The Havana Cat – A Cat Like Tobacco And Coffee
Their elegance, green eyes and a short, smooth, red-brown fur are the characteristic features of the Havana cat. However, those are not the only features.
The Havana -cat is intelligent, loving and gentle and loves to play with their human family members.
Caribbean name and English origin
The name can be misleading as it has its origins in England and not from the Caribbean island of Cuba. It was called the Havana cat because its color is reminiscent of Havana cigarettes.
Not only does the tobacco resemble this kitten’s brown fur, it is also reminiscent of chocolate and coffee. In any case, we are dealing with a very beautiful animal that comes from a cross bred by English breeders in the middle of the last century.
For the breeding of Havana cats, Siamese cats were crossed with Chocolate Point and Seal Point, European Shorthair and Russian Blue. Soon the breed was recognized in the UK and brought across the Atlantic for introduction into the US.
Currently, breed standards for the Havana cat differ in the UK and North America. The former tend to have a more oriental aspect of this kitten, while the latter prefer features that are closer to the Russian Blue.
The appearance of the Havana cat
In addition to the typical chocolate color, no other color is allowed in the breed standard of this cat. Other characteristics of the Havana cat are:
- Body: muscular and flexible.
- Size: medium.
- Weight: between 2.5 and 5 kilograms; Hangovers are bigger than cats.
- Head: longer than wide (wedge-shaped) with a strong and rather broad jaw.
- Eyes: oval and set wide apart in green and with an intelligent and mischievous appearance.
- Ears: large, broad base and triangular shape, rounded at the tip. You stand up straight, wide apart, and lean a little forward, which looks very alert. The ears are pink inside.
- Nose: short and angled.
- Neck: muscular, long and cylindrical.
- Legs: strong and straight. The hind legs are longer than the front legs.
- Tail: long and thinner towards the tip.
- Fur: short and dense, with a mahogany sheen.
Affectionate and active at the same time
Havana cats are curious, happy and playful because they are always looking for attention and activity. If they don’t get it, you will find that they are being asked for it.
Havana cats easily adapt to different situations. Although they are very active, they can also be kept as indoor cats with the right activity.
As an open and self-confident cat, she particularly often attaches herself to one of the human members of the family: will you be the lucky one?
Caring for the Havana cat
This breed is usually healthy and strong, and has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. Nevertheless, she can suffer from the following ailments:
- Cold (protect from cold, drafts and too much moisture)
- Lung or breathing difficulties
- Endoparasites
Nevertheless, weekly brushing is sufficient to care for the short and shiny coat. You should ensure that you exercise daily so that the cat can exercise its muscles and satisfy its playful instinct.
