The Javanese Cat happily jumps into this edition of Cat Breed Corner! Learn about this vocal cat’s history, personality, and health information!
Quick Facts
Weight – 2 – 5 kg
Lifespan – 10 – 12 years
Best breed for:
- Big families
- Families with a lot of time to play and train
- Families who don’t mind a loud furry family member
Javanese Breed History ♜
The Javanese Cat is a very young breed from the United States. The breed was officially created in 1978 as a cross between Balinese, Siamese, and the Colourpoint Shorthair. This breeding allowed for a semi-longhaired cat with a long tubular body, triangular face, and many different colour variations.
These days, there are some who consider the Javanese a variation of the Balinese. Regardless of the official stance, this is a wonderful, quirky breed.
Personality Traits and Trainability ★
Get ready for an intense cat – and we mean that in the best possible way. The Javanese is a highly energetic cat, with a demanding personality, and a very loud conversation style. The Javanese will keep you laughing, or they’ll drive you nuts. But if it’s the latter, just wait until they curl up in your lap and change your mind.
Because this breed is so social and attention-seeking, it’s crucial that you channel their energy into toys and training. Otherwise, be prepared to have a trouble-maker on your hands. Luckily, their friendliness and intelligence makes training easy and enjoyable for both the cat and the trainer. Just make sure to space training sessions out with highly active play sessions to keep their energy levels manageable.
Javanese Health and Grooming ✄
This cat’s got a gorgeous coat that doesn’t require too much maintenance. With its single coat, you can enjoy less shedding. There’s also no need for regular bathing. Just give your furry friend a brushing every once in a while to keep the coat smooth. If you really want to see that coat at its silkiest, you might give them a bath once a month or so.
So far, we’ve described one perfect cat breed, no? Well unfortunately, there are some health issues we’ve got to talk about. Because the Javanese comes from Siamese parents, they’ve inherited some of the same health risks, such as retinal atrophy, feline bronchial asthma, endocardial fibroelastosis, and others. It’s important to get a sense of any health concerns that have come from the breeding pair. That way, you can keep your Javanese happy and healthy.
Fun Fact ♥
If the Javanese Cat comes from the US, what’s with the name Javanese? Well, because this breed comes from Balinese Cats, the early breeders wanted to choose a neighbouring island as a reference to the breed’s origins.
But, it gets more complicated. It turns out, Balinese Cats are also from the United States. So, what’s the deal? Well, some say that the early Balinese breeders named the cat after the popular Balinese dancers of the time because of this feline’s grace.
So, there you go. Two American-origin cats with similar misnomers.
Speaking of misnomers, do you want to ensure your kitty doesn’t miss(nomer) human company when you’re out? Book them a Cat Sitter! Whether you live in Adelaide, Cairns, Hobart, Sydney, or anywhere else in Australia, we have Sitters for your kitty!
