Is a Balinese more likely to be a shoulder cat or a pillow-stealing bed cat?

From my experience with my Balinese, Luna, she's absolutely a shoulder cat first and foremost. They crave height and human contact, so perching on your shoulder while you move around the house is their default setting. However, she does steal my pillow at night, but that's more of a secondary move when she's done supervising from above. If you want a cat that will be glued to your neck, a Balinese is your breed.

From what I've seen with my own Balinese, Milo, he's a dedicated shoulder cat who treats my collarbone like his personal throne. He'll ride around while I make coffee or fold laundry, purring right into my ear. That said, when bedtime hits, he transitions seamlessly to claiming my pillow space - it's like he thinks my head is just in the way of his royal resting spot. Both traits come from their deep need to be close to you, so you'll get the best of both worlds.

My Balinese named Jasper treats me like a living climbing frame during the day, draping himself across my shoulders while I do dishes, but at night he becomes a notorious bed hog who sprawls across both pillows. He doesn't just steal one - he claims the entire headrest area like he's staking a territory claim. The key difference I've noticed is that shoulder time is for bonding and watching the world, while pillow theft is purely for comfort and warmth. Either way, you'll never feel lonely with this breed around!

In my house, my Balinese, Suki, is both but the shoulder thing comes first - she literally launches herself onto my back the second I stand up, and she's done it since she was a kitten. I think it's the breed's obsession with being part of every human activity, not just comfort. The pillow stealing at night feels more like an afterthought, like she's already claimed my shoulder all day so the bed is just an extension of that territory. Actually, now I'm second-guessing myself because she does curl into a tight donut on my pillow and refuses to move no matter how much I nudge her, so maybe it's more equal than I thought.

Watch how they react when you sit down at a desk. My Balinese, Miko, will immediately hop onto my shoulder the second I lean forward to type-he loves the elevated view and the warmth of my neck. But come night, he’s a master of pillow theft, burrowing under the duvet and stretching out across both pillows like he owns the whole mattress. Honestly, I think it’s less about one trait being stronger and more about their need to be in your personal space, whether you’re upright or horizontal. If I had to guess, the shoulder thing comes first because it’s active bonding, but the bed hogging is just them settling in for the long haul.

Neither is a fixed trait; it depends entirely on the individual cat’s personality and your daily routine. I’ve seen Balinese cats that are obsessive shoulder riders because they crave constant eye-level interaction and will jump up the moment you stand, while others are purely nocturnal bed hogs who only want to knead your pillow at 3 AM. The breed is intelligent and adaptable, so they often pick the behavior that gets them the most attention or comfort in your specific home. If you want a shoulder cat, reward them with treats and praise every time they climb up during daytime activities. If you want a pillow thief, let them claim your bed without interruption. Most Balinese can do both, but they’ll lean toward whichever pays off better for them.