Thank you for your support of the Balinese & Siamese Cat breeds!
We are proud to present this picture gallery of all the color points available in the Balinese & Siamese Cat World. We hope that with this picture gallery everyone can have an idea of the different color variations of this wonderful cat breed.
The Balinese cat breed consists of the following color points:
The Traditional Color Points of Seal, Chocolate, Blue, and Lilac which are the initial and true color points of the Balinese cat breed, the exotic Lynx points, and the Rare points of Red, Cream, Torties, and Foreign White.
We hope that this gives the general public an idea and understanding of the true colors in the breed and
their differences that make each and every variation of this cat breed special.
A warm and special thanks to the following individuals, their breeding programs and those who have shared and provided authorization in using their Balinese cat pictures for the picture galleries. Thank you for assisting us in making this project a reality, In unity we can continue to preserve and promote this beautiful and wonderful cat breed.
Rachel Roy, our web designer for her talented web design skills and her love of the breed; Mary Desmond/Balichaton cattery, Laurie Tatters/LB Balinese cattery ,Annabelle Cailles/Tresor Cats, Carrie Jacobs & Corrine Michaux from Ayudhya & Phare Breton Catteries in Belgium, Jelena Vencl-La Voix Cattery, Susanne and Helga-Uberwald cattery in Germany, and Louis Azcarate/Permes Cats cattery in their efforts of preserving and promoting the rare and exotic colors of the Balinese cat breed.
Siamese & Balinese Cat Color points:
Please keep in mind that true Siamese and Balinese cats are blue eyed and are color pointed. This even applies to the completely white Balinese, the true Foreign White Balinese that is genetically colored pointed even though its points are not visible.
The term "color point" is referred to as the face "mask", paws, and tail of a cat. These extremities or "points" will be uniform in color, with the body always being lighter. A kitten will always be white in color when born, with its color points becoming more apparent as they age. A Siamese-Balinese Cat will have its full color and length of hair in 1 - 2 years. Some cats become darker or lighter depending on the weather (hot or cold) due to the Tyrosinase Gene temperature factor that makes these colorpoints visible and are infleunced by temperature.
Any and all other colors that are not listed here, and are "stated" to be Balinese cats are not pure in classification or lineage and are mainly considered Oriental cats and NOT Balinese.
Interbred cats (breeding between 2 different breeds) or mixed breeds such as half Siamese and Rag-doll, or Himalayan, etc are NOT considered true and pure Balinese or Siamese Cats. A Siamese/Balinese Cat is considered purebred if it has at least 4-5 proven generations of Siamese/Balinese ancestry.
For these reasons, reputable and proven cat breeders keep breeding records and are associated with cat club associations in order to demonstrate such proof of breeding lines for the preservation of cat breeds and their unique qualities.
Seal Point
The Seal point coloring of the Siamese and Balinese cat breed is the most traditional of all the color points, they are the representation of the Siamese and of all color pointed cat breeds such as the Himalayan, and others. Seal points were the original, initial color point introduced to the western world from England when Siamese cats were first imported from their origin of Siam, currently known as Thailand.
The seal point color variation is a dark brown, to black colored hue that resembles a seal, hence the name "seal" point. A seal points body can be covered with this light to dark hue along with the darker points being more apaprent in its nose, ears, paws, and tail.
A Seal point kitten has an apparent contrast to its coat and points and be quickly and easily distinguished from other color points. Their body will be ivory colored to caramel and their points will range from light black, to dark caramel brown.
Once mature some Seal points will retain these color variation with others becoming darker as they age or depending as to where they live (Tyrosinase Gene weather factor). The reason for this depends on the ancestry or breeding lines of a seal point. Seal points tend to be darker in all its body and points if both parents were Seal points, or if its breeding lines are mainly composed of seal or blue points. Seal points who retain their ivory colored bodies are rarer, and tend to come from breeding lines of diluted color points such as lilac or chocolate.
Seal points are known for their darkest blue eye color variation in comparison to other color points. Diulted color points such as the Lilac point produce lighter dark blue eyes; this also depends on the breeding lines. According to breeders and the Siamese/Balinese owner, Seal points tend to be sly, michevous and very smart. This is well portrayed in the Disney movie "Lady and The Tramp".
Seal Lynx
The Seal Lynx point is one of the most popular and most common Lynx point color variation in the breed(s). They are the darkest form of all Lynx points with dark brown to black, or seal coloring persisting in its points and throughout its body. Lynx pointed Balinese cats resemble the true wild Lynx cat, and are very exotic looking which is how this pattern variation got its name.
A Seal Lynx points' markings are tabby stripes between its face, legs, tail and body that tend to be colored black, dark brown. Like all Lynx point variations, the Seal Lynx point will have an M marked on its forehead. This Lynx mark will be a dark brown, black color due to its Seal point characteristics. A Seal Lynx pointed cat will generally have a dark, black colored tail with some or very faint dark brown rings/stripes.
The Seal lynx point kitten is the easiest to distinguish in a kitten litter due to their darker color and apparent stripes.
Chocolate Point
The Chocolate point color of the Siamese and Balinese cat breed is given its name due to its resemblance to the array of brown colors of Chocolate. They are often described as the "lighter" form of the Seal point being that their tones somewhat resemble but are much lighter and are of higher contrast than the Seal.
The coloring can range from a light, milk-chocolate brown color to a dark chocolate; almost black coloring. The Chocolate color point variation tends to keep its ivory bodied color with only its points having visible brown to black coloring. There may be times when a Chocolate point closely resembles a Seal point due to being darker colored than ussual. They can only be distinguished through the color of their skin (paws, nose, etc.) and if they keep their ivory colored bodies in comparision to Seal points who generally have a tan to darker color in their bodies.
The major difference between chocolate and seal points for those that might be confused due to their brown/black similarities, is that of chocolate points always being lighter and/or keeping their ivory colored bodies. It is not uncommon to find a chocolate points' ivory body colored with splashes of light brown.
The Chocolate pointed kitten will have white bodies with very faint pinkish sking and brown color points. They are the easiest to distinguish among kittens because they will be too light to be Seal or Blue points, and too dark to be Lilacs.
Chocolate points are considered to playful but social and tend to demonstrate some reserved qualities as well, though personality is king of all traits.
Chocolate Lynx
The Lynx point version of the Chocolate point Balinese is very similar to the Seal Lynx point but is lighter in color with light to dark brown markings and a white-ivory to white-tan body.
As the Traditional Chocolate point, its brown points and color will vary from a light brown to almost a dark chocolate' brown. Its brown/chocolate coloring persists in its points and tails, with the exception of its body which remains much lighter just as the Traditional Chocolate point having an ivory colored body.
For some, the differences between a Chocolate Lynx point and Seal Lynx point are not very apparent and they can be hard to distinguish. The way to distinguish a Chocolate Lynx point from a Seal Lynx point will be through its nose as Chocolate Lynx points have a brown, velvet color nose while Seal Lynx points tend to always have black noses.
Chocolate Lynx point kittens can be a bit difficult to distinguish in a litter until the apparent white body remains being that Seal Lynx point kittens will have a darker, brownish hue colored body.
Blue Point
The blue point variation of the Siamese and Balinese cat breed is another well known and initial color point of the Siamese and Balinese breed. The blue point variety of the Siamese-Balinese cat breed is a darker colored color point like the Seal point variation because of its overal darker colored coat.
It is gentically the diluted form of the Seal point, resulting in the color reflecting as a diluted black, almost blue which is why they are referred to as blue points because of its dark greyish hue. It is sometimes also referred as the "darker" lilac point being that their colors resemble but they are much darker than Lilac points who keep their ivory bodied colors and are much lighter.
The blue pointed kitten will be somewhat similar to a lilac pointed one in terms of the coloring, with points that are darker and its body generally covered by the grey hue. As the kitten ages, the hue tends to get darker, and as the seal point color, it tends to darken with age. They generally have darker blue eyes in comparison to the other traditional color points which also depends on the cats breedings lines and genetics.
Blue points are often regarded as having a passive and gentle personality among the Siamese-Balinese colors. They are the gentles of the Siamese and Balinese cat breed. The first CFA Grand Champion was a blue point male owned by Frank and Lieselotte A. Grimes.
Blue Lynx
The Lynx point variation of the blue point is a cat whose profound points are of a dark silver to bluish grey color, and has tabby/Lynx markings of the same color point throughout its body, face, tail and feet. Like all Lynx points, it will carry an M on its forehead with its color variation.
Blue Lynx points can easily be distinguished from the Lilac Lynx point through the difference in its darker Lynx markings. Blue Lynx points have a light to dark grey hue throughout its body rather than a faint or ivory colored hue as seen in Lilac Lynx points; just like Traditional Blue color points are darker than Lilac points. Their nose and tail are that of a dark grey-silver leather color.
The way to distinguish a Blue Lynx point from a Seal Lynx point will be through its nose. Blue Lynx points have a greyish-velvet color nose while Seal Lynx points tend to always have black noses.
Blue Lynx point kittens will have a very faint greyish color around its face and other points.
Lilac Point
The Lilac point color variation of the Siamese and Balinese cat breed is one of the lightest, rarest, and most fascinating of the Traditional Color points in the breed(s). They are a light greyish color that when exposed to sunlight reflects a lilac or pink hue, hence it being referred to as Lilac point.
Lilac points are considered the "lighter" form of the Blue point color variations due to its lighter, diluted color points and ivory colored bodies. Genetically speaking, Lilac points are the dilute form of the Chocolate point.
Lilac points are light pinkish-greyish, to medium greyish in color and they retain their ivory colored bodies. In the mid-late 1900's Lilac points were referred to as "Frost" points due to their very light or frosted appearances. Nowadays, breeders have adopted the general terminology of Lilac points and have left the Frost color point terminology to a very rare almost white variation of the Lilac point.
Lilac points can vary between how dark or light they are. There are some Lilac points that are dark; almost as dark as blue points and are only distinguishable if they retain their ivory colored bodies, and there are some Lilac points that are very light to the extent that they almost have no color points, these are the very rare Frost points.
The Lilac pointed kitten will be the hardest to distinguish at birth until their color points start to emerge. Being that they are the lightest form of all the color points, they are the last ones to show some color.
Lilac points are considered rare due to the probability in producing one when bred to other colors points. Lilac points bred to other Lilac points will only produce Lilacs but when bred to other color points there might only be 1 or none.
Our first Balinese cat was Bella, a medium to dark Lilac point Balinese. Her daughter Azureys Princess is a Lilac point that truly resembles the color point, one that is very light but retains its color points and ivory colored body.
Lilac points are considered to be the smartest of all the color point variations. For this reason they tend to demonstrate more independant personalities because of being more highly intelligent and are also the ones to learn tricks faster, and more of a companion.
Lilac Lynx
The Lynx point variation of the Lilac point is the rarest color variation of all the Lynx points. The Lilac Lynx point is the lightest of all the Lynx point color variations. Their color tends to remain a light silver, or greyish hue and it as well has a tinge of pink or lavender that is noticeable in the sun.
Lilac Lynx point kittens are the hardest to distinguish at birth because of their lighter color. They closely resemble their Traditional Lilac pointed counterparts until kittens are old enough to compare faces. A Lilac Lynx point will have a white ring around its eye and M forehead marking only seen in Lynx pointed cats, the Traditional Lilac point does no thave this M on its forehead or tabby stripes.
The reason why Lilac Lynx points are rarer is because they do not commonly appear in kitten litters. There are breeders who have only produced 1-2 Lilac Lynx points in a couple of years. It is believed that if breeding pair has two or more Lilac point ancestors in their breeding lines, there is a higher probability in producing Lilac Lynx points, but this is only a theory.
Not only are lilac lynx point Balinese very rare, but they're very beautiful and resemble the “snow” or white Siberian tigers in the wild. Because of the lilac lynx's appearance, many breeders or fanciers like to describe lynx points as “snow tiger” cats. In my opinion, the only Balinese Lynx point resembling snow tigers are the lilac lynx points due to their lighter and contrasted colors.
Red Point
The Red point Balinese is not only a rare color variation of the Balinese cat breed but its beautiful fawn, reddish color is one to admire. Red points are also referred to as "Flame" points in the cat breeding world, due to their tails resembling a fire. This terminology fits the Red point Balinese perfectly due to its long, feathered tail resembling an open flame.
The Red color can be a faint peach coloring, to an almost red dark orange color. Some Red points might or might not carry the Lynx gene and will have rings around its tail and stripes on its arms and face. A true Red point Balinese should not show much striping, or rings on its tail.
Red point Balinese cats are rare due to their sex-linked genes. In order to produce Red points, a cat must carry the O or in genetic terminology the "XO" gene. Males are always red in color, with females either being tortie or red, with the latter being rarer. To produce a Red pointed female, both parents must have the O gene. This means a Red point male must be bred to either a Tortie point female or a Red point female. There are cases when a male might be a tortie but they are considered an anamoly of nature. For the above reasons Red points are not commonly seen in breeding programs due to the additional work and effort needed to produce outcrosses and/or non related tortie or red females because of the sex-linked gene.
Red point kittens tend to stay white, with their flesh and points resembling a faint peach or pink color. They are easily distinguishable in a litter due to they remaining white in color and pink noses.
To many the Red point variation of the breed might be considered a new color form, but this color first appeared in the Siamese breed in shows during the 1930's. The Red color point was fullyrecognized as a breed color in the United Kingdom in 1973. Since then breeders have preserved Red and Tortie breeding lines in order to produce the Red color in their breeding programs. Just recently have they grown popular and available through breeding programs concentrating in this beautiful color.
Red point Balinese and Siamese cats are known as the clowns of the breed. They are known to be playful but also great companions that at times prefer to remain warm in someones lap.
Cream Point
The Cream pointed Siamese and Balinese cat is a light red, apricot colored pointed cat with its body being a light creamy white. It is the dilute form of the Red point, which is why this red variation tends to always be lighter than its true red counterpart though it can take a year or more to fully distinguish between a Cream and Red point.
Cream points also have pink skin color and can retain striping or ringing in the tails, arms and face. True cream points without the agouti or Lynx/tabby gene should not have much stripes.
Cream point kittens tend to stay white, with their flesh and points resembling a faint peach or pink color. They are easily distinguishable in a litter due to they remaining white in color and pink noses but will at times be confused with Red points.
Tortie Point "Speckle Points" Variations
The Tortie, or Tortoise Shell color pointed variety of the Siamese and Balinese cat breed is not very well known due to its rarity which makes this color variation a very unique one. This color point is rare due to its sex-linked genes. In order to produce Tortie points, a cat must carry the O or in genetic terminology the "XO" gene. Due to the sex linked gene, males are always red in color, with females either being Tortie or Red. Red point females and other Torties are the only cats that can produce Tortie points. There are cases when a male might be a tortie but they are considered an anamoly of nature.
Tortie points can come in an array of colors, patterns and shades. The tortie patterns can vary from a small to medium patch of red, brown or cream to a white speckle. Red will always appear with a combination of black (seal) or brown (Chocolate) and its designs are very unique to each cat. No two tortie points are alike because of its genetic profile and it has been confirmed that if cloned will not produce the same cat due to its genetic composition.
Being that a color point exists in the cat, Siamese and Balinese Tortie points come in a variety of colors along with its tortie patterns and colors. Tortie point variations include:
Seal-Tortie:
Seal-Tortie points are the darkest form of the Tortie variation due to its more black and dark brown patches of colors.
Their pattern mainly consist of black, dark brown and red. Seal-Torties are the main variation present in litters
when breeding Red pointed females to other color points.
Chocolate-Tortie:
Chocolate-Torties are lighter in color than the Seal-Tortie variation and at times will keep the same features as
a regular Chocolate pointed cat which is its ivory colored body. Chocolate tortie points have brown, black, red
blemishes with higher concentrations of brown.
Blue tortie:
Blue tortie cats are also known as blue-cream Torties being that they are a genetic dilute form of the Seal point color.
Blue torties carry cream and do not carry red as the Seal and Chocolate tortie variations do. Blue cream torties have
more apparent blue and cream patches that allow for a lighter and more pastel like color.
Lilac tortie:
Lilac tortie cats are also known as Lilac-creams Torties because of their dilute form of the Chocolate point color.
Lilac-cream Torties also do not carry red but cream which produces more aparent lilac, and cream patches and are the
lightest form among the torties due to its light lilac color point.
Tortie-Lynx points:
Tortie points with Lynx point color patterns are referred to as Tortie-Lynx points or "Torbies". They include the:
Seal-Tortie lynx, Chocolate-Tortie Lynx,
Blue-Tortie Lynx/Blue-Cream Lynx, and Lilac-Tortie
Lynx/Lilac-Cream Lynx.
Tortie points are known to have "special" personality traits referred to as "Tortitude". Owners of Tortie points say
that Tortie points are fond but very possesive of their owners. They are great communicaters and demonstraters being
that they love attention but at times they have a sly to varying personality if they do not get what they want.
Of course, this is a myth and personality will vary among cats and the way they were raised.
Foreign White "Ivory point"
The all white variety of the Siamese and Balinese cat breed is a color of true elegance. They are completely white in color with blue eyes that can range from a medium to violet blue. At Azureys cats we call our white Balinese breeding lines Ivory points due to their points being white in color, and because of their distinction in having true European Foriegn White Siamese/Balinese cat ancestry.
Foreign White Siamese and Balinese cats have no "visible" colorpoints being that their genetic profile of white color covers their true pointed colors beneath. Under their white coats, they can genetically be a Seal, Chocolate, Blue or Lilac pointed cat even though they dont have "colored" points to prove it.
Due to the white variety of the Siamese/Balinese cat genetically having color points, they are not prone to the faults that are associated with animals that are white with blue eyes. Though other cat breeds have a complete "white" form such as the Persian, Rag-doll, etc. they are still prone to these faults unlike the Siamese and Balinese white variety. This makes Foreign White Siamese and Balinese cats very special due to their genetic make up.
Being that Siamese and Balinese kittens are born white, the Ivory point kitten is the hardest kitten to identify at birth until about 4-5 weeks old. One way senior Foreign White Siamese breeders in Europe determine if a kitten is Ivory pointed is to see if it has a faint white border around its white ears.
In Thailand a white cat with blue eyes is considered good luck and very rare. Ancient Thailand texts would mention a white cat referred but they reference the Khao Manee which is a completely seperate Thailand cat breed. Khao Manee's are known for its white coat and blue, gold or bi-colored eyes. They are NOT true White Siamese, nor are they true Foreign White Balinese when interbred. Some specimens in the Khao Manee breed are known to have deafness due to the absence of a color point within them.
The Foreign White Balinese cat would be considered the perfect cat for anyone seeking true elegance, beauty, personality and hypoallergenic qualities in a cat. This makes the Ivory pointed Balinese a very special, rare and unique cat due to these qualities not found anywhere else.