Javanese cats can live up to 15 years. Despite its name, the breed did not originate in Java. During the breeding of the Bali cat (semi-longhaired Siamese cat), American breeders obtained a semi-longhaired Oriental-type cat and named it the Javanese cat based on this type.
Javanese cats remain very rare in Europe. Opinions differ on whether the Javanese is a new breed or simply a variant of the Balinese. For example, the FIFe considers it a semi-longhaired Oriental type with dense fur and long green eyes. The CFA, on the other hand, considers it merely a variant of the Balinese with colors different from the four recognized colors (dark brown, blue, chocolate, and lilac point).
