Your guide to finding and caring for a Havana in Seattle
Havanas suit Seattle's apartment-heavy neighborhoods well, since they want company more than square footage. In a Wallingford bungalow or a Capitol Hill mid-rise, a Havana will follow you from room to room and bat at whatever you're doing. Rain keeps most Seattle cats indoors anyway, which suits a curious cat that needs window perches and play. The breed itself is rare, so many adopters here meet brown shorthairs or Havana mixes instead. Expect a chatty, social cat that doesn't love long, empty days.
Give a Havana Brown a home
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Siamese
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Siamese
The Havana, also called the Havana Brown, was developed in Britain in the 1950s by pairing chocolate-carrying Siamese cats with black domestic shorthairs. It's a medium, muscular cat of about 6 to 10 pounds, with a glossy chocolate coat, brown whiskers, green eyes and large, forward-tilted ears. The short coat sheds little and needs only an occasional brushing.
Havanas are curious, people-focused cats that like to join in, often patting things with a paw, and many chat in a softer voice than a Siamese. That makes them a good match for Seattle households where someone is home part of the day. Registered Havanas are very rare, so most adopters will meet brown shorthairs or mixes, and each cat's personality can differ from the breed description.
Having a Havana in Seattle
In Seattle, a Havana's sociable, curious nature matters more than its chocolate coat. Rainy days mean more time indoors, so this cat does best with play, perches and company, and its short coat keeps upkeep simple.
Havanas are often affectionate and interactive, greeting visitors with interest and following people around the apartment. Many get along with calm dogs and considerate children. Some get lonely during long workdays, so a Seattle household with someone home part of the day, or a friendly second pet, tends to suit them. Personalities still vary from cat to cat.
Most Havanas are moderately active and enjoy wand toys, puzzle feeders and climbing perches. Two or three short play sessions a day usually work better than one long one. On Seattle's many drizzly days, a cat tree by a window and a quick game of fetch keep a curious Havana busy indoors.
Havanas have no well-documented breed-specific genetic disease, though gum inflammation may be somewhat more common. The breed's small gene pool means records are limited, so yearly checkups and regular dental care matter. A veterinarian can check the teeth and gums and discuss screening for any adopted cat, whatever its breed mix.
A Havana adapts well to Seattle apartments, since attention and enrichment matter more than square footage. Window perches, a sturdy cat tree and a few hiding spots go a long way in a condo or bungalow. Keeping a Havana indoors also helps in a city where coyotes live in many neighborhoods.
| 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* | $480 to $1,180 per year | $480 to $1,180 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,230 to $2,730 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, the $30 Seattle license for an altered cat, 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 Seattle.
Seattle has a mix of city and nonprofit shelters and rescues, and the ones below list cats for adoption. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Seattle area with cats available for adoption, worth asking whether a Havana is coming in.
Yes, you can. Seattle has no breed bans, and Washington law limits them statewide. You'll need a city cat license, and a household can have up to three dogs and cats combined on a typical lot. Registered Havanas are rare, so watch the listings on this page, where brown shorthairs and Havana mixes may also appear.
Often, yes. A Havana is social and curious, which suits Seattle households where someone is home part of the day, and its short coat copes well with damp weather indoors. It may struggle with long, empty workdays. Each cat differs, so look at a cat's own personality, not just its breed.
Yes. Havanas do well in apartments because companionship and enrichment matter more than space. Give a Havana window perches, a cat tree, puzzle feeders and daily wand-toy play. Seattle rents often come with pet rules, so confirm any pet deposit or pet rent in writing before you adopt.
Yes, as indoor cats. Seattle winters are cool and damp rather than frozen, with lows near 38°F, and a Havana's short coat appreciates a warm bed by a sunny window. Keep antifreeze and ice-melt away from curious paws, and keep supplies handy for the occasional snow day or windstorm power outage.
Yes, in a carrier. King County Metro requires pets other than dogs to ride in a carrier, with no fare. Sound Transit also allows pets carried in small containers, and the King County Water Taxi asks that cats stay in an enclosed carrier. A carrier your Havana is used to makes trips calmer.
Not often. A Havana's short, low-shedding coat needs a quick weekly brushing, and a bath is rarely necessary. Seattle's damp weather mostly matters if your cat gets outside, so wipe off wet paws. Home grooming costs little, so it's covered 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.
Plan on roughly $1,230 to $2,730 a year for a Havana in Seattle. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care of $150 to $350, and $480 to $1,180 in other costs, including the city license, litter and dental care.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Seattle.
