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Havana

Havana

At a Glance

A people-oriented breed, the Havana likes a lot of attention and will return it with great affection. These gentle cats are playful members of the family and always curious about everything that is happening in their home. Playful and smart, they can be a good friend to a child and get along well with other pets. Their striking mahogany coat requires very little grooming. Find out more about this breed and if the Havana is right for you and your family.

Attending a cat show

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All About Cats

Printable Breed Introduction
Breed Standard
Pet Buyer’s Guide
Havana Brown - Bud
Temperament

Playful

Breed Seminar
Height/Weight Range

Havana cats are a medium-sized cat. Males range in size from 8 to 10 pounds. Females range in size from 6 to 8 pounds.

Adult females
Adult males
Life Expectancy

8-13+ years

Colors

Havana cats can be found in two colors: rich mahogany red-brown and pinkish grey or lilac – with matching whiskers.

Similar Breeds

Opposite Breeds

About The Breed

Havanas crave lots of attention and return it with great affection. Often compared to a puppy, Havanas love to follow their families around and involve themselves in everything they do. These gentle cats are playful and curious, yet enjoy family-time, sitting in a lap and chatting to their owner in a soft voice.

Overall, this is a medium-sized semi-foreign short hair cat. Males will be larger and heavier boned than females. The head stop and muzzle break are distinctive features of the breed. The ear set should give the animal a very alert look. Animal should stand high on the legs with a level back. Cats respond to a firm but gentle hand.

View Full Breed Standard

Havana’s are highly intelligent. Challenge their brain by teaching them tricks and providing puzzle toys that reward with kibble or treats when they learn to manipulate them and Interactive toys that will ensure your focus is on them.

They get along well with children and are well suited to any home with people who will love them and give them the attention and play they desire.

TICA Regions, Clubs & Rescues

Want to connect with fellow cat lovers and those who love the same breed as you?
TICA is a large resource made up of smaller regions and clubs around the world.
Click here to find a club near you and contact information for your regional director and website.

Wherever you are, you’re in TICA’s world!®

Find a Kitten: TICA Breeders

The TICA website is the only place where you can find TICA member breeders who have signed the TICA Code of Ethics.

Find Havana
  • In Britain, the shorthaired cat called the Havana is a brown variety of the Oriental Shorthair, but the Havana in the United States is a separate breed with a different body and head type.
  • There are two stories about how the Havana got its name. One is that the cat was named after a rabbit breed of the same color, and the other is that the name is based on the fact that the cat is the same brown color as a Havana cigar.
  • Havana cats have whisker that match their coat color.

Breed Information & Characteristics

The Havana is a striking cat with a rich mahogany coat showcasing brilliantly green eyes. The short, smooth rich red-brown coat reveals the graceful lines of this elegant cat while the expressive green eyes glow with intelligence. Some believe it is named for its resemblance to the rich color of the Havana cigar, while others think the name came from Havana rabbit. These gentle cats are playful members of the family and always curious about everything that is happening in their home.

While brown cats were shown in England as early as the 1800s, a group of British cat fanciers in the early 1950s developed the rich brown cat we call the Havana. Baroness Miranda Von Ullman (Roofspringer), Mrs. Anne Hargreaves (Laurentide) and Mrs. E. Fisher (Praha) used chocolate point and seal point Siamese bred to solid black domestic shorthairs and a dash of Russian Blue to create the self-chocolate cats. The first registered Havana was Elmtower Bronze Idol whose parents were a seal point Siamese (Elmtower Tombee) and a black shorthair (Elmtower Susannah). Praha Gypka was another early chestnut brown cat – a male that came from a chocolate point Siamese bred to a black shorthair. The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) recognized the new breed in 1958 as the Chestnut Foreign Shorthair, the name was then changed to Havana in 1970.

In the mid 1950s, Mrs. Elsie Quinn (Quinn) contacted Baroness Von Ullman and imported the first Havana cats to the USA to form the foundation for the Havana Brown breed in North America. Today, there is a significant difference between the English Havanas and those seen in TICA. The English cats are more oriental in type, following a development like other colors of Foreign (or Oriental) Shorthairs, with straight profiles, flared ears and wedge-shaped heads. In TICA and North American registries, the standard reflects the type of the foundation cats and preserves the original look with the upright ears, corn cob muzzle and angular profile lines. In 1983, TICA accepted the lilac Havana for championship competition and changed the breed name from Havana Brown to Havana.

The Havana is a curious, playful, people-oriented breed. They want lots of attention and return it with great affection. Expect a paw to reach out to engage your attention when you’ve been too busy to provide the attention the Havana thinks it deserves. That paw will also be used as the Havana investigates objects that engage its curiosity. This inquisitive, intelligent cat adapts to most situations and will come running to investigate a knock at the door or a crash in the kitchen. The richly colored Havana is an ideal companion if you’re looking for an affectionate, intelligent cat who wants be part of everything you do.

The elegant Havana comes in two colors: rich mahogany red-brown and pinkish grey or lilac – with matching whiskers. Both colors provide a stunning setting for the brilliant green oval eyes sparkling with intelligence and mischief.

The richly colored, glossy coat covers a medium-sized, semi-foreign body that is heavier than expected. The body has a firm, lithe muscular structure that ripples under the lustrous brown coat with a sense of powerful grace. Males tend to be larger than the females, weighing from 8 to 10 pounds where females weigh from 6 to 8 pounds.

While the rich tobacco color of the Havana is what we first see, the head is also distinctive. The erect, forward-tilted ears convey a sense of alertness. The cat’s profile is composed of a series of straight lines that accentuate the prominent stop. The muzzle is often described as having a corn-cob look or a rolled cigar shape. This unique look is created by a pinch at the muzzle and full whisker pads that combined with the square chin create blunt rounded look to the muzzle.

Kittens are born brown or lilac but may have ghost tabby markings that will disappear when the cat reaches adulthood. These active cats retain their kittenish playfulness throughout life and will be cherished companions if you choose to share your home with one.

The Havana is a relatively healthy cat breed, but as with all cats, it is also recommended that their vaccinations and parasite treatments are kept to date and that regular veterinary appointments are scheduled.

The Havana is a relatively low maintenance cat. Their silky coat does not shed much, and only requires weekly brushing or combing.

As with all cats, keep their nails trimmed, ears cleaned and teeth brushed regularly with a vet-approved pet toothpaste and provide a nice tall scratching pole to help their natural scratching instinct.

Havana’s cats do not have any particular nutritional needs other than good, quality, dry kibble and canned food.

As with all cats, it is important to give your cat fresh, clean water daily. Fresh, clean water is best, so cats don’t hesitate to drink. If you worry about your cat drinking enough water each day, here’s a tip from cat behaviorists – place the water bowl at least three feet away from any food. Cats’ noses are sensitive and an overwhelming smell of food may cause them to drink less. If the quality of the local tap water is a concern, use bottled water or filter the water. Filtered drinking fountains can also be used in place of a water bowl.

Havana Breed Committee (3)

Name Email
Chair: Jonna Inmanjkinman@sbcglobal.net
Geri McKerliegmckerlie@yahoo.com
Doug Walshdlwelsh@me.com

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