GREAT BRITAIN: Havana Brown cats are originated in Great Britain. Havana Brown cat was developed in the 1950s by crossing a British Seal Point Siamese with another black shorthaired cat of Siamese descent. An accidental breeding between a black shorthair and a seal point Siamese produced a self-chocolate male kitten named Elmtower Bronze Idol, the first Havana Brown to be registered in England. These cats were formerly known as Chestnut Brown Foreigns.

These cats were first imported to North America in the mid-1950’s. Soon after their arrival, they became known in the U.S. as Havana Browns. The Havana Brown is recognised by the Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA), the American Cat Fancier’s Association (AFCA) and The International Cat Association (TICA).