Mary Allen
The Javanese cat is one of the so-called semi-long-haired cats. It is also called Oriental Longhair (OLH) or Mandarin. Typical of this breed of cats is a slim body, a wedge-shaped head with large ears, and a silky coat. Javanese are very cuddly cats and very playful.
The Appearance of the Javanese Cat
Javanese descend from the Siamese cats and are medium-sized cats. A Javanese female weighs between three and four kilograms, a male weighs four to five kilograms.
Like its relative, the Siamese, the Javanese cat is slim and gracefully built. Even so, her body is muscular. Their back legs are slightly longer than the front legs, so their backs rise slightly backward.
Typical Oriental Long Hair: Triangular Face and Large Ears
With their triangular face, the Javanese cat also has a strong resemblance to the breed of the Oriental Shorthair Cats (OKH): two large, triangular ears sit on a wedge-shaped head. The nose is straight and has no stop. So Javanese have no snub noses.
As with the Oriental Shorthair, the eyes of the Oriental Longhair are almond-shaped and of bright green color. Only white animals can have blue eyes. With some of them, the eyes are also of different colors (odd-eyed): One eye is green, the other blue.
Javanese are Semi-long-haired Cats
Javanese cats have a semi-long, silky coat with no undercoat. It is close to the body. The tail is bushy and the fur is longer on the neck.
Javanese cats come in many different coat colors. Here are some examples:
- White
- Cream
- Chocolate brown
- Black
- “Fawn” (matt beige)
- “Blue” (blue-gray)
- “Cinnamon” (red-brown)
Some Javanese cats are also patterned – for example with the tabby drawing. Tabby cats are tabby, brindle, spotted, or ticked and have an M-shaped mark on their foreheads.
Difference Between Long Hair and Semi Long Hair
Long-haired cats have long, fluffy coats. But only Persian cats, British longhaired, and German longhaired cats are real longhaired cats.
The long-hair gene is inherited recessively and therefore does not always have a 100 percent effect on the appearance of the coat. This is the case with cat breeds such as the Birman cat or the Maine Coon. Their fur is a little shorter. Javanese also belong to the group of semi-long-haired cats.
Javanese are lively, intelligent, and meow a lot – there’s always something going on with a Javanese in the house. In addition, the animals are very affectionate and want to be included in the everyday life of “their” people.
Make sure to take time to play and cuddle your cat. If a Javanese woman has the feeling that she has come up short, she is easily offended.
Clicker training is a great way to keep your Javanese busy. Members of this breed are considered very intelligent and quickly learn new tricks.
Keeping and Caring for the Javanese
Loneliness is the worst thing for a Javanese woman. Cats of this breed hate being alone. If you have a job and work away from home, then you should definitely consider a second cat.
A conspecific of the same breed is best because Javanese cats also like to cuddle with each other. This could possibly be too much for another cat.
Javanese are considered child-friendly and therefore make good family cats. Because they are very lively and have a great urge to move around, they are only suitable to a limited extent for seniors.
Cats of this breed can be kept outdoors and indoors. Like all indoor cats, the Orientals also enjoy a secure balcony or a cat-safe garden.
Provided you have enough time for extensive play and petting, the posture is not particularly laborious. It is enough if you brush the fur of your semi-longhair cat once a week. Your oriental long hair will surely be happy about the small wellness treatment.
Health: Sturdy Breed of Cats
Javanese cats are considered a robust breed, typical hereditary diseases are not known to the present day. However, she does not tolerate the cold so well because her coat has no undercoat.
Like any other cat, you should take your Javanese to the vet for a health check-up once a year. Make sure your pet is regularly vaccinated against major cat diseases. Treatments against parasites may also be necessary.
How Old Do Javanese Cats Get?
The average life expectancy of a Javanese or Oriental Longhair cat is approximately 15 years.
Where Can I Buy a Javanese Cat?
Has this breed of cats won your heart? You can get a Javanese from a breeder, among others. You can also search under the terms “Oriental Longhair”, “OLH” or “Mandarin”.
Before buying a cat, however, you should make sure that the supplier is a reputable breeder. Let us show you not only the kittens but also their parents. Also, make sure that the animals are housed properly and cleanly.
The kittens should not be younger than 12 weeks before you take them home. Before handing in, the kittens should be vaccinated, chipped, dewormed, and provided with complete papers. If this is not the case, you better look elsewhere.
Javanese cats are also sometimes sold on the Internet. Animal rights activists advise against such offers. Because the animals are often “produced” and kept under questionable conditions.
What Does a Javanese Cat Cost?
A Javanese from the breeder costs around 1,000 dollars.
You might also find something at your local animal shelter. It is not that rare that pedigree cats end up in animal welfare. Shelters usually give cats away for a small nominal fee.
History of the Javanese Cat
Contrary to what the name suggests, Javanese cats have nothing to do with the Indonesian island of Java. Because the cat breed came about when American breeders tried to create a Siamese cat with half-length hair.
The breeding experiments resulted in two oriental breeds with longer fur: the Balinese with their point drawing and the Javanese with their monochrome or otherwise patterned fur.
In 1979 the American breeding organization “The Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA)” recognized the Javanese as an independent breed. It is also used by other organizations as a variant of the Balinese.
Conclusion: a Devoted Family Member
Anyone who opts for a Javanese cat wins a real member of the family: The pretty cats are affectionate, lovable housemates – but they definitely need people who have enough time for them.