Havana Brown at a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 3.6–6.4 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one cat. Not assessed yet: Indoors and outdoors, Time alone, Owner experience.
Is the Havana Brown right for you?
Like every breed, the Havana Brown is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:
May suit you if…
- You have children and can supervise them with the cat.
- You have, or would like, another cat.
- You have a calm, cat-friendly dog and can introduce them slowly.
- You would enjoy an active, playful cat and have time to play every day.
Consider another breed if…
- You would find a loud, talkative cat hard to live with.
- You would like a calm, laid-back cat.
How would the Havana Brown fit your lifestyle?
Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.
About the Havana Brown
The Havana is a self brown cat with green eyes and a short, glossy coat. In the UK it is not a separate breed: the GCCF registers it as the brown (chocolate) colour of the Oriental, a long, slender, Siamese-type cat. In North America the name Havana Brown, now simply Havana with TICA, belongs to a separate breed with a different body and head type. This guide focuses on the UK Havana and notes where the North American cat differs. Like other Orientals, Havanas are usually lively, talkative, intelligent and very attached to their people.
Key characteristics
General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual cat.
- Size
Medium
A mid-sized cat.
- Coat length
Short
A short coat.
- Activity level
Very active
Very active; needs plenty of play and things to climb.
- Grooming
Minimal
An occasional brush is usually enough.
- Shedding
Low
Tends to shed little, though every cat sheds some hair.
- Vocal
Very talkative
Often very talkative, with a voice that carries.
- Good with children
Often good
Often good with children, with supervision.
- Good with other cats
Usually sociable
Usually enjoys the company of other cats.
- Good with dogs
Often fine
Often gets on with a cat-friendly dog.
- Suits first-time owners
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Time alone
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Indoors and outdoors
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
The Havana was developed in Britain from 1951, when Baroness von Ullmann and Mrs Hargreaves set out to breed a self chocolate cat of "foreign" type. Early matings used chocolate point and seal point Siamese, black shorthairs and Russian Blues. The first of today's Havanas, a male named Elmtower Bronze Idol, was born in 1952. The GCCF recognised the variety in 1958 under the name Chestnut Brown Foreign, and changed it to Havana in 1970. The name is said to come either from a rabbit breed of the same colour or from the colour of Havana cigars.
Havanas were the first of the Oriental group of cats; lilacs, whites and many other colours followed. Some early cats exported to the USA were fairly cobby, and American breeders kept that type, which is why the North American Havana looks different from the UK cat. In the early 1960s a front-foot deformity known as "split-hand" was found in some early lines, and interest in the variety dropped for a time.
Havana Brown temperament
Like all Orientals, Havanas are typically lively, intelligent and sociable cats that love to play. Many fetch toys tirelessly, and they tend to stay kitten-like all their lives. They are inquisitive, confident jumpers, so no cupboard or high shelf is safe.
Many are talkative and like to tell you about their day. They love attention and like to snuggle up with their companions or under the covers with you. They are not cats for people who want a quiet life, but suit people who want an interactive and devoted companion.
Size and appearance
The UK Havana has the Oriental build: a medium-sized cat with a long, svelte, well-muscled body, long slim legs, a long tapering tail and a wedge-shaped head with large ears. The GCCF gives an average Oriental Shorthair weight of 8–14 lb, about 3.6–6.4 kg.
The coat is very short, fine, glossy and close-lying, and the Havana is brown all over with green eyes. The North American Havana is a medium-sized, semi-foreign cat with a distinctive stop and muzzle. TICA gives weights of 8–10 lb for males and 6–8 lb for females, and recognises it in mahogany brown and lilac.
How active is the Havana Brown?
Orientals are athletic and built like runners or dancers. They need plenty of play: many enjoy fetch games, an empty cardboard box can amuse them for hours, and they climb and jump to high places. TICA suggests teaching tricks and offering puzzle toys that reward them with food, along with interactive toys you play with together.
Havana Brown grooming
The short, fine coat is low maintenance. TICA says weekly brushing or combing is enough for the North American Havana, whose silky coat does not shed much.
Indoors and outdoors
The sources say little about indoor or outdoor life for the Havana. The GCCF notes that Orientals love activity and company, and that an Oriental generally does not do well as an only cat.
Living with a Havana Brown
The GCCF says Orientals usually do well with children and with lots of activity and commotion. TICA describes the Havana as a playful, gentle cat that can be a good friend to a child.
Whatever the breed, young children should be supervised around cats and shown how to stroke them gently and let them walk away.
Children
Often good with children, with supervision.
Other cats
Usually enjoys the company of other cats.
Dogs
Often gets on with a cat-friendly dog.
Other cats and pets
Orientals usually do well with other cats and with dogs. Despite their fine bones they hold their own against much larger cats and dogs, often ruling the roost. They tend to be happiest with company, and the GCCF says an Oriental generally does not do well as an only cat.
Havana Brown health
Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own cat’s health.
TICA describes the North American Havana as a relatively healthy breed. The GCCF lists a few conditions linked to the Oriental family, which is closely related to the Siamese. Asking a breeder about them is a good idea; it does not mean every cat will be affected.
Flat chested kitten syndrome
The GCCF notes that this condition has been seen in Orientals; the sources do not describe it further.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
An eye problem that causes progressive blindness. Reliable DNA tests are available, and buyers should ask whether the breeder's cats have been tested and are clear.
Hepatic amyloidosis
The deposit of a substance called amyloid in the liver. An inherited (familial) form has been described in certain cat breeds, including the Oriental.
What health checks should you ask about?
Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Havana Brown home, it is reasonable to ask about:
- Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
- Veterinary and vaccination records. Kittens should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
- Microchip information. In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
- Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a kitten was raised.
How much does a Havana Brown cost to own?
There are two costs: bringing a Havana Brown home, and looking after one well. Kitten prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.
Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, litter, scratching posts and toys, and a cattery or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the cat’s life, typically 12–15 years, not just the first year.
Buying a Havana Brown
If you have decided the Havana Brown suits your life, take the same care choosing where your cat comes from. Meet the kitten in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.
- Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
- Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
- Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
- Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.
Adopting a Havana Brown
Havana Browns do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the cat. An adult cat arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.
Rescues will usually talk you through the cat’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a cat once, well.
Havana Browns looking for homes
Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.
There are no Havana Brown adverts at the moment.
Find Havana Brown adverts for sale and for adoption on Mypetzilla now.
Similar breeds you may want to consider
Oriental
Lively, intelligent, sociable, playful, talkative, inquisitive, athletic and elegant.
View breed guideCornish Rex
Sociable, affectionate, playful, intelligent, gentle, curious, adventurous and active.
View breed guide
Havana Brown FAQs
Is the Havana Brown good with children?
Often good with children, with supervision. Individual cats vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the cat you are considering.
How active is the Havana Brown?
Very active and usually keen to play. Short play sessions every day help any cat stay fit and settled.
Does the Havana Brown shed?
Tends to shed little.
How much grooming does the Havana Brown need?
Typically: minimal: an occasional brush.
Is the Havana Brown a talkative cat?
Often very talkative. Individual cats vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the cat you are considering.
Does the Havana Brown get on with other cats?
Usually enjoys the company of other cats. Introduce cats slowly, with separate food, water, litter trays and resting places.
Is the Havana Brown good with dogs?
Often gets on with a cat-friendly dog. Individual cats vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the cat you are considering.
How long does the Havana Brown live?
Typically 12–15 years. Lifespan varies with genetics, weight, care and luck.
How big does the Havana Brown get?
Adults typically weigh 3.6–6.4 kg.