The Havana is a cat breed that came from crossing Siamese and black domestic cats. Its main distinguishing features are a soft chocolate-brown coat, a narrow muzzle, and big ears.
Breed History
Despite its exotic name, the breed comes from England. Records of brown cats there go back to the 1800s. But Havanas weren’t bred until the 1950s. Breeders Baroness von Ullmann, Mrs. Armitage Hargreaves, and Mrs. Fisher used chocolate and seal point Siamese cats and solid black domestic shorthairs. The Russian Blue was also added to the mix, but today its genes are no longer in the Havana’s DNA.
The breed was registered in 1958. Around the same time, some of the cats were exported to the US for breeding. In England, because of genetic problems, the line began to be mixed with other breeds. As a result, the cats came in different shades and became known as Chestnut Brown Orientals. American breeders, meanwhile, bred only brown cats. That’s the breed that was named the “Havana” (the Havana Brown in the US), perhaps because the color resembles a Havana cigar, or perhaps because of its likeness to the coat of the Havana rabbit. The CFA granted the Havana Brown championship status in 1964.
Havana Brown Personality and Traits at a Glance
| Affection for family | ★★★★★ |
| Shedding | ★★★☆☆ |
| Health | ★★★★☆ |
| Playfulness | ★★★☆☆ |
| Vocality | ★★★☆☆ |
| Good with kids | ★★★★☆ |
| Friendliness toward strangers | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ease of grooming | ★★★★★ |
| Gets along with other pets | ★★★★☆ |
| Intelligence | ★★★★☆ |
Havana Brown Breed Overview
The Havana Brown is a medium-sized cat that usually weighs more than it looks. A female typically weighs about 6.5–9 lb, and an adult male about 9–11 lb.
Here’s the TICA breed standard and a detailed description:
- Head: longer than it is wide, with a prominent chin with very little fur, a distinct profile with a stop at the bridge of the nose, pronounced cheekbones, and a rounded muzzle seen from the front;
- Ears: tilted slightly forward, set wide apart, large, with rounded tips and very little fur;
- Eyes: oval and large. Color: any shade of green. The eye color can change until about one year of age;
- Body: medium-sized and well proportioned;
- Legs: long and slender, with the hind legs slightly longer than the front legs;
- Tail: slender, medium length, not wide at the base, tapering to the tip;
- Coat: short, smooth, and glossy, a bit fluffier in lilac cats.
Personality
For a Havana, human company is a must. These cats get along well with small children and other animals. They’re moderately active and playful and love to talk, but their voices are gentle and even flirtatious.
The Havana loves heights and tries to follow you around the house along its highest points. People have noticed that Havana cats use their paws a lot: touching interesting things and reaching out to their owner.
Long periods alone can make them depressed and sick. So these cats aren’t recommended if you’re away from home a lot.
Care and Health
From the Siamese, the Havana inherited a tendency toward some health problems. These include gingivitis (gum inflammation), upper respiratory infections, kidney failure, and cardiomyopathy. But that doesn’t mean these cats are sickly. They live 15 years on average.
Caring for a Havana comes down to a few standard routines: weekly brushing, ear cleaning, and occasional baths. Because of their inherited tendency toward dental problems, Havanas need their teeth brushed regularly.
Feed these cats a quality food twice a day. Young cats (up to 1.5 years) can be fed 3 times a day, and kittens and pregnant females 4 times a day.
Color
The photos below show what a Havana Brown looks like.
The Havana comes in two colors: a rich mahogany red-brown (brown) and a pinkish-gray or lilac (lilac is accepted by TICA; the CFA accepts brown only). The coat color is very rich and warm. The brown has more of a reddish tone than a near-black one. The whiskers always match the coat, and the nose leather and paw pads are pinkish-brown. There’s no obvious pattern. Havana kittens may be born with faint markings, but by one year they become solid-colored.
How Much Does a Havana Brown Cost?
How much will a Havana kitten cost you? Just imagine: the USA-type Havana Brown is considered an endangered breed, with only about 15 catteries in the world as of 2024, most of them in North America. In the US, a pet-quality Havana Brown kitten from a registered breeder usually costs about $600–$1,500, and show-quality kittens cost $1,500–$2,500 or more. Be ready to wait months for a kitten.
Where to Buy a Havana Brown in the US
Havana catteries are hard to find, even in the US. You may come across a Havana in classified ads, but then check reviews of the seller. The kitten should have a confirmed pedigree and vet records. Since a brown mixed-breed cat can look similar, always ask for CFA or TICA registration papers.
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
- IndyKats (central Indiana; CFA; breeding Havana Browns since 1993);
- Kaffee Katze (northeastern Indiana; CFA; show-quality Havana Browns).
If you can’t find a Havana, take a look at a related breed with the same chocolate coat, the chestnut Oriental.
