HAVANA BROWN: PLAYFUL CAT WITH BURNISHED MAHOGANY COAT

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By valeriebelew

GREEN EYED MAHOGANY BEAUTIES

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HAVANA BROWN

The Havana Brown is a well balanced breed, somewhere between the high activity of the Siamese and the complacency of the Persian. These are playful cats that love to play hide and seek and be near their humans. According to J. Anne Helgren (Cat Fancy: December 2005), Havana Browns may actually become depressed if they are ignored. She advises those who work all day and have an active nightlife, to select another breed.

APPEARANCE

Bruce Fogle, DVM (Catalog), reports that the standard for this shade of brown tends towards red brown, or mahogany, with dark sable-type brown being a serious fault. The cat has a long head that narrows to a slim muzzle, with a pinch just behind the whisker pads. The muzzle has an almost squared appearance in profile, due to the cat's strong chin. The ears are lare and have rounded tips that are set wide apart, but not flaring. They have little hair in or outside of them.

The oval eyes are of medium size, and set wide apart. These brilliant, expressive eyes should be a vivid and level shade of green; however, the deeper the color, the better. The CFA breed standard also calls for brown whiskers to complement the mahogany color of the coat. Helgren reports that the Havana Brown is the only cat breed that actually specifies a whisker color. The body shape is somewhere in-between cobby and svelte, with good muscle tone. Havanas stand tall on straight thin legs (Helgren, Cat Fancy).  They weigh from 6 to 10 pounds (2.5-4.5 kg).

BREED HISTORY

British cat breeders developed a solid chocolate of Siamese type cat around 1950. While the color was called Havana, the breed was actually registered as Chestnut Brown Foreign, at the time in Britain. After the cats were exported to the United States, breed development produced Quinn's Brown Satin of Sidlo, and it is now found in the background of all North American Havana Browns. Until 1973, Chestnut Brown Foreigns continued to be imported into America and registered as Havana Browns, but when CFA accepted the Oriental Shorthair breed, these imports were registered in that name. There is some confusion, because the Oriental Shorthair color called Chestnut in North America, is now called Havana in Britain (Fogle, Catalog).

CARE AND TEMPERAMENT

The Havana Brown requires little grooming. It is a gregarious, active cat, yet quiet. It is a very affectionate cat, requiring attention, thus is not a good choice for people who are seldom home.

Comments

Mentalist acer profile image

Mentalist acer Level 6 Commenter 24 months ago

We had a Havanna Brown and along with my three brothers while growing up gave him more attention than he wanted... treating him more or less like a dog.The kittiy valiently defended himself from our roughhousing,by the way his name was Shaft.

valeriebelew profile image

valeriebelew Hub Author 24 months ago

Well, my sources said they needed attention, so I guess he got his share. Kids do often overdo it with pets, but in our case, my great nephew kept wrestling with Ginger, my Golden Retriever, when she was a little puppy, and he always won, but she grew faster than he did, and the day came when she'd go running towards and jump up on him, knocking him down and scaring him to death. I finally had to keep her away from him in fear she might hurt him by accident, thinking she was playing with him. Goldens are strong and playful. Thanks for commenting on my site. (: v

epigramman profile image

epigramman 24 months ago

Little Miss Tiffy and Mister Gabriel say hello.

They think they're the only cats in this world - but I keep telling them - they're are others - and presented with much love and interest in your hubs!

valeriebelew profile image

valeriebelew Hub Author 24 months ago

Hello Mr. epigramman. I kinda figured you'd find your way to this one. Tell Miss Tiffy and Mister Gabriel hello, from the four of us, myself, Fluffy, the white cat from hell, Ms. Frances, the Himalayan Persian who is pretty and knows it, and Michael, her love child because she mated with a stray, and I have no idea who he was. PS. Ms. Frances was spayed shortly afterwards, but still flirts with Fluffy who is also fixed. Thanks for dropping in. (: v

Garnetbird 24 months ago

Wouldn't this cat's coat color make a wonderful chocolate brunette shade for hair colorists? It looks so rich and warm. NICE work, Valerie!

valeriebelew profile image

valeriebelew Hub Author 24 months ago

Yeah, garnetbird, it would be sort of like a bronzing effect, very rich, indeed. Maybe I should show this to my friend and fan, Hair. Thanks for dropping in. (: v

Lady Guinevere profile image

Lady Guinevere Level 6 Commenter 23 months ago

Beautiful cat. I could never work in a shelter. I would want to take all of them home!!

valeriebelew profile image

valeriebelew Hub Author 23 months ago

I know I couldn't work in a shelter. When Sambo was in there I almost went broke buying dogs treats. I'd also take everybody home before they could get euthanized. Bad job choice for people like us. Thanks for commenting on my sites. You must have found my cat breed site. (: v

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