Javanese can be described as a breed of domestic cat recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association as a show cat. Developed from a foundation of Siamese, Colorpoint and Balinese cats, the cats do not actually come from Java but were whimsically given the name because Java is a sister island to Bali, which was a nice touch, given the breed’s relationship to the Balinese (which does not come from Bali, by the way).
At first, the Cat Fanciers Association categorized the Javanese as a distinct breed, separated from the Balinese by colour, but in 2008 the Javanese was declared a division of the Balinese breed.
A Javanese is perhaps not quite as loud as his relative the Siamese, but he is most definitely just as opinionated. He will tell you exactly what he thinks, and he expects you to pay attention and act on his advice. You can also count on him to “tell all” to visitors, so be grateful that most people are not conversant in the Javanese language.
The Javanese is highly intelligent, agile and athletic, and loves to play. Keep his busy brain active with puzzle toys and his body exercised with teaser toys that he can chase and a big cat tree he can climb.
He likes to play fetch, is willing to walk on a leash, and learns tricks easily. He is also a good trainer himself and may be running your household before you know it. Owners will not have a moment of peace and quiet once they let this cat inside their house.
765434567890-098765421q234567890yThe Javanese loves to chat and will express displeasure when it is annoyed. In fact, the cat is well-recognized for its excellent communication skills. Javanese are also loyal to a fault, following its human family members incessantly.
It possesses a high degree of intelligence and seems to understand when spoken to. It will look a person straight in the eye and answer with a meow. They can be easily trained.
The CFA’s reasoning behind the separate designations is that Colorpoint Shorthairs and Javanese are hybrids, which they are, since these colors were created by crossing the Siamese with other breeds.
However, some breeders feel that separating the Balinese and the Javanese is like splitting cat hairs; both breeds share a body type, personality, and coat, and the hybridization happened so long ago that it no longer matters.
Other breeders zealously want the breeds kept separate to maintain the purity of the Siamese and Balinese lines. The Javanese shares much of its history with the Balinese breed.
The Javanese isn’t from the Isle of Java any more than the Balinese is from Bali; the name was bestowed because of the nice, romantic ring. One of the foundation cats of the Javanese breed was created by crossing a Balinese to a Colorpoint Shorthair.