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Havana Cats for Adoption in Chicago, IL

Your guide to finding and caring for a Havana in Chicago

A Havana suits a Chicago apartment well, since it wants company more than space. In a Lincoln Square two-flat or a Portage Park bungalow, it'll follow you from room to room and supervise whatever you're cooking. A window perch over the street gives that curious brown cat plenty to watch. Havanas are rare, so many of the brown shorthairs you meet here are mixes, and that's fine. Plan on being home part of the day, because a bored Havana will let you know.

2798 cats similar to Havana available in Chicago and nationwide

Give a Havana Brown a home

Havanas and Similar Breeds Available for Adoption Near Chicago

About the Havana breed

The Havana, also called the Havana Brown, was developed in Britain in the 1950s by pairing chocolate-carrying Siamese cats with black domestic shorthairs. The result is 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. Lifespan is commonly 10 to 15 years.

Havanas are curious, people-focused cats that like to be involved in whatever the household is doing, often patting things with a paw. Many chat in a softer voice than a Siamese. The short coat is low-maintenance. The breed is rare, so in Chicago you're more likely to meet brown shorthairs or Havana mixes than a registered Havana, and each cat's personality matters more than the label.

Weight
6–10 lbs
Height
9–11 in
Lifespan
10–15 yrs
Temperament
Social, Curious, Affectionate, Playful
Shedding
Low

Owning a Havana in Chicago

Having a Havana in Chicago

Havanas pair a sleek, easy-care coat with a strong wish to be part of family life. In Chicago, how that sociability, curiosity and soft chatter fit your daily schedule matters more for a good match than the chocolate color.

Temperament

Havanas are often affectionate, interactive cats that follow people from room to room and greet visitors with interest instead of hiding. Many get along with considerate children and calm dogs. Because they're so people-oriented, some get lonely during long workdays. Each cat is different, so a cat's own behavior tells you more than the breed label.

Exercise Needs

Most Havanas are moderately active and enjoy daily play with wand toys, balls and anything they can bat with a paw. In a Chicago apartment, a window perch, a cat tree and puzzle feeders keep a curious mind busy. Two or three short play sessions a day usually work better than one long one.

Health Considerations

Havanas have no well-documented breed-specific genetic disease, though gum inflammation may be somewhat more common. The breed's small gene pool means health records are limited, so regular dental care and yearly checkups matter. Your veterinarian can check teeth and gums at the first visit and talk through screening. Keeping a Chicago Havana indoors also avoids coyotes and winter hazards.

Living Space

A Havana adapts to a studio, a greystone flat or a house, since companionship and enrichment matter more than square footage. Window perches, a sturdy cat tree and a few hiding spots help. Many do best with someone home for part of the day or another friendly pet, because long stretches alone can bore them.

What it costs to own a Havana in Chicago

ExpenseTypical costPer 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.

Adopt a Havana in Chicago.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have cats available in and near Chicago.

Rescues and Shelters in or near Chicago

Chicago has a large shelter and rescue community, from the city's animal care center to no-kill adoption groups, and adoptable cats change often. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Chicago area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Havana is coming in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Chicago has no breed-specific rules, and Illinois law bars cities from setting them. The harder part is availability, because Havanas are rare and most brown shorthairs are mixes. Watch the cats listed on this page, save a search to hear about new arrivals, and look at similar breeds or nearby cities while you wait.

Yes, as indoor cats. A Havana's short coat has little insulation against Chicago's freezing nights and snow, so it shouldn't spend time outside in winter. Give it a warm bed, a perch away from drafts and daily play. Wipe its paws if it ever goes out near salted sidewalks.

Yes, a Havana does well in a Chicago apartment because it cares more about company than square footage. Add a window perch, a cat tree and puzzle feeders. Since it's talkative but softer than a Siamese, neighbors rarely mind. Read your lease for pet fees and any rules on the number of pets.

Only in a carrier. CTA buses and 'L' trains allow small pets inside a closed, travel-designed carrier that one person can carry and that fits under a seat. At 6 to 10 pounds, most Havanas fit a standard carrier. Keep it off seats and out of aisles, and keep the cat calm.

It can be, if you're home part of the day or can offer a second friendly pet. Havanas are social and get bored alone, which matters for long commutes. They're indoor cats here, since coyotes live throughout the city. Windows with a view of the street give them entertainment.

Very little. A Havana's short coat needs a quick weekly brushing, with a bit more during seasonal shedding. Chicago's dry heated winters and humid summers don't change that much, though nail trims and tooth care matter year-round. Grooming is minimal at home, so it's covered within the Other costs in 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 $25 to $50 a month for food and $25 to $50 a month for insurance, plus $150 to $350 a year for routine vet care. Other yearly costs, including litter, flea prevention, dental care and supplies, run about $450 to $1,150. Your total will vary with the cat's age and health.

Explore Other Breeds in Chicago

Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Chicago.