JAVANESE
ORIGIN
Take one Balinese, dip in the colors of the rainbow and you have a Javanese. The Javanese is everything that is Balinese, and then some…the intelligence, grace and refinement of the Siamese, the luxurious silk of the Balinese coat, combined with the designer colors of the Colorpoint Shorthair. Named for the next island over from Bali, Javanese have been around for about as long as the Balinese. Some appeared in litters of Colorpoint Shorthair, most likely a result of the longhair gene being introduced via the domestic shorthair when the red, lynx and tortie point colors and patterns were first introduced to the Siamese breed. Most are the result of Balinese breeders using the Colorpoint Shorthair to introduce these colors and patterns into the Balinese breed. The Javanese were finally accepted by CFA for championship competition as of May 1986. The Javanese standard is identical to that of the Balinese, a cat of Siamese type with long flowing coat, the only difference being in the colors accepted for championship competition.
ASPECT
While the Balinese might have specific personalities linked to each color, the Javanese most definitely do. Tortie points are an acquired taste. Their markings can vary from a soft sprinkling of red and cream on a background of seal, blue, chocolate or lilac, to bold splashes of color, sometimes creating a clown-like appearance. Lynx points seem to be the most popular pattern.. Lynx points also come in blue, chocolate, lilac, red and cream point colors along with all possible tortie point colors. Javanese also come in seal, blue, chocolate and lilac point colors similar to the Siamese and Balinese. However, these colors are not eligible for championship competion in CFA.
CHARACTER
The Javanese is a breed for folks who want a little spice in their lives. A study of contradictions, elegant refinement, sometimes fragile in appearance…in reality hard and muscular with surprising strength. The slender lines and flowing coat hide a rock hard body capable of amazing feats of acrobatic proportions. Highly intelligent, they become familiar with their human’s routine. They will “talk,” gently reminding when you are late with meals or play time, joyously greeting you whenever you have been away. As a rule, the Javanese voice is softer and gentler than the Siamese.
CARE
Easy to care for, their coats never mat and tend to shed less than the Siamese or Colorpoint Shorthair, truly a “lazy man’s longhair”, an occasional combing and bath to refresh the sensuous silky texture of their coat is all that is necessary outside of regular nail clipping.