Javanese cat breed: facts, temperament and care
A long-haired, slender, blue-eyed cat with Siamese points in colours beyond the four traditional ones, treated as a division of the Balinese by many registries.
Also known as Javanese cat, Javanese Division, Colorpoint Longhair, Colourpoint Longhair
Quick facts
| Origin | United States and Canada |
|---|---|
| Size | Medium |
| Typical weight | 5-10 lb (2.3-4.5 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Medium |
| Coat | Fine, silky, single coat that lies close to the body, with a plumed tail |
| Colours and patterns | Red, cream, lynx (tabby) and tortie or parti-colour points, always with blue eyes |
Recognition
| How common | Rare |
|---|
Temperament and care (1 low, 5 high)
| Affection | 5 |
|---|---|
| Energy | 4 |
| Playfulness | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 5 |
| Grooming needed | 2 |
| Shedding | 2 |
| Good with children | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 |
| Happy alone | 1 |
| Trainability | 5 |
| Suits a small home | 4 |
Allergies and health
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The fine single coat sheds lightly, but people who react to cats may still react to this one. |
|---|
Best suited to
| Suits | A home with someone around much of the day that enjoys a talkative, devoted and intelligent cat. |
|---|---|
| Less suited to | A household that wants a quiet cat, or one where the cat will often be alone. |
Registries that recognise it
- CFA
- TICA
Health conditions to watch
- Dental disease
- Amyloidosis
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Inflammatory bowel disease
About the Javanese
The Javanese is the Balinese in more point colours. It is a semi-longhaired Siamese-type cat, and the name was chosen from a map rather than from the cat's origins. Balinese breeders in the United States and Canada wanted the new colours accepted in the 1970s. The CFA registered the cats as a new breed in 1979, gave provisional status in 1984 and full championship in 1986. In 2008 the CFA merged the breed back into the Balinese as the Javanese Division.
Names differ by registry. TICA treats the Javanese as a colour variety of the Balinese. Some registries keep it as a separate breed. The World Cat Federation joins it with the Himalayan in a combined Colourpoint breed, and some other registries use the name Javanese for the Oriental Longhair. If you see the name, check which cat is meant.
The body is long, tubular and fine-boned, with a wedge head and large ears, as in the Siamese. The eyes are blue and almond shaped. The coat has no downy undercoat and lies flat, longest on the plumed tail. Points can be red, cream, lynx or parti-colour.
Temperament and living with one
The Javanese is intelligent, playful and very vocal. It talks, follows its owner and often chooses one person above the rest. Many learn tricks and open doors. It likes company, including other pets, and can become low in spirits without attention.
It needs climbing places, puzzle feeders and a few play sessions a day. Households that are empty for long hours may find it unhappy and noisy.
Care: coat, food and play
Grooming is easy for a longhair. Comb or brush a few times a month, and more in spring. The silky coat rarely mats, and baths are seldom needed. Brush teeth or ask your vet about dental care, and keep nails trimmed.
Feed a complete diet in measured meals. Provide tall perches and a variety of toys.
Health
The Javanese shares health problems with Siamese lines. Dental disease is common. Amyloidosis, a build-up of abnormal protein in organs, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, inflammatory bowel disease and eye problems have all been reported. Crossed eyes and kinked tails were once common and are now faults. Ask a breeder about screening for the parents, and ask your vet about the checks that suit an individual cat.
Is it right for you?
Choose a Javanese if you want an elegant, chatty and affectionate cat and can give it company. It is a poor fit for a quiet home or a long working day away. For the traditional four point colours look at the Balinese, and for a shorter coat consider the Colorpoint Shorthair.
Profile last reviewed November 7, 2026