• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pawesome Cats helping cats live happy, healthy lives

Pawesome Cats

helping cats live happy, healthy lives

  • Home
  • Cat Health
  • Cat Behaviour
  • Life with Cats
  • Raw Feeding
  • Cat Breeds
You are here: Home / Cat Breeds / Longhair Cat Breeds / Javanese Cat: Breed Information and Personality

Javanese Cat: Breed Information and Personality

By Pawesome Cats | Updated on 28/12/2022

29 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Pawesome Cats is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The slender yet muscular Javanese cat is often said to resemble a ballerina – it certainly has all the grace and charm. Intelligent and active, Javanese cats are loyal, chatty felines who make great companions and are ideal for households with children and other cat-friendly pets. 

Intelligent and active, Javanese cats are loyal, chatty felines who make great companions and are ideal for households with children and other pets | Javanese Cat Breed profile

Appearance

Just about everything about this breed can be described as long; long tail, long legs, and a long yet muscular body. The tail is slender and tapers towards the tips. The legs, which are slightly longer at the back, end in small round paws. The Javanese has a semi-long coat with hair that is as fine and thin as silk. Hair on the tail is a little longer than the rest of the body and forms a plume.

The eyes are beautifully almond shaped and come in radiant green for solid colors and all over patterns, or a hauntingly dark blue for pointed cats. While the triangular shaped head is considered medium sized on such a long gives it the illusion of being quite small. A long nose, fine muzzle, and slightly pointed ears which start from a wide base finish off the look of intelligence and fine breeding for this svelte breed.

History

The Javanese cat came about during a controlled Balinese breeding program during the 1950s – these long-haired Siamese cats were named after the graceful Balinese dancers. Later, breeders introduced ColourPoint Shorthairs to the program, which produced cats with stunning coat colours. Due to their closeness to the Balinese breed, they were named for the closest island to Bali – which is the island of Java, renowned for its coffee bean production.

RELATED:  Siamese Cat: Breed Information and Personality

Javanese Cat Personality

The Javanese is as intelligent as it looks and like their Siamese cousins, are quite vocal. They are a sociable breed and make great pets for homes with children and get on well with other household pets. They also love to be ‘helpful’ around the house, and will happily follow you around the house from room to room, often getting under your feet.

Javanese cats are athletic, agile and they love to play – they are quick to learn tricks and enjoy a game of fetch. When you’re home make sure they receive lots of attention, as they are prone to mischief or depression if left to their own devices for extended periods of time.

Javanese are also excellent mousers so any furry little critters who dare step over the threshold of your home will find their days numbered.

Did You Know?

Despite the misleading name, the Javanese cat is not actually from the Indonesian island of Java – instead, their origins are in the United States.

Javanese and Balinese breeds are almost identical, the biggest difference is that the Javanese are available in a larger range of coat colours. There is ongoing debate as to whether the Javanese is a breed in its own right, or just another variety of Balinese cat. The CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) recognise Javanese cats in red, tortie, or tabbie – all others are classified as Balinese cats.

Caring for Your Javanese Cat

Despite being a long-haired cat, Javanese don’t shed much and are easy to groom – simply brush them every 2-3 days to help them maintain their gorgeous coat and condition.

RELATED:  Bengal Cat: Breed Information and Personality

The Javanese are fairly healthy on average but they are prone to a few hereditary conditions due to their genetic links to Siamese cats. They may suffer from nystagmus (a neurological disorder which causes involuntary eye movement), heart disease, and are prone to upper respiratory tract infections. Because of this it is highly recommended to seek pet health insurance.

Have you ever met a Javanese cat? Please share your experiences in the comments below.

Image: Starjely via Wikimedia Commons.

29 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Filed Under: Cat Breeds, Longhair Cat Breeds

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah Beplay says

    06/06/2021 at 12:16 am

    I fell in love with a kitten that my friend sent me a photo of, her stray cat had another litter of kittens. In this litter there were two cats identical but one had blue eyes and the other had gray. I am just now finding out that the stray I brought home is a Javanese and it explains his personality to a T!

    Reply
  2. meowmeowmans says

    07/01/2016 at 2:24 pm

    What a beautiful breed! We’ve only seen a Javanese once, and it was so handsome and calm. So it was really interesting to read your post today.

    Reply
  3. Robin says

    06/01/2016 at 3:36 am

    These kitties are so beautiful! I absolutely love the blue eyes of the cat pictured. Amazing! I don’t think I have ever met a Javanese cat. I hope I do meet one someday!

    Reply
  4. Rosa @ Cat Lady Confidential says

    06/01/2016 at 3:29 am

    When I first look at the picture I thought it was a siamese cat. I had never heard of this breed and they look a lot like siamese cats. They are just beautiful.

    Reply
  5. Ellen Pilch says

    06/01/2016 at 1:56 am

    Such beauties. I have never heard of them, but I would love to meet one.

    Reply
  6. Summer says

    05/01/2016 at 5:23 pm

    We haven’t seen any Javanese kitties at the cat shows I’ve been in! Although we have seen a Balinese once or twice.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Latest Blog Posts

woman in red jumper holding cat in front of christmas tree

How to Cat-Proof Your Christmas Tree

03/12/2013

woman's hands holding platter with cooked thanksgiving turkey

Can Cats Eat Turkey at Thanksgiving? 

25/10/2023

ginger kitten with arched back and upright tail on grass lawn

8 Reasons Why Cats Arch Their Backs

25/07/2023

coconut in shell with ground coconut and oil

Coconut Oil for Cats: Is It Good or Bad?

18/07/2023

tabby cat standing in blue litter box

What Does It Mean When a Cat Can’t Pee? 

11/07/2023

ginger and white cat with curved tail

Why Do Cats Wag Their Tails?

04/07/2023

tabby white cat eating from white bowl tongue out

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry? 10 Possible Reasons

27/06/2023

newborn kitten with eyes closed in human hands

Fading Kitten Syndrome: How To Recognise The Signs

20/06/2023

ginger cat digging in litter tray

Is Your Cat Allergic to Litter? How to Tell

13/06/2023

Footer

Disclaimer

All articles are based on our personal opinion and experiences. Information on this site should not be considered a substitute for professional veterinary advice, care and treatment. If your cat is unwell and you are concerned for any reason, please contact your veterinarian immediately. Unless otherwise credited, all images and content are copyright to Pawesome Cats.

Affiliate Disclosure

Pawesome Cats is a member of affiliate programs that provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products sold online including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Associate the owner of this site earns from qualifying purchases. For more information, refer to our Disclaimer page.

Privacy

This site may collect anonymous demographic information when you visit our site, click on a link or leave a comment. For more information, read our privacy policy.

Quick Links

About   |   Contact   |   Subscribe

Copyright © 2023 Pawesome Cats - All Rights Reserved.

29 shares