8 Brown Cat Breeds & Brown Cat Names

As far as history and mythology go, there are several surrounding cats. Starting from Noah’s arc to Egyptian civilization to the far east there are several stories, myths, and contradicting opinions, especially about the color of their fur. Despite all that, cats are the second most popular pet in the USA, with over 90 million cats living as domestic animals. Here is a list of the most popular cat breeds in America:

• Shorthair cats – Exotic, British, and American
• Maine Coon
• Sphynx
• Scottish fold
• Persian
• Devon Rex
• Ragdoll
• Abyssinian

All brown cats come in all kinds of earthy shades. The color is expressed from a genetic mutation of single recessive color genes, sometimes thought to be diluted black. Although the Havana Brown cat is the only truly, completely chocolate color cat, there are several other cats that are predominantly brown. Most “brown” cats have tabby markings, stripe, and point patterns in their coats, while cats with solid colors are typically black or white. With their color comes popular names, some of which are unique for their coat. Here are 8 all brown cat breeds and brown cat names that exist.

#1. Havana Brown

The Havana Brown is a hybrid cat that was created by crossing the Russian Blue, Siamese, and black domestic shorthairs. Today, almost no Russian Blue genetics remain in the breed. The Havana Brown is the only truly solid Brown cat breed around. Sporting a chocolate color or a deep mahogany brown, it is a medium-sized shorthair cat with green eyes. Its personality is intelligent, curious, and social. The cat becomes very attached to its family and expresses a moderate amount of separation anxiety. Name-wise, the breed is believed to either be named after the color of Havana cigars or the Havana rabbit of the same color.

Suggested Brown Cat Name: Cocoa

The perfect name describing its chocolate color, Cocoa adds the message that the cat warms you up.

#2. Burmese

The result of mating a small brown domestic mother from Burma and a Siamese sire, the Burmese has 2 different standards of head and body shapes according to whether it is from American or British breeders. The original cats were a sable or dark-brown color with gold eyes and later were developed to have chocolate color and several other colors available along with green eyes. Both versions are social, energetic, loyal, playful, and vocal, with sweeter, softer voices than the Siamese, and often learn to play fetch, tag, and other games. They have very fine, short, satin-glossy fur. There may be gradually lighter shading on the underparts and faint colorpoint markings. The Burmese gene has full expression when it’s homozygous, also known as Burmese Color Restriction or Sepia.

Suggested Brown Cat Name: Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a warm, earthy spice. It’s great for a cat with a cinnamon shade of brown.

#3. Tonkinese

The Tonkinese is thought to have existed in the West since the early 19th century. It is the result of crossing the American Burmese with the Siamese. Not only can its coat have a pointed white color, but it can also be a solid sepia or medium brown which is called natural, as well as other base colors. The standard is the short-haired, while the medium-haired Tonkinese is also known as Tibetan. A medium-sized cat, its build is between the slender, long Siamese and the cobby Burmese, and it has green eyes. The intelligent, social, active, curious, and vocal breed is prone to boredom or loneliness when alone. Like the Burmese, it can learn how to play fetch and enjoys jumping to really high places.

Suggested Brown Cat Name: Beans

“Beans” is short for “coffee beans,” describing the dark color of the caffeinated drink, and implying the cat is especially silly or cute.

#4. York Chocolate

Also called York for short, the York Chocolate is an American show cat breed. Sporting a tapered tail and a long, fluffy coat, it was developed from crossing longhair cats of mixed ancestry after color-selecting; namely, a black longhaired sire and a black-and-white longhaired mother. The result was a medium-hair all brown cat that was a solid chocolate color, a diluted brown called lavender, or lavender/brown, and hazel, golden, or green eyes. An intelligent, even-tempered, energetic, loyal, affectionate, and curious breed, it greatly enjoys being a lap cat and following its owner around.

Suggested Brown Cat Name: Mocha

Mocha is a drink of coffee with chocolate added, but it also describes a light shade resembling a chocolate color.

#5. Oriental Shorthair

An offshoot of the Siamese, the Oriental Shorthair was developed in the United States from the modern Siamese standard of head and body type, with a triangle-shaped head, almond-shaped green eyes, large ears, and a long, slender body, but with more coat colors and patterns. Social, intelligent, and usually vocal, it can learn to play fetch. It is also athletic and enjoys jumping to high places. It not only loves human interaction but enjoys being in pairs or groups with other cats. There is also a longhaired version called the Oriental Longhair.

Suggested Brown Cat Name: Chestnut

This cat can have a chestnut shade that is similar to that of the Havana Brown.

#6. Persian

Solid brown is one of several colors the Persian can have. The cat is known for being docile, quiet, and sweet, content to lounge around or be a lap cat. It has a short, stocky body, plumed tail, and green or blue-green eyes. Anyone can instantly recognize this breed with its flat face and long, fluffy fur. However, the older, traditional type had a more pronounced muzzle, and there are efforts to preserve this type and avoid the health problems that come from brachycephalic cats.

Suggested Brown Cat Name: Fluffy

Like other longhaired cats, “fluffy” is a great traditional name describing their coat.

#7. British Shorthair

Similar to the British domestic cat, the British Shorthair is the pedigreed version. It is one of the oldest breeds in the world, dating back to around the first century AD. The cat has a broad face, a large, powerful, stocky, short body, and a dense, short coat with no undercoat. Although the most familiar and original standard color is British Blue, the breed can come in many other colors and patterns, including brown. It makes for a sweet, loyal, easygoing pet that is moderately active and does not like to be held, carried, picked up, or a lap cat, but instead prefers to be near family.

Suggested Brown Cat Name: Nutmeg

The name describes a light shade of brown. It is a spice that people use a pinch of in a few cooking recipes and more of in baking and like the cat, it is quiet but noticeable.

#8. Devon Rex

The Devon Rex is an English cat breed that appeared in the late 1950s. It is the result of a tortie and white stray mother and a curly-coated feral tom sire.

The feline is noted for the triangular shape of its head, its large eyes, and large triangular-shaped ears. Other key characteristics the Devon Rex is known for include its wide chest and slender bone structure. All of which makes for a rather pixie-like tabby.

The cat has a very soft, curly, short coat, large ears, and a slender body. Its personality is active playful, mischievous, loyal, intelligent, affectionate, and social. It is also a high jumper and although hard to motivate, can learn hard tricks.

Suggested Brown Cat Name: Monkey

It’s the perfect name for a cat that’s commonly described as a “monkey in a catsuit,” especially with brown fur.

Are Brown Cats Rare or Popular?

Yes, brown cats are uncommon. As noted above, only the Havana is a true chocolate. Otherwise, brown coloring results from a mutated color gene or a combination of colors that look brown when appearing together. For example, some black cats look brown in the light because of a reddish tint.

In terms of popularity, surveys show that the most wanted cat colors are the orange tabby and the tuxedo look (black and white). The least desired color is the all-black cat, perhaps because there are so many superstitions about black cats.

An odd fact: gray cats are reputed to be shy, aloof, and intolerant, but it doesn’t seem likely that the color of a cat’s fur determines its personality characteristics.

Summary of 8 Brown Cat Breeds & Brown Cat Names

Here are all the top picks for popular brown can breed and possible names you might find interesting:

The photo featured at the top of this post is © slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com