, but they can tolerate this breed easily without allergic reactions as with most other breeds.
How would you describe the personality of a Balinese cat to someone who's never met one? Are they cuddly? Velcro cats? Independent?
It's hard to generalize an entire breed of cats based off these types of characteristics. They are Siamese with a different coat that's softer, sheds less and low-allergen. They are like people. Some people are very outgoing. Some are shy. Every single one has their own unique personality, so I try to match the personality of the kitten or cat with a compatible home. Overall, most are energetic, smart, playful and loyal.
What do you think sets the Balinese apart from other breeds?
Without a doubt, the Balinese is arguably the best breed to consider for people who are allergic to cats and can't tolerate most because their allergies prevent them from living with a cat. The Balinese is the lowest maintenance breed of all the top ‘hypoallergenic’ breeds. Balinese are generally very healthy, rare, low maintenance and popular.
What surprises people most when they meet or get their first Balinese?
Most are very surprised they didn't have an allergic reaction or it was very mild. Most are too sceptical!
What do you look for when selecting breeding pairs? Are there particular traits — physical or temperamental — that you work hard to preserve or improve in the breed?
First, I make sure the pairing is not too closely related. I like genetic diversity. Line breeding is something I avoid. My stud cats are very important as I plan to keep them for as long as possible. Sometimes it can take seven years or more to find a perfect male stud cat from a good breeder and I look all over the world for the right color, pedigree and reputable breeder. He is selected to breed to my females and their progeny for generations without any inbreeding.
What kind of home environment do Balinese cats tend to thrive in?
Every single one is different. Some need a quiet home. Some do better with an active home, but all kittens generally do much better adopted in sibling pairs, so I try to encourage this as much as possible.
Are there any health or genetic considerations you counsel prospective owners about?
The Balinese breed is overall an extremely healthy breed with few or any serious genetic conditions we typically see in other breeds. FIP affects all domestic cats and can't be screened for. It's the big disease that all cat breeders and rescues have to watch out for. It's very rare for it to happen from my cats! Thank goodness this disease is no longer fatal as the prophaltics are readily available. I encourage people to rely on me for lifetime support regarding health concerns, do their research and be an advocate for their pet because a lot of times there's bad advice and wrong diagnosis offered in vet medicine just like there is with human medicine.
Are there grooming considerations you counsel prospective owners about?
Balinese do not generally need to be bathed. It doesn't help with allergies. I recommend a certain brush to help keep the coat clean and reduce shedding.
What does the fur of a Balinese cat feel like?
Some coats are very soft as they should be. Usually, the longer the coat, the less soft and more chances for matting to occure.
What do you wish more people knew about this breed — something that doesn't get enough attention in a standard breed profile?
These cats do best as kittens being raised in sibling pairs. They absolutely need kitten-to-kitten socialization and enrichment to thrive! People, dogs and other older cats are not a substitute for this need! Seeing kittens play and bond together is a very heartwarming feeling for cat lovers!
What’s the difference between a Siamese and a Balinese cat; are they related?
Of course they are related! If you breed two Siamese that both carry the recessive Balinese gene, a pair of Siamese will produce Balinese kittens naturally. Balinese just have a mutation that causes the coat to be longer with a tail plume. If there's no obvious tail plume, it's Siamese. That's always been the standard requirement.
For someone on the fence about whether a Balinese cat is right for them, what's your honest, breeder-to-future-pet-parent pitch?
I need to know what breeds they are comparing it with and their motivation behind getting a cat. If they aren't allergic to cats and they are cost conscious, maybe pick a Siamese or different breed. I primarily only consider homes where allergies are a serious problem or they are dead set on the Balinese breed because that's what they are familiar with. I am not trying to convince too many people to get a Balinese. Usually, by the time they find me they have done their homework and their mind is made up that Balinese is the right breed for them.
