Javanese

Also called Colorpoint Longhair, Balinese (Javanese Division), Javi

Recognised breedShort profile

From Developed in Canada and the United States in the late 1970s from Balinese lines, with Siamese-type foundation stock that traces back to Southeast Asia. The name nods to the island of Java, next to Bali.1 2

At a glance the quick version

Weight, male3.6 to 5.4 kg3

Lifespan8 to 12 years3

Sizemedium

Hill's gives 8-12 lb (about 3.6-5.4 kg) for males and under 8 lb (under about 3.6 kg) for females; no registry weight is set.

chatty and sociable

athletic jumper

easy-care silky coat

4 1 3

Coat and looks how to spot one

medium-length, silky single coat

A slim, long-bodied oriental cat with a wedge-shaped head and big ears. Its silky coat has no woolly undercoat, so it lies flat against the body and looks sleek, with the longest hair forming a plume on the tail. Eyes are always blue.4 1

Colourssolid colour points: red, cream, cinnamon, fawnlynx (tabby) points in many colours, including silverparti-colour (tortie) points4 1

Personality what they are like

Bright, talkative and affectionate, though a touch quieter than a Siamese. It likes to be part of whatever its people are doing and enjoys a good play session followed by a cuddle.4 1 3

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. A keen climber and leaper that appreciates tall cat trees, shelves and daily interactive play to stay entertained.3 1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low effort for a longhair: with no undercoat the coat rarely tangles, so a comb or brush a few times a month is usually enough.4

Home where they are happiest

Suits indoor life with plenty of vertical space and toys to keep its busy mind occupied.3

Company who they like around

Bonds closely with its family and does best with company and regular interaction rather than long hours alone.4 1

The story where it all began

Balinese breeders in Canada and the USA wanted recognition for colours beyond the four traditional Siamese points, so from 1979 CFA registered these cats as the Javanese. It reached championship in 1986, and in 2008 CFA folded it back into the Balinese as its own colour division.1 4

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
It is named after Java, the island neighbouring Bali, following the tradition of giving oriental-type breeds Southeast Asian place names.1
2
The term 'Javanese cat' was first coined around 1950 by breeder Helen Smith, though for a different variety than today's.1
3
Without a downy undercoat, its longhaired coat lies close and sleek instead of looking fluffy.4
4
It can jump with ease to the top of a fridge, bookshelf or even a door.3

Recognised by the official bits

CFA: Registered as a separate breed in 1979, championship status 1986; merged back into the Balinese in 2008 and now shown as the Javanese Division of the Balinese4
Other registries: The name 'Javanese' is used differently between registries; some have used it for the Oriental Longhair2

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Javanese. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Brushingevery 2 days
Deshedding springBrush more while sheddingevery day
Nail trimevery 3 weeks
Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
Litter scoopevery day
Litter changeevery week
PlayDaily playevery day
Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 11every year

Start a free diary

Balinese

Siamese

Colorpoint Shorthair

Oriental Longhair

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

Javanese cat (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, history, alternative names, temperament, fun facts
List of cat breeds (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, naming across registries
Hill's Pet Australia: Javanese cat breed hillspet.com.auused for weight, lifespan, activity
CFA: Balinese and Javanese breed profile cfa.orgused for CFA status, colours, coat, grooming, temperament

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.