| Balinese
GENERAL: the ideal Balinese is a svelte cat with long tapering lines, very lithe but strong and muscular. Excellent physical condition. Neither flabby nor bony. Not fat. Eyes clear. Because of the longer coat the Balinese appears to have softer lines and less extreme type than other breeds of cats with similar type.
HEAD: long, tapering wedge. Medium size in good proportion to body. The total wedge starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the tips of the ears forming a triangle, with no break at the whiskers. No less than the width of an eye between the eyes. When the whiskers and face hair are smoothed back, the underlying bone structure is apparent. Allowance must be made for jowls in the stud cat.
SKULL: flat. In profile, a long straight line should be felt from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. No bulge over the eyes. No dip in nose.
EARS: strikingly large, pointed, wide at base, continuing the lines of the wedge.
EYES: almond shaped. Medium size. Neither protruding nor recessed. Slanted towards the nose in harmony with lines of wedge and ears. Uncrossed.
NOSE: long and straight. A continuation of the forehead with no break.
MUZZLE: fine, wedge-shaped.
CHIN and JAW: medium size. Tip of chin lines up with tip of nose in the same vertical plane. Neither receding nor excessively massive.
BODY: medium size. Graceful, long, and svelte. A distinctive combination of fine bones and firm muscles. Shoulders and hips continue same sleek lines of tubular body. Hips never wider than shoulders. Abdomen tight. The male may be somewhat larger than the female.
NECK: long and slender.
LEGS: bone structure long and slim. Hind legs higher than front. In good proportion to body.
PAWS: dainty, small, and oval. Toes: five in front and four behind.
TAIL: bone structure long, thin, tapering to a fine point. Tail hair spreads out like a plume.
COAT: medium length, fine, silky without downy undercoat lying close to the body, the coat may appear shorter than it is. Hair is longest on the tail.
COLOR: Body: even, with subtle shading when allowed. Allowance should be made for darker color in older cats as Balinese generally darken with age, but there must be definite contrast between body color and points. Points: mask, ears, legs, feet, tail dense and clearly defined. All of the same shade. Mask covers entire face including whisker pads and is connected to ears by tracings. Mask should not extend over top of head. No ticking or white hairs in points.
PENALIZE: lack of pigment in the nose leather and/or paw pads in part, or in total. Crossed eyes. Visible protrusion of the cartilage at the end of the sternum under normal handling. Soft or mushy body.
DISQUALIFY: any evidence of illness or poor health. Weak hind legs. Mouth breathing due to nasal obstruction or poor occlusion. Malocclusion resulting in either undershot or overshot chin. Emaciation. Visible kink in tail. Eyes other than blue. White toes and/or feet. Incorrect number of toes. Definite double coat (i.e., downy undercoat).
BALINESE COLORS
SEAL POINT: body even pale fawn to cream, warm in tone, shading gradually into lighter color on the stomach and chest. Points deep seal brown. Nose leather and Paw pads: same color as points. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
CHOCOLATE POINT: body ivory with no shading. Points milk-chocolate color, warm in tone. Nose leather and Paw pads: cinnamon-pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
BLUE POINT: body bluish white, cold in tone, shading gradually to white on stomach and chest. Points deep blue. Nose leather and Paw pads: slate-colored. Eye color: deep vivid blue.
LILAC POINT: body glacial white with no shading. Points frosty grey with pinkish tone. Nose leather and Paw pads: lavender-pink. Eye color: deep vivid blue. |
