Your guide to finding and caring for a Balinese in Minneapolis
A Balinese fits a Whittier apartment nicely, as long as someone's home to talk back. They're chatty, clever cats that want a tall perch by the window, and a Minneapolis winter gives them months of snow and bird traffic to watch. Grooming is easy with that silky single coat, but they want company and games every day. Plan on a cat tree and a few short play sessions before and after work.
Fall for a Balinese
M, 11 mo., 702 miles
Siamese
F, 3 y., 703 miles
Siamese
F, 9 y., 703 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
F, 3-7 y., 706 miles
Siamese
F, 0-6 mo., 706 miles
Siamese, Domestic Short Hair
F, 2 y., 708 miles
Siamese
F, 5 mo., 708 miles
Siamese
M, 3-7 y., 708 miles
Siamese
F, 2 y., 709 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
F, 2 y., 712 miles
Siamese
The Balinese is essentially a longhaired Siamese, developed in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s and named for the graceful movement of Balinese dancers, not for any link to Indonesia. It has the colorpoint pattern, vivid blue eyes, a slender body and a plumed tail, and it comes in a modern wedge-headed type and a sturdier traditional type.
Many are bright, social and playful, usually a little quieter than a Siamese but still talkative. The coat has no dense undercoat, so brushing a few times a month is typically enough. In Minneapolis, where cold months keep cats indoors, a Balinese's need for interaction, climbing space and puzzle toys matters more than square footage. Cats vary, especially adults, so go by each cat's own personality.
Having a Balinese in Minneapolis
The Balinese pairs Siamese brains and sociability with an easy-care coat. In Minneapolis, its need for company, active play and vertical space, plus inherited eye and liver concerns, shape daily life more than the cold does.
Many Balinese bond closely, follow their people from room to room and comment on the day in a softer voice than most Siamese. They're curious and clownish, and often get along with considerate kids and pets. Some get clingy or bored when alone, which matters for long office days. Adult cats vary, so watch each cat's own personality.
Balinese are typically active, so plan several short play sessions a day with wand toys, fetch or puzzle feeders. Minneapolis winters keep cats inside for months, which makes a tall cat tree, a window perch and rotating toys the main outlets for climbing and chasing.
Siamese-line cats can be prone to progressive retinal atrophy, liver amyloidosis, dental disease and crossed eyes, which is usually harmless. Not every cat develops these problems. A current rabies vaccination is also needed for the Minneapolis cat license. Schedule a full veterinary exam after adopting, including a look at teeth and vision.
A Balinese does well in a Minneapolis apartment, loft or older house if it has vertical space and company. Cat trees, window perches and shelves matter more than square footage. Keep it indoors, since coyotes are increasing in the metro area. Chatty cats may be heard through shared walls.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $480 to $1,180 per year | $480 to $1,180 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,230 to $2,730 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the $30 Minneapolis cat license for a spayed or neutered cat, flea and tick prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and cat trees, and minimal grooming for a single coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Minneapolis.
Minneapolis has a city shelter and area rescues listing cats of many ages, coats and personalities for adoption. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Minneapolis area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Balinese is coming in.
212 17th Avenue North, Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Yes, Minneapolis has no breed-specific rules for pets, so a Balinese is treated like any other cat. The main requirements are a city license for any cat over four months old, which needs a current rabies vaccination first, and a multiple-animal permit if you keep four or more cats. Browse the cats listed on this page to see who's available now.
Yes, a Balinese can live happily in a Minneapolis apartment if it has enough to do. Window perches, a tall cat tree and daily play matter more than floor space. Plan for some chatter through shared walls, and for a cat that dislikes long stretches alone. Get your landlord's consent in writing before adopting.
Yes, as indoor cats. Winters here bring about 72 days that never top freezing and around 51 inches of snow, and a Balinese's silky single coat isn't made for outdoor time. Indoors, offer a sunny window perch, a warm bed away from drafts and extra play on dark days. Never leave a cat in a parked car in any season.
Very little. The silky single coat has no dense undercoat, so brushing a few times a month usually keeps it tidy. Dry indoor winter air can add static, so a quick weekly brush may feel better to some cats. Grooming costs are minimal and are counted in the Other line of the cost table on this page.
Yes, but only in a carrier. Metro Transit allows pets on its buses and light rail only in a carrier, and leashed pets aren't allowed to board, so a Balinese needs a secure, ventilated carrier for any ride. Minneapolis has no subway. Service animals are the exception and can ride without a carrier.
No, Balinese cats are not hypoallergenic. Claims that they produce less of the main cat allergen, Fel d 1, are widely repeated but not supported by solid research. Their single coat sheds less than many longhaired breeds, which some allergic people find easier. Reactions vary between people and cats, so spend time with the individual cat before adopting.
Balinese is usually pronounced BAH-lih-neez, with the stress on the first syllable, the same way people say the word for something from Bali. Some people say BAL-ih-neez instead, and both are understood. The name was chosen to evoke the grace of Balinese dancers, not because the cats come from Bali.
Balinese cats shed, but usually less than you might expect from a longhaired cat. Their fine, silky coat has no dense undercoat, so it sheds lightly year-round with modest seasonal increases. The coat rarely mats. Brushing or combing once or twice a week removes loose hair and helps reduce hairballs.
A Balinese is a longhaired version of the Siamese cat, with the same colorpoint pattern, blue eyes and slender build. It was developed in the United States from longhaired kittens born in Siamese litters. Balinese have a silky, single coat and a plumed tail. Many are intelligent, social and talkative, and they bond closely with their families.
Budget roughly $1,230 to $2,730 a year for a Balinese in Minneapolis, or about $100 to $230 a month. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and other costs of $480 to $1,180 a year.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Minneapolis.
