Cornish Rex vs Havana Brown Cat: Key Differences Explained

If you’re looking to bring home a cat with unique coloring and distinctive features, you may want to check out Cornish Rex vs. Havana Brown cats. These two beautiful breeds share some commonalities but have distinctive differences that could determine their viability for your family.

Come check out the differences between these two breeds and see what they have in common and what they have different. You might just find your perfect kitty right here.

Cornish Rex vs. Havana Brown Cats: History

Cornish Rex

Dating back to the 1950s, the Cornish Rex cat finds its origins among many other cat breeds. Some include the Siamese cat, the American shorthair, the Burmese, or the British shorthair. You’ll also find Havana Brown lineage in this breed. The origin goes to a British shorthair in Cornwall, England, (Cornish) when a kitten was born with short, curly hair and slender, long limbs. The cat was dubbed Kallibunker and subsequently, its descendants mixed with others to create this beautiful cat known as the Cornish Rex.

Havana Brown

Conversely, the Havana Brown, was an intentionally bred cat cross between a Siamese and domestic black cat. The cat fanciers of England in the 1950s thought the breed the perfect choice for producing self-brown cats. However, the Swiss Mountain Cat, developed at least as early as the 1890s, was another early self-brown cat but it disappeared around World War II. The two breeds likely share early genetics.

Cornish Rex vs. Havana Brown Cats: Appearance

Cornish Rex

A lot of folks consider bringing home a Cornish Rex cat because they’re rumored to be hypoallergenic. The slender, thin-coated cats come in medium sizes, weighing between five and ten pounds. Males generally weight between eight and ten pounds, while females tend towards six to eight pounds. The thin coats and thin bodies suggest to folks that these lightweight cats should be allergy friendly. But these cats do shed, meaning they are not hypoallergenic.

The breed has long tails (the longest of most breeds), large ears, slightly slanted oval eyes, wide hips, and curved muscular bodies. Colors and patterns vary.

• White fur with pink paw pads and nose, blue or golden eyes
• Red with red noses and pads, and golden eyes
• Light cream with pink noses and pads, and golden eyes
• Black fur with black noses, black or brown pads, and golden eyes
• Light to medium silver with dark tipped silver, red noses, black pads, and green or blue eyes
• Chocolate brown with brown noses, pink pads, and golden eyes
• Tipped color variations with pink, black, pr brown noses and pads, and golden eyes
• Blue fur with blue or gray noses and pads, and golden eyes

The patterns you might see in a Cornish Rex include:

• Calico
• Tortoiseshell
• Tabby
• Pointed
• Bicolor

Havana Brown

Havana Browns, on the other hand, come in sleek, shiny, striking warm brown coats. Even their whiskers and noses come in brown, an extremely unusual coloration. Kittens and young adults may have faint tabby stripes, but by maturity, they are all solid chocolate brown in coloring. Their coats are short, their eyes green, with triangular heads.

Male Havana Browns tend to be slightly larger than females, but both usually fall between eight and ten pounds. The muscular cats have long legs, slender tails, and nice proportions overall. Again, their thin, slender appearance leads some to believe them hypoallergenic. But Havana Brown cats shed and therefore do not meet that definition.

Cornish Rex vs. Havana Brown Cats: Temperament

Cornish Rex

Cornish Rex cats may look like cat ballerinas but they’re actually quite playful and don’t take themselves too seriously as their looks might imply. They tend towards silliness, even in adulthood, which makes them delightfully fun cats to have at home. These goofballs are usually fairly even keeled with easygoing personalities and great affection for their families, especially if games are involved. They often love napping in laps and cuddle sessions. They generally communicate vocally, are adaptable to many environments, and frequently are used as therapy cats thanks to these qualities.

Havana Brown

On the other hand, Havana Browns are also playful but often content playing on their own with a favorite toy or two. They frequently grow attachments with a single person and spend most of their energy focusing on that person rather than spreading out the love. They can also be loners, but overall, most Havana Browns are friendly, sociable, and interested in everything going on around the house.

Havana browns love to cuddle up in their person’s lap for some affection, play catch, or bound off to chase ribbons. If their favorite person isn’t around, they’ll easily adapt to playing with someone else instead, whether human, feline, or canine.

Cornish Rex Versus Havana Brown Personality Chart

Cornish Rex vs. Havana Brown Cats: Lifespan

The average lifespan for cats falls between 12 and 20 years. In the case of Cornish Rexes, they generally live between 12 and 15 on average, with as short as 11 or as long as 20 in reasonable health. The Havana Brown cat is more likely to live between 9 and 14 years, on average, with proper healthy diet and care.

Cornish Rex vs. Havana Brown Cats: Diet and Nutritional Needs

Cornish Rex

Frisky Cornish rex cats generally have unbounded energy and appetites to keep them going. Often, they expect their food bowls to instantly, or perhaps magically, replenish upon demand. They easily overeat, as well, so be sure to monitor their diet and never free feed them unless you discover your cat is too lean. They need healthy, high-quality food that focuses on protein, with no filler ingredients. They also do well with treats containing fruits and vegetables. Be sure to ask your vet about the best options.

Havana Brown

Havana Browns also tend to have a healthy appetite and may become obese. Monitor your cat’s eating habits and avoid free feeding, if possible, to avoid problems. These cats also require plenty of healthy high-quality cat food focused on protein and no fillers.

Cornish Rex vs. Havana Brown Cats: Health Conditions and Problems

Thankfully, neither the Corn Rex nor the Havana Brown cats deal with particular susceptibility to disease and disorder. This advantage to not being purebreds helps them live long, healthy lives.

Cornish Rex

Corn rex cats often live into their late teens and many surpass the age of 20.

Corn rexes are most likely to ail from:

• Obesity
• Patellar luxation
• Sunburn (due to lack of hair)
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or heart disease

Havana Brown

The Havana brown, on the other hand, is a little more susceptible to some than the Cornish rex. Even so, they tend to live long, healthy lives.

Havana brown cats are more likely to deal with:

• Obesity
• Urinary tract infections
• Other common cat ailments, including viral or bacterial infections or rabies

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