In the early 1950s, a group of English cat fanciers began working together with the intent of creating a self-brown cat of Foreign Type. They initially called themselves 'The Havana Group', which later evolved into 'The Chestnut Brown Group'. This collective of breeders laid the foundation for the Havana Brown cat we know today.
Through selective breeding, these breeders mated a Siamese cat carrying the chocolate gene with a black cat also carrying the chocolate gene. This pairing resulted in the birth of chestnut (chocolate) colored kittens. The breed continued to progress in the UK and was initially known as the Chestnut Brown Oriental, maintaining the Siamese conformation.
Subsequently, the breed made its way to the United States, where it gained significant popularity. Over time, the British and American types of the breed began to differentiate. The English breeders developed the Havana Brown more towards the Siamese type, while the American breeders retained the original characteristics.
In 1959, the GCCF officially recognized this breed under the names Chestnut Havana Brown and Havana Brown.
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