Your guide to finding and caring for a Balinese in Portland
A Balinese fits Portland's mix of apartments and older houses, as long as someone's around to talk with it. In a Goose Hollow apartment near the MAX line or a Montavilla ranch house, these chatty, silky-coated cats claim the best window ledge and supervise everything. They'd rather climb, chase a wand toy and hold a conversation than nap in a quiet corner. When the November rain settles in, a tall cat tree and a few play sessions make the gray months shorter.
Fall for a Balinese
M, 9 y., 1791 miles
Siamese
F, 1 y., 1794 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Snowshoe
F, 8 mo., 1794 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
F, 2 y., 1838 miles
Siamese
F, 8 y., 1860 miles
Domestic Long Hair, Siamese
M, 5 mo., 1862 miles
Siamese
F, 6 mo., 1862 miles
Siamese
M, 4 mo., 1862 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Snowshoe
M, 2 mo., 1862 miles
Siamese
F, 2 mo., 1862 miles
Siamese
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. The silky single coat lies close to the body and ends in a plumed tail, paired with the Siamese colorpoint pattern and blue eyes. A slender modern type and a sturdier traditional type both exist.
Many Balinese are social, clever and playful, and they tend to talk, though usually more softly than a Siamese. At roughly 5 to 10 pounds, they're medium-sized cats that need daily interaction more than space. In Portland, where wet months keep most cats indoors, that means puzzle feeders, climbing room and company. Personalities vary from cat to cat, especially among adults.
Having a Balinese in Portland
Balinese pair Siamese brains with an easy-care silky coat. Company, play and vertical space matter most, and inherited eye and liver concerns deserve a vet's attention. In Portland, that mostly adds up to a well-enriched indoor life.
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 they often get along with considerate kids and other pets. Some turn clingy or bored when alone, which matters if your workdays run long. Adult cats' personalities vary.
Plan on several short play sessions a day: wand toys, fetch, puzzle feeders and a tall cat tree. On Portland's wet days, which run from October through April, indoor play does the work of a walk. Rotating toys keeps a clever cat from getting bored, and older Balinese still enjoy gentle games.
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. Schedule a full veterinary exam after adopting, keep up with dental care, and mention vision changes or weight loss promptly. Portland licensing also requires a current rabies vaccination.
Portland's apartments and bungalows both work, because a Balinese cares more about stimulation than square footage. Window perches, shelves and a sturdy cat tree give it the height it craves. It does best indoors with people around much of the day, or with a compatible feline companion.
| 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* | $465 to $1,165 per year | $465 to $1,165 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,215 to $2,715 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the $15 Multnomah County cat license for a spayed or neutered cat, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and cat trees, and light 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 Portland.
Portland has an active shelter and rescue community, and the cats listed here change often, from kittens to seniors. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Portland area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Balinese is coming in.
Yes, you can own a Balinese in Portland. The city and Multnomah County have no breed-specific rules for cats, so a Balinese is treated like any other cat. You'll need a county license with proof of rabies vaccination within 30 days of adopting, and keeping your cat indoors protects it from the coyotes that live throughout the city.
Yes, most Balinese handle Portland summers well, since July and August are dry and nights cool off. The risk comes during occasional heat waves. Keep a shaded room, fresh water and closed blinds ready, and call a vet if you see rapid breathing, a red tongue, vomiting or lethargy. Never leave a cat in a parked car.
Yes, a Balinese can be happy in a Portland apartment if it has plenty to do. Give it a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily wand-toy sessions, and plan for company, since these cats dislike long empty days. A second compatible cat can help if you're away a lot.
Often, yes, especially for people who are home a fair amount and enjoy a cat that talks back. Portland's long wet season keeps cats indoors anyway, and a Balinese is content with play and a window to watch. If your days are long, consider a second cat. Personalities vary from cat to cat.
Only in a secure, enclosed carrier. TriMet MAX trains, buses and the Portland Streetcar all require pets to ride enclosed, and a carrier shouldn't block aisles or exits. At roughly 5 to 10 pounds, a Balinese fits a standard carrier, so a vet trip by MAX is workable. Service animals follow separate rules.
Very little. The silky single coat has no dense undercoat, so brushing about once a week keeps it smooth, with a bit more during heavier shedding. Portland's rain matters little for an indoor cat. Professional grooming is rarely needed, so grooming adds only a small amount to the yearly Other costs.
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.
Expect roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for a Balinese in Portland. Food runs $25 to $50 a month, insurance $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care $150 to $350 a year, and other costs $465 to $1,165 a year, including litter and the county license. Adoption fees appear on each listing.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Portland.
