Often called the 'Chocolate Delight' of the cat world, the Havana Brown is one of the rarest pedigree breeds. Their warm mahogany coat, striking green eyes, and distinctive 'corn cob' muzzle are unlike any other breed.
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Category
- shorthair
- Lifespan
- 12–15 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 2.7–4.5 kg
- Coat
- Short, smooth, rich warm chocolate brown throughout
- Colours
- Rich warm chocolate brown only (UK); reddish-brown also accepted (US)
😺 Temperament
🏡 Best suited to
📊 Personality ratings
📜 History & origin
The Havana Brown was developed in England in the early 1950s by a group of breeders — including Baroness Von Ullmann — who set out to create a solid chocolate-brown cat. They crossed seal-point Siamese with domestic black cats and Chocolate-point Siamese. The resulting rich chestnut-brown cats were named 'Chestnut Browns' in the UK and renamed 'Havana Browns' in the US (a reference to the colour of Havana cigars and Cuban rabbits). The CFA recognised the breed in 1959. They remain one of the rarest pedigree cats in the world with a very small gene pool.
🧼 Care & grooming
The easiest possible coat to maintain — a weekly wipe with a chamois or rubber brush brings out the warm chestnut shine. Their most striking care characteristic is how they use their paws: Havana Browns pat and feel objects with their forepaws before interacting with them — a distinctive breed behaviour. They thrive on human attention and deteriorate without it. Daily interactive play keeps them mentally sharp. Their small gene pool means careful record-keeping by responsible breeders.
🩺 Health notes
A small gene pool is the breed's primary concern. Some lines have been carefully outcrossed to Oriental Shorthairs to maintain genetic diversity. Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis (urinary stones) has been noted in the breed. Dental disease should be monitored from kittenhood. Overall health is reasonable but genetic diversity is an ongoing priority for breed clubs.
