There are several breeds of cats that can have brown fur. The most common breeds of cats that display brown coats include the Havana Brown, Oriental Shorthair, Siamese, Burmese, and Abyssinian. The shade of brown can range from light tan to chocolate or seal brown. The amount of brown on the cat can also vary, with some cats being solid brown and others having brown just on certain areas like the face, paws or tail. Genetics play a role in determining which cats express the brown coat color.
Brown Cat Breeds
Havana Brown
The Havana Brown is one of the few cat breeds that is recognized specifically for its chocolate brown coat. These cats originated in England in the late 19th century from Siamese and black domestic shorthair cats. The ideal Havana Brown has a rich, solid brown coat ranging from warm chocolate to a cooler brown resembling unpolished mahogany. Their fur is short and glossy with a silky texture. They have vivid green eyes. The Havana Brown is an intelligent, playful and affectionate breed that enjoys human companionship.
Oriental Shorthair
The Oriental Shorthair encompasses a group of cats derived from the Siamese breed that come in a wide array of coat colors and patterns beyond the traditional Siamese coloring. Solid chocolate brown is an acceptable coat color for this breed. Orientals with brown fur tend to be a lighter brown or tan shade rather than a deep, dark chocolate brown. Their eyes are typically green in color. This is an active, social and vocal breed that bonds very closely with their human families.
Siamese
While best known for their cream and seal point coats, Siamese cats can also display brown points. The points refer to the areas of coloration on the face, ears, legs and tail which contrast with a paler body. Siamese with chocolate point coloring will have brown fur on these points, ranging from warm beige to a darker chocolate hue. Their eyes are blue. The Siamese is an affectionate, outgoing and intelligent breed that thrives on human interaction.
Burmese
The Burmese is a breed that comes in both solid coat colors and pointed patterns. For solid brown Burmese cats, their fur is an even warm brown throughout the body, with no color variations from the points to the body. This can range from a lighter tan to a richer chocolate. Brown pointed Burmese have brown fur on the face, ears, legs and tail. They typically have yellow to gold eyes. The Burmese is known for being extremely social and forming strong bonds with their owners.
Abyssinian
While less common, Abyssinian cats can also have brown ticked fur. Each hair has bands of light and dark color, including chocolate brown, resulting in a reddish-brown coat with darker brown ticking when the darker bands align. Not all lines of Abyssinians carry the chocolate ticked gene, so this coloring is rarer. Abyssinians have almond-shaped eyes that can be gold, green or hazel. This is an active, intelligent breed that needs substantial interaction with their human families.
Genetics of Brown Coat Color
The genetics behind a cat having brown fur involves variants in two genes – Tyrosinase (TYR) and Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). The TYR gene codes for the enzyme tyrosinase which is essential in melanin pigment production. Mutations in this gene lead to reduced activity of tyrosinase which results in reduced black pigment and allows the warmer brown tones to show through. The MC1R gene helps regulate pigment production. Certain variants of this gene also favor the production of brown pigment. Cats need to inherit one copy of the variant TYR gene and two copies of the variant MC1R gene to have brown fur.
How Common is Brown Cat Fur?
Solid brown coats are relatively uncommon among cats. In studies sampling thousands of cats, only around 3% had predominantly brown fur. It is more common to see brown coloring limited to the points, as in Siamese cats. The rarer occurrence of brown coats is likely because multiple genetic changes are needed to suppress black pigment production and promote brown tones. Since the right combination of genes needs to be inherited from both parents, and these genes are not common in many breeds, brown cats are not seen as frequently as other colors like black or orange.
Care of Brown Cats
There are no special care requirements for brown-coated cat breeds. These cats have the same general health and grooming needs as any other cats. Their brown fur does not present any issues. Havana Browns and Orientals with the chocolate coat do need protection against sunburn on their noses and ear tips if spending time outdoors, since brown fur provides less natural UV protection than black fur. All cats should receive annual veterinary checkups, be kept up to date on vaccines and flea/tick prevention, and have their fur brushed weekly to remove loose hair and distribute skin oils. A nutritionally balanced diet and fresh water daily are essential. Litter boxes should also be scooped daily and the litter replaced regularly. With proper care, brown cats can live as long, healthy lives as cats of any other color.
Personality of Brown Cat Breeds
While coat color does not influence personality, most brown cat breeds share some common temperament traits since they originate from the same ancestor breeds. Havana Browns, Orientals, Siamese, Burmese and Abyssinians tend to be highly active, playful and vocal cats. They form deep bonds with their human families and thrive when given ample attention and interaction. Most of these breeds love to be involved in everything their owners are doing. They are often described as “dog-like” in their loyalty and trainability. These breeds stay playful well into their senior years. So brown-coated cats can make very engaging, loving companions when placed into an active home that gives them the attention they crave.
Finding a Brown Kitten
Finding a purebred brown kitten from one of the breeds discussed usually entails contacting reputable breeders of those specific breeds. Be sure the breeder screens their breeding cats for health issues common in the breed and provides documentation of health clearances. Since brown cats are rarer, you may need to get on a breeder’s waiting list and be patient for an appropriate kitten to become available. Adopting a mixed breed brown kitten is also an option. Check local animal shelters and rescue groups, as adoptable kittens of various colors can be found through these organizations. Cats’ personalities vary on an individual basis, so focus on finding a kitten with a temperament that matches your lifestyle rather than coat color when adopting.
Conclusion
While brown fur is an uncommon color in the general cat population, there are several breeds that exhibit shades of brown due to their genetics. The Havana Brown, Oriental Shorthair, Siamese, Burmese and Abyssinian can all have brown coats, ranging from warm beige to deep chocolate. These breeds share some similarities like high activity levels, affectionate natures and strong bonds with their owners. Proper care does not differ for brown cats compared to other coat colors. Those wishing to add a brown kitten to their family can contact reputable breeders specializing in the breeds prone to brown coats or check shelters and rescues for an adoptable brown kitten. With their playful personalities and striking fur, brown cats can make wonderful companions.
| Breed | Coat Description |
|---|---|
| Havana Brown | Rich, warm solid brown |
| Oriental Shorthair | Lighter brown or tan solid color |
| Siamese | Chocolate brown points |
| Burmese | Solid warm brown |
| Abyssinian | Reddish-brown ticked fur |
