Your guide to finding and caring for a Havana in Des Moines
A Havana suits an apartment in Sherman Hill, where late-Victorian houses have been split into units with big windows. Those windows give a curious cat plenty to watch, from squirrels to neighbors walking by. Havanas like to be involved in whatever you're doing, so they do best with someone home part of the day or another friendly pet. They're rare, so you'll more often meet brown shorthairs and Havana mixes. Winter is long in Des Moines, which suits a cat that's happiest indoors anyway.
Give a Havana Brown a home
While we don't have enough cats near Des Moines, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
U, 1 y., 759 miles
Siamese
F, 10 mo., 759 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
M, 4 mo., 760 miles
Siamese, Domestic Short Hair
M, 2 y., 765 miles
Siamese
F, 10 mo., 765 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
F, 10 mo., 765 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
F, 11 y., 780 miles
Siamese
F, 5 mo., 785 miles
Siamese
F, 4 y., 799 miles
Siamese
F, 3-7 y., 802 miles
Siamese
The Havana, called the Havana Brown by some registries, was developed in Britain in the 1950s by pairing chocolate-carrying Siamese cats with black domestic shorthairs. The result is a glossy, warm chocolate coat, brown whiskers, vivid green eyes, large forward-tilted ears and a squared-off muzzle on a moderate, muscular body that usually weighs 6 to 10 pounds.
Havanas are often curious, people-focused cats that follow their family from room to room and reach out a paw to investigate. Many are talkative in a softer voice than a Siamese. The short coat sheds little and needs minimal brushing. The breed is genuinely rare, so in Des Moines you're more likely to meet brown shorthaired cats or Havana mixes, and each cat's own personality matters more than a label.
Having a Havana in Des Moines
A Havana tends to pair a sleek, easy-care coat with a strong wish to be part of family life. How that curiosity and gentle chattiness fit your daily routine matters more for a good match than the striking chocolate color.
Havanas are often affectionate and interactive, greeting visitors with interest rather than hiding. Many get along with considerate children and calm dogs. Because they're so people-oriented, some get lonely during long workdays, so a Des Moines household with someone home part of the day, or a friendly companion pet, often suits them well. Personalities vary from cat to cat.
Most Havanas are moderately active and enjoy daily play with wand toys, balls and anything they can bat around. In Des Moines, where winter keeps cats indoors for months, puzzle feeders, climbing perches and short games of fetch give a curious mind steady work. Two or three short sessions a day usually satisfy better than one long one.
Havanas have no well-documented breed-specific genetic disease, though gum inflammation may be somewhat more common, possibly from Siamese ancestry. The breed's small gene pool means health records are limited, so regular dental care and yearly checkups matter. A veterinarian can check teeth, weight and general health at the first visit and suggest any screening.
A Havana can be happy in a Des Moines apartment or a bungalow with a yard it never enters, because companionship and enrichment matter more than square footage. Window perches, a sturdy cat tree and a few hiding spots help. With about two in five households renting here, apartment-sized setups are common.
| 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* | $465 to $1,165 per year | $465 to $1,165 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,215 to $2,715 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The $15 Des Moines license for a spayed or neutered cat, 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 Des Moines.
Rescues and shelters in Des Moines list cats of all coats and ages, so you can browse who's available now. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Des Moines area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Havana is coming in.
Yes, you can own a Havana in Des Moines. Cats six months and older need a city license, which costs $15 if the cat is spayed or neutered and $35 if not, plus a current rabies certificate. Des Moines has breed-specific rules, but they cover certain dogs, not Havanas or other cats.
Yes, as long as a Havana lives indoors. Winter here brings about 128 freezing nights a year and roughly 36 inches of snow, and a Havana's short, thin coat offers little protection. Give it a warm bed, a sunny window perch and daily play, and keep it inside on the coldest days.
Yes, a Havana does well in an apartment because companionship and enrichment matter more than space. About 40% of Des Moines households rent, so read your lease for pet rent and fees. Iowa caps deposits at two months' rent. Window perches and a cat tree keep a curious Havana busy.
A Havana can be a good fit if someone is home part of the day or another friendly pet keeps it company. It's happy indoors through long Des Moines winters and settles into apartments or houses. Cats vary, and a very social Havana may struggle with long solo workdays.
No. Des Moines is served by DART buses, and pets other than service animals aren't allowed on DART vehicles, with no carrier exception. If you don't have a car, plan rides to vet visits by other means, such as a ride from a friend or a pet-friendly rideshare.
Very little. A Havana's short coat needs a quick weekly brushing, a little more during seasonal shedding, plus regular nail trims and tooth care. Dry indoor heat in winter can make skin flaky, so brush gently. Grooming costs stay small and fall within the Other line of the cost table.
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.
A Havana typically costs about $1,215 to $2,715 a year in Des Moines. 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 yearly costs of $465 to $1,165, including litter and the city license.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Des Moines.
