Your guide to finding and caring for a Havana in Sioux Falls
A Havana suits Sioux Falls apartment life well, as long as someone is home part of the day. These chocolate-brown cats like to be involved, so a converted loft in the Cathedral Historic District or a duplex near Whittier Park gives them plenty to supervise. Winter keeps cats inside here anyway, and a Havana will spend those months on a window perch, batting toys across the floor. The breed is rare, so brown shorthairs and Havana mixes are the likelier match.
Give a Havana Brown a home
While we don't have enough cats near Sioux Falls, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 275 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
F, 2 y., 285 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
M, 7 y., 285 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
M, 2 y., 289 miles
Bombay
F, 1 y., 293 miles
Siamese
F, 6 y., 293 miles
Siamese, Domestic Short Hair
F, 1 y., 296 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
M, 7 y., 296 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
M, 6 mo., 296 miles
Domestic Short Hair, Siamese
F, 1 y., 302 miles
Burmese, Domestic Short Hair
The Havana, called the Havana Brown by some registries, came out of 1950s Britain, where chocolate-carrying Siamese were paired with black shorthairs. The look is unmistakable: a glossy chocolate coat, brown whiskers, green eyes, big forward-tilted ears and a squared-off muzzle on a medium, muscular body of about 6 to 10 pounds.
Havanas are curious and people-focused, often reaching out a paw to investigate, and many chat in a softer voice than a Siamese. That suits a Sioux Falls household where someone is around, whether in an older duplex near Augustana or a newer townhome on the south side. The short coat sheds little and needs only light brushing. True Havanas are rare, so many adoptable cats show the brown coat and the personality without the pedigree.
Having a Havana in Sioux Falls
A Havana pairs an easy short coat with a strong wish to join in. For Sioux Falls adopters, the questions are how much company the cat will get and how to keep an indoor cat busy through long winters.
Havanas are often affectionate and interactive, following people from room to room and greeting visitors with curiosity. Many do well with considerate children and calm dogs. Because they're so people-oriented, some get lonely during long workdays, so a household with someone home part of the day or a friendly second pet fits well. Each cat's personality varies.
Most Havanas are moderately active. Two or three short play sessions a day with wand toys, balls and puzzle feeders usually keep them content, and a cat tree by a window gives them something to watch. Long Sioux Falls winters make indoor play the main outlet, so rotate toys to keep a curious Havana engaged.
Havanas have no well-documented breed-specific genetic disease, though gum inflammation may be somewhat more common. Their gene pool is small and records are limited, so regular tooth care and yearly checkups matter. A veterinarian can screen a newly adopted cat, check the teeth and weight, and help you plan a dental routine.
A Havana adapts to an apartment or a house, since company and enrichment matter more than square footage. Window perches, a cat tree and a few hiding spots go a long way, especially in a Sioux Falls winter when the cat stays inside. Long stretches alone can leave this breed bored.
| 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* | $455 to $1,175 per year | $455 to $1,175 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,205 to $2,725 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The Sioux Falls cat license, 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 Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls has a long-running humane society and foster-based rescues, and the cats they list are shown below. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Sioux Falls area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Havana is coming in.
Yes, a Havana fits Sioux Falls well if the household offers company and indoor enrichment. The short coat and medium size suit apartments and houses alike, and long winters pair nicely with a playful, people-oriented indoor cat. The main caution is long workdays alone, since many Havanas get lonely. A friendly second pet or someone home part of the day helps.
Yes. Sioux Falls has no known breed restrictions for cats, and South Dakota law bars local breed-specific rules. The practical steps are a city license and rabies vaccine once the cat is six months old. Landlords set their own pet terms, so confirm your lease allows a cat before bringing one home.
Yes, a Havana does well in a Sioux Falls apartment. Its medium size and moderate energy call for a window perch, a cat tree and daily play rather than lots of room. Havanas are social and may chatter softly, so short play sessions and regular company keep them settled. Check your building's pet terms and any cat limit first.
Yes, as indoor cats. A Havana's short coat gives little insulation against Sioux Falls wind chills, so outdoor time should be limited to moments, if any. Keep warm bedding away from drafts, add a sunny window perch, and schedule extra play on stay-in days. A Havana that stays indoors usually handles the season comfortably.
Very little. A Havana's short, low-shedding coat needs a gentle weekly brushing at most, plus occasional nail trims. Dry indoor winter air can make skin flaky, so brush softly and keep fresh water available. Professional grooming is rarely needed, and any occasional visit should fit within the yearly Other costs shown for this page.
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.
Expect roughly $25 to $50 a month for food, $25 to $50 a month for insurance, $150 to $350 a year for routine vet care, and $455 to $1,175 a year for everything else, including litter, dental care and the city license. That comes to about $1,200 to $2,700 a year, before any illness or emergency.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Sioux Falls.
