Cats come in many colors, but pure brown can actually elude some owners. While finding a generic tabby or a tortoiseshell may be pretty easy, only a few kitties will satisfy those who want a dark, rich brown coat. Luckily, we can tell you exactly which ones you should look for and help you hone it in depending on what hue you desire most. Here are the best brown cat breeds and what you need to know about them.
Which breeds have brown coats?
Remember, a few breeds are always brown (namely the Havana Brown — more to come on this beauty), a couple are never brown, and most of these below are sometimes brown. When you want a cat that will get noticed for their beautiful fur, think about bringing home one of these breeds.
Bengal
We’re starting out with one that’s not pure brown but will surely delight anyone looking for a cool coat. The Bengal was bred in the 80s to create a domestic cat that looks like a wild one. Once you see these pretty kitties, you might never go for a plain old cat again. While not all Bengals are brown, you can certainly select one with those tones, and they all have the distinct markings. To top it off, this breed is playful, energetic, and affectionate, though quite expensive.
Burmese
You have four coat options if you select a Burmese: Champagne, Sable, Blue, and Platinum. Only the first two on that list are brown, but you can choose the one that speaks to you more. Unlike the Bengal, the coat on this cat isn’t striped or spotted but can take on a bit of a gradient. They love people and don’t need any extra grooming, which will help counter the price tag.
Havana Brown
As the name suggests, you don’t have to decide between a few fur colors if you welcome home the Havana Brown. They’re all the same lovely brown hue. Even better, this mouser has brown all over — even their nose, whiskers, and paw pads are brown. Hailing from England, the Havana Brown may have gotten its name from a rabbit breed rather than the city. Either way, you’ll wind up with your work cut out for you with a Havana, as they can get into mischief, but they’re overall very sweet.
Maine Coon
Maine Coons are big buddies and frequently hit 20 pounds, which is a lot larger than the average cat. They come in a few shades of brown, and you can expand your colors even more with many of the popular Maine Coons crossbreeds. In addition to their gigantic size (for a kitty), you’ll also note their extra long and lustrous fur. Because these cats do indeed come from Maine, they have a warmer coat to suit the Northerly climate. A true “Gentle Giant,” this breed gets along with everyone, even small children and dogs.
Manx
The first thing you will notice about this cat is their tiny stubby tail. Somehow, this loyal breed developed that unique characteristic on its own on the Isle of Man, where they originated at least 100 years ago (you can find some Manx’s with tails, today). There are a ton of colors to pick from, including a brown tabby that looks very cute on a cat with no tail.
Oriental shorthair
These kitties all have a Siamese parent from back in the 50s, which accounts for their particular face shape and long body. However, they come in a lot more colors, including two distinct brown ones, the chestnut and the cinnamon. They’re also very interested in their humans and love attention — they’ll prove it to you by keeping up a constant meowing chatter.
Ragamuffin
Lastly, we have the ragamuffin, a somewhat recent breed from California that’s only been around for about 30 years. Though they have longer fur, it doesn’t mat easily, making this an excellent choice for owners who want a plushy cat that doesn’t require as much grooming. You’ll find brown coats fairly consistently and will surely enjoy the ragamuffin’s very chill attitude.
We never recommend selecting an animal only for its color or markings, but if you really want a brown coat, you’ll have lots of options to choose from. Many on this list also bring along excellent personalities to go with the good looks. Remember that finding the right breeder will be just as hard as meeting the perfect cat, and you should always research carefully when selecting a pure-bred kitty. Keep an eye on known health conditions as well, and you will get a wonderful lifelong fuzzy brown friend.
