A Balinese is essentially a Siamese in a long coat, which means it comes with the same small foundation gene pool and the same documented risk of progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited disease that degrades vision — choosing it over a Siamese for the coat doesn't buy you a healthier cat.
Health tests to ask the breeder for
There is no CHIC program for cats. These are the DNA and screening tests that the testing laboratories and cat health bodies name for the Balinese. A breeder who tests will show the certificates; a DNA result of "clear" for one variant is not a guarantee against the disease.
- PRA-rdAc (CEP290) DNA test (UC Davis VGL / Langford Vets) screens for late-onset progressive retinal atrophy / blindness
When to spay or neuter: by five months, whatever the breed. That is the one answer the AVMA, the feline practitioners and AAHA all give, and the spay and neuter page has why, and the two weeks after.
Sources: vgl.ucdavis.edu · langfordvets.co.uk. Checked September 2026. Check a breeder has the questions.
Adopt a Balinese near you
Shelters and rescues list Balineses and Balinese mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
Listings come from Petfinder and open there. Petipedia does not take part in adoptions and earns nothing from them.
Living with a Balinese
Balinese are essentially Siamese in a softer package — vocal, people-obsessed, highly intelligent, and prone to real stress or acting out if left under-stimulated. The coat looks high-maintenance but actually mats less than expected since there's no thick undercoat; a few sessions of combing a week is usually enough.
Health you should know about
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) — a confirmed, documented inherited eye disease in the breed that causes retinal degeneration and can lead to blindness.
- Small founding gene pool — because it descends from a limited number of long-haired Siamese, the breed carries elevated risk for inherited disorders beyond the ones already confirmed and documented.
Read the full Cat Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a cat needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Balinese? Thai cat names, 79 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 2 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 2 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.