|
 An advertisement
for a show sponsored by the International Havana Brown Society
once cheekily declared that "the Havana Brown is not a cigar." But
perhaps a fine Cuban cigar inspired the name of this impish,
mahogany-colored cat. Though the name suggests the Havana Brown
hails from that island in the West Indies, it originated in
England. Today, this rare breed is now exclusive to the United
States.
Other Names
Chestnut Brown Foreign, Chestnut Oriental Shorthair
Native Country
Great Britain
Breed Description
Build: medium, quite
sturdy
Head: tapered wedge
shape, longer than it is broad
Face: standard
Ears: large and alert
Eyes: large, almond
shaped slanting towards the nose. Green in colour
Coat: short, silky and
thick. Rich brown in colour
Tail: long and
tapering
Legs: hind legs longer
than forelegs
History
Either a chestnut or lilac coat, but always green-eyed In the
early 19th century in England, a female chestnut brown cat named
Granny Grump was reported. Much later, around 1880, other cats of
the same color were successfully shown. In 1950, after these cats
had been forgotten for a half-century, Baroness Von Ulmann crossed
chocolate point Siamese cats with black European Shorthairs in an
effort to obtain a foreign-type cat with a solid chocolate coat.
She was so successful that breeders copied her. Unlike the F.I.Fe.,
the G.C.C.F. recognized the new breed in 1958 as the Chestnut
Havana or Havana Brown. Since 1971, the name Havana has been
preferred, perhaps in reference to the color of the cigar or to
the coat color of a breed of rabbit, and also after the lilac
color was accepted by some federations. Since 1960, the breed has
been highly successful in the United States, although it remains
rare in Europe. Recently, a cross between a Havana Brown and a
serval (a large, long-legged African wildcat with a spotted coat)
produced a new breed called the Savannah. It is a large, svelte
cat with a spotted coat known for its gentle nature. The first
arrived in France in 1998, and the S.C.F.F. has just recognized
the breed.
Behavior
Havanas are lively, active, and playful but not aggressive cats.
Standoffish toward strangers, they like tranquility and comfort.
Calm, affectionate, and very gentle, they adore their owner. Less
talkative than the Siamese, they also have a softer voice. In
terms of grooming, weekly brushing is sufficient for this breed. |
