Balinese

Longhaired kittens turned up every so often in Siamese litters, and in the 1940s and 1950s several American breeders began breeding them on purpose. They named it Balinese after the grace of Balinese dancers, not because it comes from Bali, and the CFA recognised it in 1970. It is a Siamese from head to toe, with coloured points, deep blue eyes and the same chatty personality, but with a close-lying semi-long coat and a plumed tail. It has a reputation for being a little less strident than the Siamese. It is said to cause fewer allergies, but there is no solid evidence that it produces less Fel d 1.

Its coat, with no undercoat, does not form big knots: one brush a week, two when it is moulting, is enough. What it cannot do without is company and stimulation: hunting games, tall scratching posts and some reward-based training, which it picks up quickly. If it will be alone for many hours, it is better with another cat. Annual dental check and toothbrushing if it will tolerate it.

The same predispositions as the Siamese: progressive retinal atrophy (rdAc, DNA test available), hepatic amyloidosis, squint and nystagmus, asthma and dental problems. Its life expectancy is good. Ask the breeder for the parents' PRA test results and be wary of anyone chasing an extremely fine type at the expense of health.