Javanese Cats
The breed is one of the relatively new cat breeds to appear toward the middle of the twentieth century, developed by cat fanciers. The Javanese breed is an offshoot from the Balinese breed, and was named for Java, the island next over from Bali in Indonesia. The Balinese, in turn, was an offshoot from the Siamese cat breed.
The Javanese is essentially a colorpoint shorthair Balinese. Colorpoint shorthair kittens had always been born to Balinese litters, but since they did not fit the Balinese breed standard, they were not allowed to compete in shows. Breeders who liked the colorpoint shorthair kittens petitioned the cat fancier organizations for recognition of the cats as a new breed, finally succeeding in the 1980s, when the new breed was named Javanese.
History of Javanese Cats
Physical Characteristics
Javanese are longhaired cats in the Oriental family, similar in both type and personality to a Siamese. A show-quality Javanese will have a long, lithe body, tubular when the cat is stretched between your hands. Javanese should be muscular, and will be deceptively heavy when lifted. Legs are long, fine-boned, and slender, with small paws.
The head is wedge-shaped, with large, alert ears which follow and complement the shape of the wedge. The eyes are distinctly Oriental, slanted slightly to fit in with the overall head shape, and sapphire blue, the deeper the colour the better. The nose is straight, with no break or rise between the eyes.
Javanese both have longer hair than a Siamese, but don't have dramatically long fur like a Persian or Maine Coon. The body hair should be silky and close-lying, not "fluffy". The fur on the tail is longer -- about two or three inches -- and when brushed out forms a full, graceful plume. Most people seeing a Javanese for the first time may mistake it for a Siamese, until they see the gorgeous, full tail.
Like Siamese, Javanese are "pointed" cats, which means that the face, legs, and tail are a darker colour than the body colour. The darker colours are referred to as the points.
Temperament
Javanese are active, busy cats, like their related breed, the Siamese. Javanese love people, and are constantly following "their" people around the house and getting underfoot. They can be quite demanding when they want attention, but they are also true cuddlers and lap cats. They require a lot of interaction and active play.
Javanese also love high places; if you don't provide somewhere high for them to perch, they will find a spot of their own. Many love to ride on the shoulders of their favourite humans.
Both Javanese need toys, but fancy ones aren't necessary. Many love something simple, such as a ping-pong ball slit enough to drop in a few grains of rice for noise, or a peacock feather. A bored Javanese may find something else to make into a toy, such as pens, papers, boxes of envelopes, or other things you may wish not to become toys!
Javanese are insatiably curious and quite fearless. There is little they will not investigate: a noise, an open cupboard, water dripping from a faucet, a toilet flushing, the inside of a shopping bag, a running vacuum cleaner, a blow dryer. Because of this curiosity, their lithe build, and a penchant for getting toys under things, they are also accomplished contortionists who can scoot under low couches, beds, and cabinets with astonishing ease. Beware of this ability in strange houses and hotel rooms; you may find your Javanese taking a tour of the air conditioning ducts! The only hole too small for a Javanese is one the cat cannot squeeze the head through.