Your guide to finding and caring for a Havana in Birmingham
A Havana fits Birmingham's apartment neighborhoods well, since it cares more about company than floor space. In Highland Park, where older apartment buildings sit beside newer condos, a cat tree by a tall window gives a curious Havana plenty to watch. These cats follow their people from room to room and chat in a soft voice, so they do best when someone is home for part of the day. Because the breed is rare, brown shorthaired cats and Havana mixes are what many adopters meet.
Give a Havana Brown a home
M, 0-6 mo., 377 miles
Siamese
M, 3-7 y., 378 miles
American Shorthair, Siamese
F, 4 mo., 379 miles
Siamese
M, 3 mo., 382 miles
Siamese
M, 3-7 y., 382 miles
Siamese
F, 2 y., 385 miles
Siamese
M, 3 mo., 385 miles
Siamese, Domestic Short Hair
F, 6 y., 385 miles
Siamese
F, 4 mo., 385 miles
Siamese, Domestic Short Hair
M, 2 y., 387 miles
Siamese, Domestic Short Hair
The Havana, called the Havana Brown by some registries, took shape in Britain in the 1950s from chocolate-carrying Siamese cats and black domestic shorthairs. It's known for a glossy chocolate coat, brown whiskers, green eyes, large forward-tilted ears and a squared-off muzzle, on a medium, muscular body of roughly 6 to 10 pounds.
Havanas are curious and people-focused, and many talk in a softer voice than a Siamese. That makes them good company in a Birmingham apartment, though they're happiest when someone is around. The breed is genuinely rare, so adopters may meet brown shorthaired cats or Havana mixes instead. Personality varies from cat to cat, and a mix may share only some of these traits.
Having a Havana in Birmingham
A Havana usually pairs an easy-care short coat with a strong wish to be included. Daily play, company and a safe indoor routine matter more to a good match than the striking chocolate color, especially in Birmingham's warm, stormy climate.
Many Havanas are affectionate, curious and playful, following people around the home and greeting guests with interest. They often get along with considerate children and calm dogs. Because they're so people-oriented, some get lonely during long workdays. Each cat's personality varies, and a Havana mix may be more or less social than the breed description suggests.
Plan on two or three short play sessions a day with wand toys, balls or a puzzle feeder, since Havanas are moderately active and love batting things around. In Birmingham, hot summers and spring storms make indoor play the dependable choice. Add a tall cat tree or window perch for climbing and watching.
No breed-specific genetic disease is well documented, but gum inflammation may be somewhat more common, so tooth brushing and dental checkups are worth planning for. Birmingham's long warm season and heavy rainfall favor fleas, so year-round parasite prevention makes sense. A veterinarian can check teeth, weight and overall health at the first visit.
A Havana adapts well to Birmingham apartments and houses alike, because company and enrichment matter more than square footage. Give it window perches, a cat tree and a few hiding spots. Many do best with someone home part of the day or another friendly pet, and indoor living keeps them clear of coyotes and snakes.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,200 to $2,700 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, flea prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and other supplies, and minimal home grooming for the short coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Birmingham.
Birmingham's shelters and rescues take in many cats and kittens, and their current listings appear below. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Birmingham area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Havana is coming in.
Yes. Birmingham has no known breed-specific rule for cats, so a Havana is treated like any other cat. You'll need a rabies vaccine by three months under Alabama law and a city license from four months. The breed is rare, so watch the listings on this page, where brown shorthaired cats and Havana mixes may also appear.
Yes. A medium-sized Havana does well in Birmingham apartments, including the older buildings in Southside and Highland Park, as long as it gets daily play, window perches and company. Many get lonely when left alone all day. Confirm the building's pet policy and any pet deposit in writing before you sign a lease.
Yes, indoors. Birmingham summers are long, humid and hot, with many days at 90°F or higher, so a Havana should stay in air conditioning with plenty of fresh water. Its short coat sheds heat reasonably well, but it shouldn't be left in a parked car or on a hot porch, even briefly.
Not on standard MAX buses, which generally don't allow pets other than service animals. MAX On-Demand, a $1.50 shared ride in set zones, lets non-service pets ride in an airline-approved carrier. Birmingham has no rail system, so a carrier and a ride share or car are the practical options for vet visits.
A weekly brushing is usually enough for a Havana's short, low-shedding coat, even in Birmingham's humidity. Add regular nail trims and tooth brushing, since gum trouble can be more common in the breed. Home grooming costs little and is part of the $450 to $1,150 yearly Other estimate, alongside litter, dental care and flea prevention.
Almost certainly not. Alabama's outdoor-dining rule lets participating restaurants welcome dogs on patios, and it doesn't extend to cats, while dining rooms generally don't admit pets. A Havana is also happier at home with a window perch than at a noisy patio, so plan on leaving your cat there.
A Havana cat, also called the Havana Brown, is a rare shorthaired breed developed in Britain in the 1950s from Siamese and black domestic cats. It is recognized by its rich chocolate-brown coat, brown whiskers, green eyes and distinctive muzzle. Havanas tend to be social, curious and people-focused, and few are available, so brown shorthaired mixes are more common in shelters.
Plan on roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for a Havana in Birmingham. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and other costs of $450 to $1,150 a year, including litter, dental care and flea prevention. Your actual total will vary with your cat's needs.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Birmingham.
