The Havana Brown — A Rare Breed with a Remarkable History

There is something very special about knowing the history behind the cats we love. For me, the story of the Havana Brown is much more than a collection of names, dates, and pedigrees. It is the story of a rare breed that nearly disappeared, was rediscovered through the determination of a small group of breeders, crossed the Atlantic, and ultimately became the extraordinary cat that captured my own heart.

The Early Brown Cats of England

The story begins much earlier than many people realize.

Solid brown cats were known in England during the late nineteenth century and were occasionally exhibited at British cat shows as far back as 1894. These beautiful brown cats attracted attention, but tastes within the cat fancy changed. By the 1920s, they had fallen out of favor with English breeders, and organized breeding of them eventually came to an end.

For a time, it seemed that the brown cat might simply become a forgotten chapter in feline history.

Then, in the early 1950s, something remarkable happened.

Five Siamese breeders in England became interested in feline color genetics and began experimenting with carefully planned breedings. Among their goals was the creation of an elegant, solid brown cat possessing the graceful foreign appearance associated with the Siamese.

From these breeding programs emerged the foundation of the breed we know today.

Early in the breed’s development, these beautiful chocolate-brown cats became known as Havanas.

The Fight for the Havana Name

When the breeders sought official recognition for their new breed in 1958, they naturally hoped that the name Havana would become its official designation.

That wasn’t what happened.

The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in Britain instead registered the breed as Chestnut Brown Foreign No. 29.

I can only imagine the disappointment those early breeders must have felt. They had devoted years to developing their beautiful brown cats and had already embraced the Havana name.

But they didn’t give up.

For the next thirteen years, breeders continued petitioning for the name they believed properly belonged to their cats.

Their persistence was finally rewarded in 1971, when the GCCF approved the official name change to Havana.

It is one of those small details in the breed’s history that I especially appreciate. The Havana did not simply appear overnight. Its identity was shaped by breeders who believed deeply enough in what they were creating to continue fighting for its recognition.

The Havana Comes to America

America’s Havana Brown story actually began before the breed had received official recognition in England.

In 1956, the first pair of Havanas were exported from England to the United States.

They came to California, where they went to Mrs. Peters of Norwood Cattery and Mrs. Elsie Quinn of Quinn Cattery. The cats were registered with The Cat Fanciers’ Association as Havana Browns.

That name would become an important distinction.

Only a small number of Havanas were exported from England during the following years. The breed was extraordinarily uncommon, and for a time Havana Browns could only be exhibited in the United States in non-championship status.

But something about these unusual brown cats caught the attention of American breeders.

A small group fell in love with them.

They began breeding and preserving the Havana Brown, and little by little the breed established itself in America.

Then, on July 1, 1964, eight years after those first cats arrived on American soil, the Havana Brown was granted CFA Championship status.

For those of us involved with Havana Browns today, there is something extraordinary about that history. The pedigrees of today’s Havana Browns lead back through generations to that small foundation population that came from England during the breed’s earliest years.

It creates an incredible sense of connection between the cats we hold in our arms today and the breeders who began this journey generations ago.

Two Different Paths

One of the most fascinating parts of Havana Brown history is what happened after the breed crossed the Atlantic.

When the five founding breeders began their experiments in England during the early 1950s, most were working toward a solid brown cat with the elegant appearance and body style associated with the Siamese.

The earliest kittens they produced, however, did not look exactly like the cats they had originally envisioned.

So selective breeding continued.

By the time the breed received recognition in Britain in 1958, the English Havana was already beginning to evolve away from the appearance of some of those earlier cats that had been exported to America.

American breeders took a different path.

Rather than following the increasingly extreme foreign type developing in England, American breeders preserved many of the characteristics seen in those earlier Havana cats.

Over time, two distinctly different interpretations emerged.

The American Havana Brown

When the English Havana and American Havana Brown are viewed side by side—especially in profile—the differences become easy to recognize.

The English Havana developed a long, straight facial profile extending from the top of the head toward the tip of the nose.

The American Havana Brown retained one of its most distinctive characteristics: a noticeable change in direction, or “stop,” around eye level.

The ears also tell part of the story.

The English Havana developed very large, pointed ears set broadly at the base, contributing to its distinctly Oriental appearance.

Our American Havana Brown has its own unmistakable expression. Its ears are large but rounded at the tips, cupped at the base and inclined slightly forward.

Body type provides another clear distinction.

The English Havana developed the long neck and tubular body associated with Siamese and Oriental Shorthair cats.

The American Havana Brown remained more moderate—a medium-sized cat with a medium neck and a beautifully balanced, muscular body.

To me, that moderation is part of the Havana Brown’s beauty.

Nothing about the cat needs to be exaggerated. The richness of the coat, expressive green eyes, distinctive muzzle, muscular body and wonderful personality combine to create a breed unlike any other.

Why Is It Called a Havana?

Even the origin of the name has a little mystery surrounding it.

Two explanations have traditionally been given.

One theory suggests that the cats were named after the Havana rabbit, a breed known for its rich brown coat.

The other—and certainly the more romantic explanation—is that the name was inspired by the warm, luxurious brown color of a fine Cuban Havana cigar.

I have always preferred the second explanation.

There is something wonderfully appropriate about associating the Havana Brown with that deep, polished mahogany color. When light catches the coat of a beautiful Havana Brown, the connection is easy to understand.

A Rare Treasure

Even today, encountering a Havana Brown can be a memorable experience.

Unlike many familiar pedigreed cats, Havana Browns have historically existed in very small numbers. That means someone can attend numerous cat shows without ever seeing one.

And perhaps that rarity makes the first encounter even more unforgettable.

I know it did for me.

I still remember attending a cat show simply as a spectator. Among all the beautiful cats being exhibited that day, there was one Havana Brown.

Just one.

And that was all it took.

I saw this beautiful, graceful, exquisitely brown cat with those remarkable green eyes and immediately knew there was something different about it.

I was completely captivated.

I remember thinking that I simply had to own one someday.

What I didn’t understand at the time was how deeply the Havana Brown would eventually become a part of my life.

I thought I was discovering a breed.

In reality, I was beginning a relationship with a breed that would capture my heart completely.

That is one of the reasons preserving the Havana Brown means so much to me today. Behind every kitten is a remarkable history—a story that stretches from those early brown cats exhibited in England more than a century ago, through the determined breeders of the 1950s, across the Atlantic to America, and through generations of breeders who refused to allow this extraordinary cat to disappear.

When I look at a Havana Brown today, I don’t simply see a beautiful brown cat.

I see living history.

I see generations of careful breeding and preservation.

And most of all, I see a rare and wonderful breed that deserves to be treasured for generations to come.