Balinese Cat Breed Information
Also known as: Long-haired Siamese
The longhaired Siamese, with the same body type, colourpoint pattern, intense vocal personality and trainability as the Siamese itself. The longhair gene is recessive and appears occasionally in Siamese litters.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children cat. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool. The trade-off is vocal.
About the Balinese.
The Balinese is the Siamese in semi-long form. Same body type, same intense vocal personality, same trainability, same care needs, with a fine silky single-layer coat that does not mat the way a Persian’s does.
Personality and behaviour
Loud, demanding, trainable and people-bonded. Identical to the Siamese.
Care and grooming
Twice-weekly brushing with a soft slicker. The breed sheds lightly and the coat does not mat. Bathing rarely needed.
Indoor vs outdoor in New Zealand
Indoor or catio. Same case as Siamese.
Where to find a Balinese in New Zealand
NZCF and Catz Inc list registered breeders (NZCF Balinese, Catz Inc Balinese). Often bred alongside Siamese. Expect a three to seven month waitlist, NZD 1,200 to 2,800.
The Balinese, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Pets
Physical
avg 2.0Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Social
avg 3.3Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Adaptability
Independence
Personality
avg 4.8Trainability
Energy Level
Vocal Level
Prey Drive
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Balinese.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Balinese costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Balinese costs about
$143per month
$33
$5
$29,660
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$33 / mo
$400/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$32 / mo
$380/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$44 / mo
$530/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$8 / mo
$100/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$25 / mo
$300/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $2,000 + setup $300) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Balinese compare?
This breed
Balinese
$29,660
16-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,300
- Food (lifetime)$6,400
- Vet (lifetime)$8,480
- Insurance (lifetime)$6,080
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,600
- Other (lifetime)$4,800
Reference
Average NZ cat
$23,600
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$500
- Food (lifetime)$7,000
- Vet (lifetime)$5,600
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,600
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,500
A Balinese costs about $6,060 more over a lifetime than the average nz cat, mostly highervet and higherpurchase + setup.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZ cat breeders test for these conditions and share results. The bigger health drivers for the breed appear in the Common group.
Common
1 conditionDental disease
A common condition in the Balinese. Ask the breeder about screening.
Occasional
2 conditionsHeritable conditions shared with Siamese
An occasional condition in the Balinese. Worth asking about.
Asthma and chronic bronchial disease
An occasional condition in the Balinese. Worth asking about.
The Balinese in NZ.
- Popularity: A small but consistent NZ pedigree breed, often produced by the same Catz Inc and NZCF breeders who work with Siamese.
- Typical price: NZ$1200–2800 from registered breeders or rescues
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Lean coat handles all NZ regions; warm sleeping spots in cooler regions.
- Living space: Apartments work in two-cat households.
Who the Balinese is for.
Suits
- Households home most of the day or running two cats
- Owners wanting a Siamese personality with longer coat
Less suited to
- Long-hours-out single-cat households
- Owners wanting a quiet cat
Common questions.
Is a Balinese the same as a Siamese?
Should a Balinese live indoors?
If the Balinese appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Siamese
Slender, blue-eyed colourpoint cat from Thailand. Among the most vocal and people-bonded breeds in the world. Smart, demanding, and a poor fit for households where the cat is alone all day.
Birman
Gentle, semi-longhaired colourpoint cat with deep blue eyes and four signature white "gloves" on the paws. Quieter and more placid than the Siamese, with a less demanding social profile. A good fit for calm NZ households.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.