About This Breed
The Havana Brown is a beautiful cat with a warm, chocolate-colored coat and a distinctive head shape. Often thought to be of Cuban descent, it is actually an English cat breed.
Physical Characteristics
The Havana Brown is a muscular medium-sized cat with a distinctive muzzle that has been described to resemble the base of a light bulb or the end of a corn cob. Its head is wedge-shaped with large round-tipped ears that stand erect; its eyes, meanwhile, are big and green.
COLOR(S)
As its name implies the Havana Brown is colored brown from the whiskers to the feet.
COAT
Short to medium, with little hair on its ears.
Personality and Temperament
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Medium to High
POSITIVES
The Havana Brown is playful and affectionate cat that enjoys being in a lap.
Care
The Havana Brown is your typical self-grooming cat – only requiring the occasional bath and brush.
Health
The Havana brown is no more prone to a condition than any other cat breed.
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.