Note: I am using terms from the US standpoint. In Europe the term “Javanese” means something different, a solid-colored Oriental Longhair.

Introduction

If the Balinese is a “Modern” Siamese with long fur, the Javanese is a Balinese with “unconventional” (non-traditional) points. Confused?  It is also described as an Oriental Longhair with points. There is a good deal of overlap between the Oriental Shorthair and longhair, Siamese and Balinese cats. The CFA refer to the Javanese as a separate breed and point to the Balinese for the breed standard of this cat; confirming that this is in effect a long haired Siamese cat with non-traditional pointing. The CFA now refer to the ‘Balinese-Javanese Breed Profile’. They are almost the same cat but for coat color.

This cat has a much wider variety of points going well beyond the normally accepted. The “conventional points” (4 – color) are Seal, Chocolate, Blue and Lilac. You can see these point colors on the Traditional Siamese page.

The greater spectrum of point types of the Javanese (colorpoint colors) are lynx points (tabby), tortoiseshell points, cream points and flame points (see Blush, below). The Lynx points are the conventional colors mentioned above modified by the tabby pattern (Agouti and Tabby genes). Click here on the link to see a Lynx point Siamese.

The rather fine difference between the Balinese and Javanese has led to problems of registration. Some associations think that the Balinese and Javanese are the same cat or simply merge the two breeds and call the breed Balinese. TICA does this.

Other more conservative associations such as the CFA, separate the Javanese Cat from the Balinese.

For me, taking a commonsense view, it makes sense to merge the breeds. From a commercial or cat breeding/showing standpoint it may make sense to have the “extra” cat breed. The wider the selection of breeds the wider the market.

History

Date	Event
Pre-1978	A group of cat breeders breeding “new-color” Balinese.
1979	CFA agree to register this cat as a new breed
1979	Name “Javanese” created for this cat breed
1987?	Javanese formally recognized by the CFA

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Appearance and Character

They have what the Cat Fancy calls the “Oriental” look. Rangy, with long slightly pointed heads, a finely balanced look, athletic with long limbs. See Cat Body Types.

Being related to the Siamese, they are talkative, people orientated and therefore like company. The Siamese is an intelligent cat and therefore so is the Javanese Cat. As a result they need stimulation and are probably unsuited for households in which people are away a lot.

The coat, as I think you can see in Helmi’s photographs, is soft and silky (look at the gorgeously silky coat of Blush above in the large photograph) and long (or longer than the Siamese). It does not need a lot of maintenance if you are not showing your cat as it is mat resistant. This is because the hair is not dense as is the case for the Persian for example. The fur is not as long either.

This cat is ideally meant to be lithe and elegant. The Javanese, it is said, have fast metabolisms. This may make them a little more prone to eating too much. I’ve heard Sphynx cats eat a lot and they are somewhat similar in conformation. Perhaps the skinny cats burn more calories and need more food.

The non-traditional points are:

• cream
• lynx
  • seal
  • blue
  • chocolate
  • lilac
• tortoiseshell
• flame

See Javanese cat on the Blogger site for info on genetics.

Breeders

The only cattery website listed by Google in the first 3 pages is this site:

Martycats
Located Southern Ohio, USA.

Breed standard – CFA Standard (opens in a new window) – this is the Balinese breed standard as well.

Sources:

• Cat Fanciers
• Messybeast
• 1. Wikipedia®
• Pictures of Cats