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- From: Barbara French <bcfnmp@ritvax.isc.rit.edu>
- Subject: rec.pets.cats: Balinese/Javanese Breed-FAQ
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-
- Balinese/Javanese FAQ
-
-
- Author: Barbara French, Tarantara Cattery, Rochester, NY, USA
- bcfnmp@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Table of Contents
-
- Physical Description
- Characteristics and Temperament
- Is This Breed for Me?
- Care and Training
- Breeders
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
-
- Physical Description
-
- Depending on the cat association, the terms "Balinese" and "Javanese" mean
- different things. In Europe, "Javanese" refers to a solid-coloured Oriental
- Longhair. However, for this FAQ, we will use these terms as used by
- American cat associations.
-
- Basically, Balinese and Javanese are longhaired cats in the Oriental
- family, similar in both type and personality to a Siamese. A show-quality
- Balinese or Javanese will have a long, lithe body, tubular when the cat is
- stretched between your hands. Balinese and Javanese should be muscular, and
- will be deceptively heavy when lifted. Legs are long, fine-boned, and
- slender, with small paws.
-
- The head is wedge-shaped, with large, alert ears which follow and
- complement the shape of the wedge. The eyes are distinctly Oriental,
- slanted slightly to fit in with the overall head shape, and sapphire blue,
- the deeper the colour the better. The nose is straight, with no break or
- rise between the eyes.
-
- Balinese and Javanese both have longer hair than a Siamese, but don't have
- dramatically long fur like a Persian or Maine Coon. The body hair should be
- silky and close-lying, not "fluffy". The fur on the tail is longer -- about
- two or three inches -- and when brushed out forms a full, graceful plume.
- Most people seeing a Balinese or Javanese for the first time may mistake it
- for a Siamese, until they see the gorgeous, full tail.
-
- Colour is the difference between the Balinese and the Javanese breeds. Like
- Siamese, Balinese and Javanese are "pointed" cats, which means that the
- face, legs, and tail are a darker colour than the body colour. The darker
- colours are referred to as the points.
-
- Some cat associations, such as TICA, make no distinction between Balinese
- and Javanese, and in these associations both Balinese and Javanese are
- categorized as Balinese.
-
- In those associations that do make a distinction, such as CFA, Balinese are
- accepted in the four "traditional" Siamese solid colours of seal (black),
- blue, chocolate, and lilac. Javanese are accepted in the "nontraditional"
- colours of lynx (tabby) points (seal lynx, blue lynx, chocolate lynx, lilac
- lynx), tortoiseshell points, flame (red) points, and cream points.
-
- An easy chart for reference*:
-
- _Siamese_: short coat; seal, blue, chocolate, lilac
- _Colourpoint Shorthair_: short coat; lynx, tortie, flame, cream
- _Balinese_: long coat; seal, blue, chocolate, lilac
- _Javanese_: long coat; lynx, tortie, flame, cream
-
- *In associations that make distinctions between breed based on colour
-
- The body colour is lighter than the point colour, although it will be
- considerably lighter in a younger cat. The body colour tends to darken with
- age. Point restriction (restriction of the darker colours to the face,
- legs, and tail) is desirable. On lynx-point Javanese, some "shadow
- striping" (light striping on the body) is permitted but not desired. A
- clear coat with excellent point restriction is best.
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Characteristics and Temperament
-
- Balinese and Javanese are active, busy cats, like their related breed, the
- Siamese. Balinese and Javanese love people, and are constantly following
- "their" people around the house and getting underfoot. They can be quite
- demanding when they want attention, but they are also true cuddlers and lap
- cats. They require a lot of interaction and active play.
-
- Balinese and Javanese also love high places; if you don't provide somewhere
- high for them to perch, they will find a spot of their own. Many love to
- ride on the shoulders of their favourite humans.
-
- Both Balinese and Javanese need toys, but fancy ones aren't necessary. Many
- love something simple, such as a ping-pong ball slit enough to drop in a
- few grains of rice for noise, or a peacock feather. A bored Balinese or
- Javanese may find something else to make into a toy, such as pens, papers,
- boxes of envelopes, or other things you may wish not to become toys!
-
- Balinese and Javanese are insatiably curious and quite fearless. There is
- little they will not investigate: a noise, an open cupboard, water dripping
- from a faucet, a toilet flushing, the inside of a shopping bag, a running
- vacuum cleaner, a blow dryer. Because of this curiosity, their lithe build,
- and a penchant for getting toys under things, they are also accomplished
- contortionists who can scoot under low couches, beds, and cabinets with
- astonishing ease. Beware of this ability in strange houses and hotel rooms;
- you may find your Balinese or Javanese taking a tour of the air
- conditioning ducts! The only hole too small for a Balinese or Javanese is
- one the cat cannot squeeze the head through.
-
- Like their cousins, the Siamese, Balinese and Javanese are "talkative"
- cats, with loud voices they seem to use at any opportunity. Many just seem
- to "chat" for no apparent reason. The quality (and quantity) of the voice
- varies from cat to cat. Some can be very quiet -- others rival Joan Rivers
- for talkativeness.
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Is This Breed for Me?
-
- Balinese and Javanese need human contact. If you don't have a lot of time
- for a cat, a Balinese or Javanese may not be the right breed for you. They
- do fine in a household where everyone is away all day, but be prepared to
- spend some time every day playing and interacting with the cat. Sometimes,
- that just means letting the cat sleep in your lap while you watch TV, or it
- can mean up to an hour of all-out play. They are marvelous jumpers, and
- toys that exploit this ability are fun for the cat and amusing to watch.
-
- If you're looking for an active, fun, devoted companion with elegant good
- looks, a Balinese or Javanese is a wonderful choice. The longer hair
- softens the Siamese type and adds refinement.
-
- Like many active cats, Balinese and Javanese get underfoot a lot. It may
- not be the best choice for someone with mobility problems. They are good
- with children and keep up admirably with even the most active kids. They do
- best in households with at least another cat for company if their people
- are away all day.
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Care and Training
-
- The main concern when showing a Balinese or Javanese is keeping the weight
- ideal. These are lithe cats with fast metabolisms, but some cats may not be
- able to free-feed without getting fat. Some Balinese and Javanese cats can
- free-feed without trouble, but others, particularly alters, may eat more
- heavily. Exercise and play can help burn off extra fat and calories. An
- excellent, show-ready Balinese or Javanese should not be skinny, but
- maintain lithe and elegant lines. A Balinese or Javanese run to fat may
- appear "slab-sided", or flat on the sides.
-
- Balinese and Javanese need little daily grooming if they are pets, as their
- silky coats do not mat. They enjoy being combed and fussed over, but their
- coat will not suffer unduly because of it. A Balinese or Javanese being
- shown may need more care than that, including regular baths to keep the
- coat, particularly the tail, in top condition.
-
- Balinese and Javanese are intelligent cats, which means that they can be
- trained, but also that you may find them training you!
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Breeders
-
- Balinese and Javanese can be difficult to find, as they are rare breeds.
- Most "pockets" of Balinese and Javanese breeders tend to be found on the
- two coasts. Some breeders may ship cats of appropriate age.
-
- Breeders of all breeds of cats may be found through the Fanciers Breeder
- Referral List at (address).
-
-
-
- Copyright (c)1995 Barbara C. French, bcfnmp@ritvax.isc.rit.edu. Text
- may not be copied or used without permission of the author.
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Balinese and Javanese FAQ
- Barbara French, bcfnmp@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
-