Havana Brown Description

Known for their beautiful mahogany coats, the Havana Brown is a stunning cat. Though it appears small and light-weight, the Havana is a heavy little kitty. Its coat, however, is what truly draws the eye. The glossy, mahogany toned coat is smooth and lustrous, feeling like a luxurious mink. Kittens are born all brown, though some may exhibit ghost tabby markings that fade as they age. The coat is bred to be a rich, warm red-brown over a black brown, and should be short in length. The head of the Havana should be longer than it is wide, narrowing to a rounded muzzle with a well-developed chin. Ears should be large and round tipped, tilted forward to give the appearance of alertness. The eyes should be aperture oval shaped, medium in size and set wide apart. They should be brilliant and alert, expressive and in any shade of green; the deeper the better. The torso should be medium in length, firm and muscular, with balance and proportion over size. They should stand relatively high on the legs, and the legs should be straight. Females should have thin and dainty legs, while males should be more muscular. Paws are oval and compact.

Havana Brown Temperament

Havana Browns have a charming and playful manner. Their voice is soft and intimate and they are known for reaching out and touching you to catch your attention as you pass by. They are very touchy, using their paws to investigate everything and express both love and affection for their owners. Very people oriented, they are a breed that will demand attention when it is desired and adapt well to most situations.

Havana Brown Care

Care for the Havana Brown is very minimal. They have no special needs.

Havana Brown History

The Havana Brown is a hybrid or man-made breed and is the result of carefully planned breeding with a specific outcome in the mind of the breeders. First, however, it must be explained that solid brown Siamese have been noted since the 1800's and are naturally occurring. Breeding of these was discouraged in the 1920's and banned from show. They subsequently faded from the mind and eye of the cat fancy world, only making a comeback in the 1950's when a handful of breeders decided that this naturally occurring beauty deserved some love and began a program using Siamese, Domestic (American) Shorthairs, and Russian Blues to produce a solid-colored cat of mahogany. They choose to breed more towards the chocolate color of the Siamese than the sable color of the Burmese. The first kitten was registered in 1952. This kitten was produced through the mating of a seal point Siamese and a solid black domestic, both of whom carried the chocolate gene; she became the foundation of the breed. The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy accepted the breed in 1958, and they were recognized a year later by the CFA and given Championship status in 1964. There are two stories concerning the name. The first is that the breed was named for the rabbit breed of the same color. The second says that they were named after the cigars as their color is the same as that of the tobacco.