Tag: england

Breed Profiles

Havana Brown: Chocolate Delights

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Meredith Hemphill

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Brown cat with green eyes
Havana Browns are a rare and exquisite breed – Photo by Dave Scelfo on Wikimedia Commons

The Havana Brown is a cat that cast quite a spell over a corner of the cat fancy, but it nearly went extinct in the late 20th century. Without careful maintenance, it still might, and these chocolate-coated beauties would be lost to future cat lovers.

History

Intercontinental Origins

Solid, or “self,” brown cats, while somewhat uncommon, have existed for a very, very long time. Images and descriptions of self-brown cats were included in the Tamra Maew, the Cat-Book Poems, which were written in Thailand as early as 1350 B.C. (1, 2). As a breed, however, they are a more recent development.

When the forebears of modern Siamese cats were first imported to England from Siam/Thailand, self-brown cats were included among them (2, 3). The Tamra Maew describes the Thai brown cats, named Suphalak or Thong Daeng, as copper-colored with eyes the color of pomegranates (1). The skin of Thai pomegranates is golden yellow, not red as in many other locales (1). There are records of self-brown cats being shown in English cats shows in the late 1800s (4, 5). We can imagine a cat rather like a Suphalak or a solid brown Siamese.

After a while, the self-brown cats fell out of favor. The Siamese Cat Club of Britain issued a statement in 1920, saying “the club much regrets it is unable to encourage the breeding of any but blue-eyed Siamese” (3, 4, 6). It’s thought that this caused the decline in self-brown cats. Fewer of them had blue eyes than the pointed Siamese, and those without blue eyes were excluded from shows and no longer bred (2-4, 6).

To the Brink and Back

In the 1950s, a group of British cat breeders set about to create self-brown cats and determine how the trait is inherited. There is some debate whether the first successful breeding was intentional or accidental (7), but the breeders kept meticulous records of all the matings and kittens in their programs, so we know what happened either way (6). Mrs. Munroe-Smith, owner of Elmtower Cattery, had a black Domestic Shorthair she-cat named Elmtower Susannah and a seal-point Siamese tom named Elmtower Tombee (6). Both carried the trait for chocolate fur, and when they mated–whether by human intention or not–they produced a self-brown tom kitten (2, 3, 6).

Elmtower Bronze Idol, born 1952, was the first Havana Brown to be registered, but more kittens soon followed (4-7). Although black Domestic Shorthairs and seal-point Siamese were the most common and successful contributors to the breed, chocolate-point Siamese and Russian Blues are part of their background as well (2-6). The very new breed was imported to the United States within a few years (2, 5, 6, 8). In England, Havana Browns continued to be bred back to Siamese, causing them to become less and less distinctly their own breed and eventually morph into a variety of Oriental Shorthair (3-6). In North America, the foundation type has been retained, and the Havana Brown remains a distinct breed (3-6).

Unfortunately, part of what has made that possible is a small gene pool. The Cat Fancier’s Association cut the Havana Brown off from outcrossing to other breeds in 1974, too soon according to many breeders (2, 4). Their fears were borne out as Havana Brown numbers and genetic diversity dwindled, and breeders struggled to keep the breed alive without damaging the health of the kittens they were breeding (2, 4).

Under pressure from breeders, in 1998 the Cat Fanciers’ Association opened up an out-crossing program that allows Havana Browns to be crossed to black or blue Domestic Shorthairs, most colors of Oriental Shorthair, and seal- or chocolate-point Siamese (2, 3, 9, 8). Kittens of a Havana Brown and an allowable out-cross are bred back to a Havana Brown, and the kittens thus produced can be registered as Havana Browns if they meet the standard (2, 3, 9). These efforts have so far helped bring the Havana Brown a few paces back from the brink of extinction, but they remain extremely rare, and there is still a significant risk of losing this breed for good (2).

Breed Characteristics

As I have made abundantly clear, Havana Browns are famous for their rich, brown coat. Their fur is short to medium in length, with a texture said to resemble mink (8, 9). Although all brown cats are referred to as “chocolate” in the cat fancy, Havana Browns tend toward more of a red-brown/mahogany hue (1, 2, 5, 8, 9). Brown coat color is a recessive genetic trait, which is why early breeders could only achieve brown cats when both parents carried an allele for brown coloration.

The Havana Brown’s eyes are vivid green. Although the Russian Blue is thought to have played a fairly minor role in creating the Havana Brown, it is interesting to note that while the Suphalak had amber eyes and the Siamese has blue eyes, the end result of the program has green.

Havana Browns are medium-sized cats with medium builds. They have a distinctive head shape, longer than it is wide. The muzzle appears a bit square. The shape is, amusingly, described as a “corn cob” stuck on the front of the cat’s otherwise rather triangular head (5, 7-9). I can see it, although I feel like that is not the most dignified thing one could say about a cat’s face.

A Havana Brown’s nose leather is rosy-brown, and their paw pads a.k.a toe beans are rose-toned (2, 3, 8, 9). The whiskers are also brown. In fact, the Havana Brown is the only breed wherein whisker color is part of the breed standard (3).

When it comes to personality, Havana Browns are a very kitten-ish bunch. They are playful, friendly, and people-oriented. While not a wildly active breed, they love their toys and playtime. They also love attention and spending time with their people. This is not a breed that does well spending a lot of time alone. They do, however, get along well with children and other pets. Sometimes they can be shy of strangers, though, so don’t rush the introductions.

While most cats scatter at the sound of a sudden crash, Havanas run toward the sound to see what caused it.

Richard C. Bilello, Havana Brown breeder

Havana Browns, like many breeds in the Siamese family, can be talkative, but they have much quieter voices than Siamese cats do (3, 8, 9). They also have an adorable habit of engaging the world with their paws. They investigate objects with their paws and even poke people or tap them on the shoulder to demand attention (2, 5, 8-10)! These intelligent and inquisitive cats are quite charming. Their need for attention and enthusiasm for, well, most things might be too much for some, but these cats are highly adaptable and do well with families.

Health and Home

One advantage of owning a Havana Brown is their low-maintenance coat, which needs very little grooming unless you intend to show them. They require no bathing and just need an occasional brush to remove dead hair, especially during shedding seasons. Fortunately, these cats are not heavy shedders (8, 9, 10).

Close-up of Havana cigars
Havana Brown cats may have been named after their resemblance to the brown of Cuban cigars – Image by jacqueline macou from Pixabay

Breeds that are rare and/or new have the least health information available, and the Havana Brown is a lot of the former and a little of the latter. As best as is known, it is a breed that experiences few health problems. They do seem to have a higher incidence of upper respiratory infections (3) and crystals in the urinary tract (10). Both of these conditions can be life-threatening if allowed to progress too far but are absolutely treatable. Always take your cat to the vet if they are showing any unusual symptoms. Cats hide their distress, so even a little change is worth asking the veterinarian about, just in case.

Havana Browns can be prone to overeating (4, 7). According to breeder Richard Bilello, “Havanas will eat all of their own food in seconds and then proceed to eat any other cat’s food if they can” (4). So you will probably need to control their portions and feed any other cats in the household separately.

If you would like a Havana Brown of your own, keep in mind that these are very, very rare cats. I will always say “adopt, don’t shop.” Of course, there are going to be few of these cats in shelters because there are few period. But even nearly-extinct purebred cats are sometimes surrendered, so always check if there is one up for adoption before buying from a breeder. The website https://havanabrown.rescueme.org/ showcases Havana Browns in need of forever homes in the United States. You can also visit their Facebook page for more listings.

Fun Facts

  • The Havana Brown got its name either from the Havana rabbit or the tobacco in Cuban cigars (5, 6). Both are similar in color to the cat’s fur.
  • This breed has gone by many names. Aside from those already mentioned: Swiss Mountain Cat, Chestnut Brown, Chestnut Foreign Shorthair, Havana (3-5, 7, 10).
  • In some places it is called simply the Havana because a lilac (pink-ish grey) version of the cat is accepted as well as chocolate (5, 10).
  • While North American breeders are trying to preserve the Havana Brown, the International Maew Boran Association is hard at work in Thailand trying to bring back the Suphalak (1).

Works Cited

  1. The International Maew Boran Association. (n.d.). Suphalak/Thong Daeng. http://www.timba.org/suphalak.html
  2. Petfinder. (n.d.). Havana. https://www.petfinder.com/cat-breeds/havana-brown/
  3. Cat Time. (n.d.). Havana Brown. TotallyHer Media, LLC. https://cattime.com/cat-breeds/havana-brown-cats#/slide/1
  4. Bilello, R.C. (1998). The Havana Brown: A brown delight and an endangered species. The Cat Fanciers’ Association. https://cfa.org/havana-brown/havana-brown-article-1998/
  5. The International Cat Association. (2018, August 13). Havana Brown. TICA.org. https://www.tica.org/nl/breeds/browse-all-breeds?view=article&id=842:havana-breed&catid=79
  6. Placchi, N. (1991, May). The cat in a not so plain brown wrapper. Cat Fancier’s Almanac, 8(5). As reproduced on the CFA Havana Brown Breed Council Website, http://www.havanabrowncfabc.com/History1.htm
  7. Hill’s Pet. (n.d.). Havana Brown cat: Information and personality traits. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/cat-breeds/havana-brown
  8. Cat Fanciers’ Association. (n.d.). About the Havana Brown. https://cfa.org/havana-brown/
  9. Cat Fanciers’ Association Havana Brown Breed Council. http://www.havanabrowncfabc.com/index.htm
  10. Houle, T. (n.d.). The Havana Brown. Pet Health Network. https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-breeds/havana-brown
Breed Profiles

Cornish Rex: Curly Cats Fit for a King

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Meredith Hemphill

mehshadoweye

Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

White and gray cat on blanket
Image by duodenum82 from Pixabay

Cornwall, England is said to be the birthplace of King Arthur, but it was also the birthplace of a truly unique breed of cat. The Cornish Rex was the first of the rexes, a group of cat breeds with an unusual curly or wavy coat. This foundational breed was named for its place of origin and its resemblance to Astrex or Rex rabbits, which have a similar coat. “Rex” is Latin for king. Fitting, then, that a legendary king and a kingly cat call the same place home.

History

On July 21st, 1950, a calico barn cat named Selena gave birth to a litter of five kittens. Selena’s owner, Nina Ennismore, noticed something unusual about one of the kittens. The bat-eared, cream tom had a soft, curly coat unlike anything Ennismore had ever seen before in a cat, but as a former rabbit fancier, she had seen something similar and recognized the potential. She named the unusual kitten Kallibunker and got in touch with British geneticist A. C. Jude to ask for advice. Jude suggested mating Kallibunker to Selena (known as a backcross in genetic parlance). The first litter produced one kitten with a normal coat and two with curly coats like Kallibunker.

Breeding the newly-minted Cornish Rexes with Siamese, Burmese, and British Shorthairs to widen the gene pool always resulted in cats with normal coats. It was realized that the curly-coat trait is recessive. Kittens must inherit it from both parents. A 2013 study determined that the Cornish Rex mutation is a small deletion in the lysophosphatidic acid receptor 6 (LPAR6) gene, which is important for normal hair shaft development in mammals, including humans (1). Mutations in this gene in humans cause woolly hair syndromes or hypotrichosis (short or sparse hair) (1).

Brown rabbit sitting
Rex rabbit – Image by Vicky Prince from Pixabay

A pair of Cornish Rexes from Kallibunker’s family line were exported to the United States in 1957, where Russian Blues, Havana Browns, and American Shorthairs contributed to the breed as well. The journey to the States was fortunate for the breed’s longevity, as it nearly went extinct in the United Kingdom around the same time (2, 3). The Cornish Rex has made a comeback, however, and was the sixth most popular breed in the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 2019.

Breed Characteristics

Of course, the hallmark of the Cornish Rex is that unique coat. Most cats have three types/layers of hair. On the outside are tough, protective “guard hairs,” about 2 inches or 5 centimetres long on shorthairs and 4+ inches or 10+ centimetres on longhairs (4). In the middle is the “awn hair,” and then the “down hair” or undercoat made of very fine, soft hairs about 0.4 inches or 1 centimetre long (4). Cornish Rexes only have an undercoat, and what fur they do have is wavy or curly. Even their whiskers are curly! The texture of a their coat is sometimes compared to crushed velvet, silk, or, ironically, rabbit fur. Because of the diverse background of the breed, the coat can come in any color or pattern.

The shape of a Cornish Rex is an unique as their coat. They have a slender, arched body with long, delicate legs and small paws. Their waists are small but their thighs are muscular. In fact, despite their dainty appearance, they are generally quite muscular, athletic cats. They only look fragile. They are actually a medium-sized cat, weighing about eight pounds. The tail is long, thin, and tapering. The head is perhaps the most outstanding feature. It is egg-shaped with large, oval eyes, high cheekbones, and a Roman nose. The ears are gigantic and high on the head.

If you find those over-sized ears a little comical, it’s okay to laugh, because Cornish Rexes are known for their sense of humor and love of attention. They are very active, playful, and social cats who always want to be involved in what their people are doing. Cornish Rexes like to snuggle, but not for too long, as these cats are energetic and not usually interested in spending a lot of time laying in your lap. They typically get along with children and other pets. In fact, due to their friendliness and willingness to be handled, Cornish Rexes make good therapy cats (5, 6, 7). They do not do well being left alone for long periods of time, however. They are highly social. Since most of us aren’t home all day, it’s a good idea to have an animal friend if you want a Cornish Rex.

As with any breed, a Cornish Rex is not for everyone. Some people may find their desire to be up close and personal all the time irritating rather than charming. They might be too high-energy for some households. Cornish Rexes can be talkers, probably due to their Siamese ancestry. They are not as loud or as chatty as a Siamese, but they are known to like to hold a conversation once in a while, so if a quiet cat is your preference, then a Cornish Rex might not be a good choice. However, they are great cats for chaotic households (lots of kids, other animals, clients in and out, etc.). They also travel well, so if you want a cat that can go with you on your globetrotting lifestyle, this breed can be a great option.

Health and Care

Despite the early inbreeding, the Cornish Rex has benefited from outcrosses with many breeds. They are a fairly healthy breed with few genetic health risks. There is a somewhat elevated risk in their gene pool of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common form of heart disease in cats. They are sometimes prone to patellar luxation, a condition where the kneecap moves out of place. This may be reparable. Cornish Rex sometimes have hypotrichosis, possibly resulting in bald spots. Bald spots may also be the result of over-grooming because of stress or anxiety, so check with a veterinarian.

Sometimes Cornish Rexes develop skin problems since they lack most of their protective fur. They are particularly prone to sunburn, especially if they have light or white fur. But they are also more likely to feel cold, so if you choose a Cornish Rex, be careful not to let it spend too much time basking in the sun. It may be necessary to apply cat-safe sunscreen, especially if you want to walk your cat or let them into your yard or onto a catio.

Cornish Rex can be sensitive to certain anesthetics and may experiences dangerous side effects (4). If you have one that needs a procedure, be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian.

When it comes to grooming, less may be more. Brushing a Cornish Rex may damage their delicate fur. However, they may have a buildup of oils because they have less fur to absorb them. Depending upon the cat, they may only need a little cleaning around the face and paws, or they may need regular baths. Watch inside the ears and on the claws for oily buildup as well.

Calico cat with curly fur
Photo by Nickolas Titkov from Wikimedia Commons

There is a myth that Cornish Rex are hypoallergenic because they have less hair than most cats. This is not true. Cat allergies are caused by proteins in cat danger and saliva, not by the hair itself. The hair can cause the offending dander to travel farther, and Cornish Rex do shed less, so some people with cat allergies might have less of a reaction to Cornish Rexes than other cats, but there is no guarantee. Rather than get a cat and find out it doesn’t help the allergies, and now you need to re-home it, it is best for someone with cat allergies to hand a cat of a breed they think might be less allergenic first and test their hypothesis.

If you think a Cornish Rex is the cat for you, adopt, don’t shop. Even purebred cats are surrendered every day. Check with your local shelter or see if there is a breed-specific rescue group in your area.

Fun Facts

  • The term “Rex” was first applied to curly fur at a rabbit show where King Albert I of Belgium (1875-1934) entered his curly-haired rabbits. The officials knew they didn’t meet the standards, but they dared not reject the king’s rabbits, so they accepted them but wrote “Rex” for “King” on the score sheets (4, 8).
  • Life magazine ran an article about Kallibunker in 1956. Quite the step up for a son-of-a-barn cat (3).
  • The same mutation that causes the Cornish Rex’s special coat is also found in the rare, lesser-known German Rex, but not in other Rex cat breeds (1).
  • Cornish Rexes have very dexterous paws. They pick up toys and throw them up in the air for their own entertainment. They’re happy to play catch with others, too.

Works Cited

  1. Gandolfi, B., et al. (2013). To the root of the curl: A signature of a recent selective sweep identifies a mutation that defines the Cornish Rex cat breed. PLoS One 8(6), e67105. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0067105
  2. Puisis, E. (2019, July 25). Cornish Rex: Cat breed profile. The Spruce Pets. https://www.thesprucepets.com/learn-all-about-the-cornish-rex-cat-4694497
  3. Cat Fanciers’ Association. (n.d.). The Cornish Rex. https://cfa.org/cornish-rex/cornish-rex-article/
  4. Europetnet. (n.d.). Cornish Rex. https://www.europetnet.com/pet-resources/cat-breeds/item/1920-cornish-rex.html
  5. VetStreet. (n.d.). Cornish Rex. http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/cornish-rex#overview
  6. CatTime. (n.d.). Cornish Rex. https://cattime.com/cat-breeds/cornish-rex-cats#/slide/1
  7. Kelley, J. A. (2015, February 3). Get to know the Cornish Rex: A pack of personality in a ballet dancer’s body. Catster. https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-breeds-cornish-rex-personality-ballet-dancer-body-pictures-photos
  8. Houle, T. (2014, December 16). The Cornish Rex. Pet Health Network. http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-breeds/cornish-rex
  9. Petfinder. (n.d.). Cornish Rex. https://www.petfinder.com/cat-breeds/cornish-rex/
  10. Cat Fanciers’ Association. (n.d.). About the Cornish Rex. https://cfa.org/cornish-rex/

Published August 30th, 2020

Updated October 15th, 2020