Balinese — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA rdAc, CEP290)can shorten life or cause chronic painCommon in this breed
Balinese cats carry the same CEP290 mutation found across the wider Siamese group; a 2010 survey found it in 14 of 24 unrelated Balinese and Javanese cats (12 with one copy and 2 with two), and a 2022 screen of over 11,000 cats found 15 of 76 Balinese carrying it, about one in five (10 with one copy and 5 with two).
Ask to see: UC Davis VGL PRA rdAc (CEP290) DNA test result, on both parents
UC Davis VGL — PRA rdAc (CEP290) test (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/pra-rdac) · UC Davis VGL — Balinese test list (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/breed/balinese) · Menotti-Raymond et al. 2010, The Veterinary Journal (Table 1, Balinese/Javanese row) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.08.010) · Anderson et al. 2022, PLOS Genetics (S4 Table, Balinese row) (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1009804) · OMIA — Retinal degeneration II (cat) (https://omia.org/OMIA001244/9685/)
Protruding sternum
An outward or inward bend in the lower chest bone, seen mostly in oriental-bodied breeds; CFA names Balinese directly among the breeds most often affected. Outward protrusion is usually harmless; an inward one can affect the chest cavity and needs veterinary assessment.
Ask to see: No DNA test exists — ask for a veterinary chest exam noting sternum conformation, on both parents
Cat Fanciers' Association — Genetic Disorders (https://cfa.org/genetic-disorders/)