Javanese cats, like their Balinese relatives, are playful, devoted, and very talkative. They will let you know their cat thoughts on life, love, and their dinner bowl. All these breeds that are Siamese relatives seem to have that quality — they tell you whatever is on their cat mind, and expect you to understand.
Though these cats are very active, they also love to eat. Therefore, you’ll need to watch their weight if their activity level is not too high.
They definitely try to communicate with their meows. They will look you right in the eye and answer when you speak to them. They are said to be easy to train and not quite so demanding as their Siamese relatives.
There are several good posts online about the Javanese. The information for the first part of this post came from https://www.petfinder.com.
This breed is one of a line of breeds “in the Siamese style.” These breeds include the Balinese, Colorpoint Shorthair, Oriental Shorthair, and the Oriental Longhair. These breeds were started by breeders who wanted to make some alterations to the qualities of the Siamese.
The Javanese is a long-haired version of the Colorpoint Shorthair. This latter cat comes in the four traditional Siamese colors — seal blue, chocolate and lilac — plus
red, cream, tortie, and lynx points.
CFA is the only registry that separates Javanese and Colorpoint Shorthairs into two breeds. Other breeders feel that separating the two — Balinese and Javanese — is unnecessary. Both breeds have the same body type, personality and coat. However, some breeders want to keep them separate to maintain line purity between Siamese and Balinese.
The Javanese and Balinese have somewhat of a shared history. The name Javanese was given the breed because it had a nice, romantic ring. This cat is not from Java any more than the Balinese is from Bali — the names were attractive, and so were the cats, so it was a fit.
One of the first cats of the Javanese breed was born from a cross between a Balinese and a Colorpoint Shorthair. The result was a cat with the characteristics of the Siamese but with a longer coat and colors outside the basic four. The Javanese was recognized by the CFA in 1987.
Physical attributes follow. This list is interesting, as it outlines all the characteristics that breeders look for when identifying the cat’s breed.
BODY — Thick, not compact. Back gently slopes upward from shoulders to tail. Chest and hips are well-rounded. The bones are medium-heavy, without extra bulk. The cat’s muscles are firmly developed.
HEAD — The head is a modified wedge with rounded contours. Cheek-bones are well-defined. The chin is firm and the muzzle moderate. The nose is medium in length and the forehead is flat.
EARS — These are proportionate to the head. They have slightly rounded tips. The ears are as much on the top of the head as on the side.
EYES — These are walnut-shaped. They are set rather far apart, which gives the cat an open and alert expression.
TAIL — The tail is carried erect when the cat is moving. It tapers to a rounded tip, though it is not overly thick. The tail is the same length as the body.
COLOR — They can be one of the Siamese regular colors, or red, cream, tortie, and lynx.
COAT — Longhair. The coat has semi-long fur with a flowing, silky texture. Since there is really no undercoat, the cat does not shed a great deal. The cat can have a slight to moderate ruff; shaggy britches and a tail with a full plume.
From www.vetstreet.com, I found additional information.
The Javanese coat can grow in a wide variety of colors. Besides the traditional Siamese colors, here are other possibilities: The coat might have solid points in red or cream; lynx points in seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, chocolate-tortie, blue-cream, lilac-cream and seal tortie.
One also might find tortoiseshell points in seal or chocolate. It amazes me that so many varieties can be bred starting with one pair of cats. Breeders become a sort of cat wizard, bringing to life new colors and characteristics.
The cats usually weigh from five to nine pounds, so they are relatively small animals. They have the same tubular body, wedge-shaped head, blue eyes and large triangle ears, as do other cats of Siamese ancestry.
They are very smart with high energy. They are very affectionate and not retiring in any way; in fact, these cats often have a need to be social.
If you get a Javanese from a breeder, expect a price tag of $600.00 to $900.00.
The silky, single coat, with no undercoat means the cat will not leave hair all over you or your house. If you brush your cat on a weekly basis, his coat will stay in good shape and you’ll brush off any loose hair. As these cats produce less of the Fel D1 protein, they are one of the more hypoallergenic breeds.
From a post in https://cattime.com, I found this information on potential health issues.
HEALTH — The Javanese can have health problems that are genetic in nature. These will be the same problems that can affect the Siamese as well. Here are a 
few:
- Amyloidosis — A disease that deposits a type of protein called amyloid in the body organs.
- Asthma/bronchitis
- Congenital heart defects
- Crossed eyes
- Gastrointestinal conditions
- Excessive grooming, leading to hair loss
- Lymphoma
- Nystagmus — A neurological condition that causes rapid, involuntary eye movement
This cat is a good choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. You can train him to fetch and he will do so right along with your retriever. He learns tricks easily. If children treat him politely and with respect, he will love their attention. As long as the dogs know he is boss, he will live with them peacefully.
Dental hygiene is important. Brushing daily is best, but weekly brushing is better than nothing. Wipe the corners of his eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Check ears weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball. Do not use cotton swabs, as these can damage his inner ear.
It is best to keep the Javanese cat indoors so he is protected from diseases spread by other cats, or from all the other dangers inherent with the outdoors.
If you own a Javanese cat, tell us your experience with your fur baby. Can you add anything to the attributes I’ve described? If you have found this article interesting or if you have questions, please tell us in the contents below.