History:
Brown cats have been known for centuries. Their origins were probably from South East Asia as a branch of the Royal Cats of Siam.  They first arrived in Britain in the 19th century along with the importation of the Siamese.
 They were described as “Siamese with coats of burnished chestnut with greeny-blue eyes.” The self-brown Siamese, sometimes called Swiss Mountain Cat, lost favor and the breed was abandoned after the 1920s when the Siamese Cat Club of Britain issued a statement, “The club much regrets it is unable to encourage the breeding of any but blue-eyed Siamese.” Adastra, a self-brown Siamese that lived in 1923 is reputed to have been the ancestor of many chocolate pointed Siamese from which the modern Havana Brown may have been recreated.

Cat color genetics was in the process of being described in the early 1950’s. As part of this effort, a series of elegant breeding experiments was conducted and published by the Baroness von Ullmann of Roofspringer Cattery and Armitage Hargreaves of Laurentide Cattery. These described the color genetics for self brown and its dilute, lavender, and used the name Havana Brown for the first time. Other dedicated English breeders conducting similar experiments were Mrs. Munroe-Smith of Elmtower Cattery, Mrs. Elsie Fisher of Phraha Cattery, and Mrs. Joan Judd of Crossways Cattery. It is believed that the first chestnut brown kitten produced was Praha Gypka. The cats used in these breedings to create self brown were a black domestic carrying the brown recessive gene and a seal or chocolate point Siamese. As the breed was undergoing further development, an occasional Russian Blue was also used.

However, it should be noted that the year before this designed breeding produced a Havana Brown, one was accidentally bred by Mrs. Munroe-Smith who mated a black shorthair, Elmtower Susannah, and a seal point Siamese, Elmtower Tombee. A male self-chocolate was produced, Elmtower Bronze Idol, the first Havana Brown to be registered in England, and the forerunner of our present day breed. Susannah’s sire was a black domestic named Pickles, and her dam was a seal point Siamese, Tsiu Chow. Of note, is the fact that
Tombee’s dam was also Tsiu Chow; and his sire was Parkhill Triton.

Appearance:
What makes a Havana Brown unique? The first thing an admirer notices is the cat’s glistening mahogany-toned brown coat. Their other incomparable feature is the distinctive head that is slightly longer than it is wide. When viewed in profile, the prominent, broad nose has a definite stop at the eyes. A pronounced whisker break combined with the strong square chin forms a somewhat rounded muzzle, which appears to be a protrusion of the head, sometimes referred to as a corn cob or the end of a light bulb. There is a pronounced break in the bone structure that can be felt when grasping the muzzle with the fingertips. It is unmistakable and no Havana Brown is ever without it!

The eyes of the Havana Brown are green in color, large, oval in shape, expressive, and positioned lower on the head than those of most other breeds. This gives the appearance of a cat looking down its nose. The resulting high forehead accentuates large, round-tipped ears, which are tilted slightly forward, lending an alert appearance.

Picking up a Havana Brown for the first time can be a surprising experience, as this lithe-looking cat actually ighs more than it appears. Its medium-sized body must be firm and muscular, exhibiting a sense of power, yet also showing definite elegance and gracefulness.  Males tend to be larger than their female counterparts, usually weighing around eight to ten pounds, while the females average six to eight.

Kittens are born brown, all brown. Ghost tabby markings are allowed in kittens, however the ideal is a solid color coat free of any markings whatsoever. Whiskers must be brown to complement the coat color.

The Havana Brown has a charming, pixieish manner and a soft, intimate voice. Unlike other breeds, which characteristically use their noses to investigate curiosities, the Havana Brown leads with its paws, touching and feeling. They often extend a paw as a means of contact or attempt to gain the attention of passersby. A people oriented breed, these cats quietly demand human companionship.

Temperment:
This is the perfect cat for the person who wants a sociable, affectionate and intelligent feline friend. A cat as sweet in appearance and color as…chocolate.

Personality:
The Havana Brown has not only a unique appearance, with it's rich mahogany brown coat and brilliant green eyes, but also a truly unique personality. I refer to Havana Browns as the puppies of the cat fancy.  This breed is outgoing and playful and they love to follow you everywhere you go. While most cats scatter at the sound of a sudden crash, Havanas run toward the sound to see what caused it. Even after they are several years old they still enjoy a good round of tag, and they will play with a simple toy just like kittens.  Havanas also like to make biting marks in paper or cardboard, so you must be careful not to leave important documents or photos lying around.

The only thing they seem to take seriously is eating.  If you have other breeds of cats, you may have to feed them seperately. Havanas will eat all of their own food in seconds and then proceed to eat any other cat's food if they can.

WHERE IS THE BREED TODAY?
It is estimated that there are fewer than 1000 Havana Browns alive today, under 130 unaltered Havanas, and only approximately 12 active CFA catteries.

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