Despite the name, the Balinese has no link to Indonesia. It is essentially a longhaired Siamese, developed in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s and named for the graceful movement of Balinese dancers. It has the Siamese colorpoint pattern, vivid blue eyes, a slender body and a silky single coat that ends in a plumed tail. A modern, wedge-headed type and a sturdier traditional type both exist.
Many Balinese are bright, social and playful, and a bit quieter than Siamese while still chatty. They enjoy fetch, puzzle toys and high perches. In Miami, where most cats live indoors in apartments and condos, those habits matter: they want daily interaction and dislike long stretches alone. Adult cats vary in personality, so a Balinese won't match every description.