Havana Brown

The Havana Brown is a beautiful cat with a warm, chocolate-colored coat and a distinctive head shape. Despite its name, the breed was developed in England in the 1950s. It was also the first breed of cat to bear a name describing its coat color.

Physical Characteristics

The Havana Brown is a medium-sized cat with oval-shaped green eyes, large ears, and a distinctive muzzle. Most commonly recognized for its rich brown coat, which is smooth and gleaming, the Havana Brown is also endowed with strong muscles.

Personality and Temperament

The Havana has steadily gained in popularity not only because of its color, but due to its lovable personality. Intelligent and disciplined, it desires human interaction. In fact, it will remain by a person’s side, trying to participate in whatever they are doing, and if denied, will become lonesome and morose.

The Havana loves to touch and nudge with its paws; it even loves playing fetch. It is also extremely adaptable, rarely throwing tantrums.

History and Background

There are many theories as to how this breed acquired its name, including the theory that it came from the color of Havana cigars. One thing is certain, however, this all-brown cat did not originate in Cuba. Instead, it was established with the birth of Elmtower Bronze Idol, a self-brown cat, in 1952. Often recognized as the progenitor of the modern breed, Elmtower was a result of a breeding program crossing Siamese, domestic shorthairs, and Russian Blues.

In 1958, further acclaim was bestowed upon the Havana Brown when it gained admission into a Championship competition run by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. The Havana Brown was granted full Championship status by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1964, and now has Championship status in all major cat associations, though it is just called the "Havana" in The International Cat Association and the Cat Fanciers’ Federation.

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