Havana Brown Cat
In the 1950s, a group of cat fanciers in England arranged a mating between Siamese and domestic black cats, which resulted in the Havana Brown. Early breeders included a Siamese-type Russian Blue in their crosses. However, recent genetic research indicates that nearly none of them remain in the gene pool. Self-brown cats were presented in Europe in the 1890s, and one name given to these was the Swiss Mountain Cat. These vanished until after WWII, with the most likely cause being that the Siamese Cat Club of Britain forbade breeding. The Swiss Mountain Cat was never employed in current Havana Brown breeding efforts. They do, however, share DNA acquired from the Siamese.
The Havana Brown is a well-balanced, medium-sized, muscular short-haired cat with an average body length. Sterilized animals tend to grow bigger and more fat. In comparison to other short-hair cat breeds, they are a reasonably active breed. The coat must be a warm brown, often reddish-brown, with no visible tabby markings (note that kittens will always show markings, but they resolve as the cat ages and dissolve completely by one year). The whiskers must likewise be brown, and the eyes must be green. The head should be somewhat longer than broad, but never seem wedge-shaped. In profile, the nose/muzzle should come to a halt and shift direction at the eyes.
Paw pads must be pink or rose in hue and never black. Ears are typically medium in size. A Havana Brown should be beautiful and reasonable, with no excessive traits. Males are bigger than females and have an average weight when compared to other breeds.
