The Javanese is a semi-longhaired cat and is also known as the Oriental Longhair (OLH) or Mandarin. A slender body, wedge-shaped head with large ears and silky fur are typical of this cat breed. Javanese cats are very cuddly and playful.

Appearance of the Javanese

The Javanese descends from the Siamese and is classed as a medium-sized cat. A female Javanese weighs between 3 and 4 kilograms and a male 4 to 5kg. 

Like its relative, the Siamese, the Javanese is also slender and daintily built. Despite this, its body is muscular. Its rear legs are slightly longer than the front legs, so their back is raised slightly upwards. 

Typical Oriental Longhair: Triangular face and large ears

With its triangular face, the Javanese also strongly resembles the Oriental Shorthair (OSH). There are two triangular ears on the wedge-shaped head. The nose is straight with no stop, so Javanese cats don’t have snub noses. 

This breed usually has bright green or blue almond-shaped eyes. Some are also odd-eyed, with one green and one blue eye.

Javanese cats are semi-longhair cats

These cats have semi-long, silky fur with no undercoat. It lies close to the body. The tail is bushy and the fur is longer around the throat. 

These cats can come in many different fur colours. Here are some examples: 

  • White 
  • Cream 
  • Chocolate brown 
  • Black 
  • Fawn
  • Blue (bluish grey) 
  • Cinnamon (reddish brown) 

Some of these cats are also patterned – such as with tabby markings. Tabby cats are striped, brindled, spotted or ticked and have an M-shaped mark on their forehead.

Difference between longhair and semi-longhair

Longhair cats have long, fluffy fur. For example, Persians, British Longhairs and German Longhairs are genuine longhair cats. 

The longhair gene is inherited recessively, therefore does not always have a 100% effect on the appearance of the coat. This is the case with cat breeds like the Birman or Maine Coon with somewhat shorter fur. These cats are also semi-longhair cats.

Source: Zooplus