Javanese Cat: Cat Breed Information, Characteristics And Facts

If you are a potential cat parent looking for a cat that is intelligent, highly athletic, and agile, and enjoys a lot of playtimes, then the Javanese breed of cat might just be what you are looking for. The cat is a good choice for families that still have younger ones, who would keep the cat busy at playtime. The kitty is quite adept at playing fetch and several other pet games that are on offer. This article will x-ray the Javanese breed of feline, its unique characteristics, including details about the kitty, nutritional needs, health, and many more.

History of the Javanese Breed

The Javanese breed of feline belongs to the longhaired class of cats. It is a variety of the popular Siamese, decorated with Colorpoint patterns. The foundation of the Javanese is traceable to the Balinese, Colorpoint, and Siamese cats. The name of the breed is likely to lead people into believing that the kitty’s origin is Java, but that is not the case. The name was whimsically given to the breed as Bali is a sister island to Java, which is considered to be quite a nice touch when you take the breed’s relationship with the Balinese into consideration (which doesn’t originate from Bali anyway).

At the initial stage, the Javanese was classified as a distinct breed by the Cat Fanciers Association, as at then, it was just the color that was used to separate it from the Balinese. However, with the advent of 2008, we saw a declaration of the Javanese as a division or faction of the Balinese breed of feline. Today, the Javanese is considered as a class of Balinese by the TICA, which is an acronym for The International Cat Association. The ICA also deemed it necessary to place both in their Siamese group of breeds. It is still possible that the Javanese may still be outcrossed to the Siamese, the Balinese, Oriental Longhair as well as Colorpoint Shorthair.

Quick Facts About the Javanese Cat

• The Javanese breed is unmistakably man-made, a product of a crossbreeding project between a Colorpoint Shorthair and a Balinese. The resultant effect is quite beautiful, with the litter coming in close resemblance to the Siamese kitty, but with a longer coat, and different arrays of colors.
• The origin of the breed is the United States of America.
• Being an athletic breed, the Javanese is adept at jumping, leaping to the top of tall bookcases and refrigerators comes quite easily to the cat, and you will constantly find it at the top of the doors in the house. The kitty is lively as well as loving; she loves to sit quietly on your lap purring while you enjoy some bonding time, petting your loyal feline companion.
• In the same way, as many of the oriental cats we have seen, the Javanese is vocal and active, hence the need to provide them with high perches and cat trees. When you fail to provide the cat with a perch, it will not hesitate to convert anything that takes her fancy into a special perch.
• The Javanese is not really a large cat; rather, they come in medium sizes, with a body weight that ranges between five to seven pounds for the female and seven to ten pounds for the males of the species. However, we have seen some males that weighed as much as twelve
• The body of the cat is best described as long and tabular. The breed is much more muscular when compared with their Siamese and Balinese counterparts. But they are in the class of slender feline with fine bones.
• The head of the Javanese is realized in a triangular shape with the ears set in such a way that they appear to be a continuation of the triangle. The color of the cat’s eyes usually comes in deep as well as vivid color, whether green (as approved by FIFe in Europe) or blue ( as approved by the CFA in the US.
• Some people are led to believe that the Javanese comes with long hair, but that is not so, the hair on the cat’s body cannot be classified as long, they are referred to as medium length. To be able to gauge the real length of the cat’s hair, you only need to take a closer look at the kitty’s tail where the hair stands out visibly.
• As for the texture of the feline’s coat, it is soft, smooth as well as silky; the markings come in shaded or might show some evidence of some tabby pattern at the points. We have also seen many that are realized in the beautiful tortoiseshell patterns which are restricted to the points.
• Talking about grooming, the cat needs very little in that regard, and the color of her coat may come in Cream, Red, Chocolate, and Seal. There is still evidence of many that are realized as Lilac, Seal, Blue, Lilac Cream, as well as Blue-cream.
• The tabular body of the Javanese breed is sitting on a quartet of long slim limbs, and as expected, the forelimbs come shorter in length relative to the hind limbs. The cat moves on dainty and small paws, which are oval in shape. It swishes a thing long tail tapering to a fine point.
• Comparing the Javanese breed to the Siamese, you will find out that both may have been indistinguishable, with the exception of their coat length and color. Coming with slender and muscular body sporting some long markings as well as a head that comes in a wedge shape. The heads are long in length and taper from the thin end of their nose outward to the tips of their ears, where it forms a triangle. Sporting uncommon large ears pointed at the tip and wide at the base, creating a simulation of similar triangular shape, just like their heads, coming with medium-sized eyes, which are realized as almond-shaped.
• The Javanese breed is known for their longevity, the life expectancy for this breed of feline ranges from eight years to 12 years. But then, it is quite common to see a few that will outstay this range.
• Talking about the purchasing price for a Javanese breed, the beautiful kitties go for $900 in the least; there are still some that are sold as high as $1,500 United States dollars.
• If you bring a Javanese cat into the family, be ready for some unwanted and undue Meowing and crying, which frequently comes during the night.
• The Javanese breed of cats has earned recognition from quite a few cat associations, which includes the likes of FIFE and CFA.

Things You Should Know

Health

When it comes to health issues, the cat comes across as a generally healthy breed, as there are not many known health conditions that ail the cat. In fact, it is best suited for those cat parents that are averse to spending much money on the medical bills of their pets.

However, it is common knowledge that both the mixed breed of feline and the pedigree cats come with varying cases of health issues that are naturally genetic. Whatever affects a Siamese may well be seen in a Javanese. The health problems to look out for in this breed include the following:

• Amyloidosis – This type of ailment can occur whenever a certain type of protein known as amyloid deposits in the organs of the body, especially the liver. This is quite common in cats belonging to the Siamese family.
• Asthma – This type of disease is also referred to as bronchial disease.
• Congenital heartdefects – This kind of ailment can come in the form of aortic stenosis.
• Gastrointestinal conditions – We have seen so many of this realized as megaesophagus.
• Hyperesthesia syndrome – This is a neurological health issue, it may make a cat to extremely groom it. This kind of condition may result in excessive hair loss, and the affected cat will tend to behave hysterically, especially when you wish to pet or touch them.
• Nystagmus – This disorder is neurological in nature, but in this case, it results in spontaneous rapid eye movement.
• Progressive retinal atrophy – This affects the retina; however, there is a genetic test that can be conducted to know whether a cat has it or not. Other health conditions that are prevalent in the Javanese breed include Lymphoma as well as crossed eye.

Feeding

The cat’s nutritional needs must be in proportion to its size and activity level, so as to prevent obesity. The cat’s food should be equipped with proteins, vitamins, and minerals for the healthy growth and development of your furry companion.

For more guides on choosing the right cat food, you may wish to check out our reviews of the best wet cat food, senior cat food, hypoallergenic cat food, cat food for hairballs and cat food for bengals.

Care

Apart from the grooming aspect of the cat’s care, which involves brushing and baths, there are still many ways that you can take care of your feline companion. First, you need to guard against the occurrence of periodontal diseases by brush the cat’s teeth on a daily basis, which is considered the best for all household pets. However, if you discover that you won’t be able to accomplish the daily brushing; Weekly brushing can still suffice as it is better than not brushing at all. For a wider selection of choices, check out our cat toothbrushes and cat toothpastes guides.

Cats are known to get discharges from the corners of their eyes; you should do well to clean your cat’s eyes on a daily basis. It is best to make use of a moistened cloth, wiping each corner with a separate end of the cloth to avoid spreading the infection. Inspect your kitty’s ears every week, and when they are dirty, make use of cotton bud or soft cloth moistened with cider vinegar and water in equal portion. Cotton swabs should be avoided as they are harmful to the inner ears. Bathroom hygiene for the feline population is of utmost importance; thus, their litter box should be cleaned every day. Besides, when a cat’s litter box is clean, the cat will be clean.

Always keep your Javanese cat indoors to keep her from contracting any diseases. Keeping the cat indoors also keeps it safe from being attacked by dogs coyotes or being hit by moving vehicles. It also keeps them safe from the risk of being stolen.

Grooming

The level of shedding expected in the Javanese breed is moderate; however, this can be managed by providing the cat with the right nutrition, grooming it on a regular basis, which will restrict the shedding to a smaller area like the kitty’s litter box. Besides, whisking out the grooming brush from time to time will help in keeping the feline’s coat in very good shape. Again, grooming performs several other functions which include, massaging the body, stimulating circulation, as well as getting rid of dead hair and debris.

Recommendations are that you groom your furry friend’s coat twice per week, as the kitty is not prone to much matting. You can use a stainless comb or brush for the grooming exercise. Bathing may not be necessary.

For more help on cat grooming, you may wish to read our guides on the best cat ear cleaners, cat nail clippers, brushes for cats, cat grooming gloves and cat shampoos.

Temperament

Potential pet parents who are looking to spend quality time, as well as interacting with their furry friends for long, are better off with the Javanese breed. The cat is a friendly and dedicated feline that is likely to pine and pout when you give it very little attention or none at all. When the kitty finds herself in the right household, it just might thrive for many years, and may well outlive its life expectancy. The Javanese cat is also highly intelligent, a loyal breed that is energetic as well as playful. The cat’s temperament can accommodate children as well as dogs that are cat-friendly. However, the introduction of dogs and other house pets should be conducted gradually and under a controlled environment.

What’s more, though they may be different in coat color and coat length, both the Javanese and the Siamese have a plethora of similarities underneath their skin. The Javanese breed is very devoted to its human family and loves to offer some form of help. They love to tag along and follow their family members everywhere, supervising their every move. You only need to sit down for the kitty to jump onto your lap, and expect to see it in your bed each night as the cat loves to snuggle. Besides, the Javanese will likely imitate your every move with her head on the pillow, and body beneath the covers. As the kitty is forever underfoot, it is not recommended for potential pet parents who are not so steady on their feet, especially those who have to move around with the aid of a cane or a walker.

Additionally, the Javanese is just as opinionated as its relative the Siamese. The cat makes no bones about telling you her opinion on things and expects that you pay maximum attention to her views, and besides, the Javanese also expects you to act on whatever she says. The breed is not averse to relating all to strangers, so you should be grateful that people may not likely understand the kitty’s language.

The breed also displays a high level of intelligence; it is agile as well as athletic and enjoys a lot of playtimes. Pet parents are advised to keep their furry companion’s hyperactive brain busy by providing distractions like puzzle toys, huge cat trees that she can climb as well as teaser toys for the purpose of exercise. The Javanese is quite good with playing fetch, displays a willingness to walk with a harness and leash, and can easily master tricks. The cat is quite adept as a trainer, and you may well find her in charge of your entire household with time. However, you should try not to leave a Javanese cat alone for a long time without any form of entertainment. When the kitty happens to find himself alone without supervision, it just might decide to reprogram the DVR for you, or better still, have a swell time in the toilet, emptying the tissue rolls and boxes. If you are looking for more options, check out our guide on the best cat harnesses.

If you are the type that is averse to being in the company of a talkative busybody, then the Javanese cat is definitely not for you. Conversely, if you wouldn’t mind talking to a cat throughout the day, it will be quite easy to make a best friend out of the Javanese. The only thing you need to do is to make out enough time to spend with this chatty, attention-seeking, as well as a social cat. The kitty may not mind being left at home while the parents go to work for the family’s sustenance, but once you are home, the feline will expect that you devote quality time to petting as well as playing with her. Recommendations are that potential pet parents who are interested in having the Javanese breed of cat as a house pet should be better off getting two of them so that they can entertain each other in your absence.

Sources:

1. Javanese – PetMD
2. The Javanese – CFA