Brown cats have recently become a trend, thanks to their unique appearance. These cats often have unique and beautiful coat patterns like tabby or tortoiseshell, which can be visually appealing.
Additionally, brown cats are often associated with warmth, comfort, and coziness, as their fur color resembles earthy tones. This may evoke a sense of calmness and relaxation in cat lovers. Today, we've covered 10 cat breeds that are commonly known for their brown coat.
1. Abyssinian
Height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Weight: 6-10 pounds (2.7-4.5 kg)
Life Expectancy: 9-15 years
The Abyssinian is born brown due to its genetic makeup. The gene responsible for their brown coat color, the agouti gene, controls the distribution of pigment in each individual hair shaft. It causes the hairs to have bands of dark brown, light brown, and a pale color near the root.
In these small cats, the agouti gene produces a ticking effect, resulting in each hair having multiple bands of color. The brown color, called usual or ruddy, is the original and most common color of the breed.
2. Burmese
Height: 10-12 inches (25-30 cm)
Weight: 8-12 pounds (3.6-5.4 kg)
Life Expectancy: 10-17 years
The Burmese cat has a lustrous coat, which comes in various colors. The major coat colors include brown, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, cream, and tortoiseshell. Of these colors, the brown coat is the most common and widely seen in the breed.
The brown coat, also known as sable, is characterized by a rich, warm brown shade that is even throughout the body. The intensity of the brown coat can vary with some cats displaying a darker hue and others appearing lighter.
3. Somali
Height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Weight: 6-10 pounds (2.7-4.5 kg)
Life Expectancy: 12-16 years
The Somali cat's coat is one of its most striking features. It is a medium to long-haired coat that is dense, soft, and silky to the touch. The fur is known for its luxurious texture and length, which gradually lengthens towards the tail.
The cat comes in a wide range of shades, including ruddy, brown, red, blue, and fawn. These base colors can have variations, such as lighter or darker shades within the same color family. The coat color is often richer and deeper on the back and tail, while the underside may be lighter.
4. Havana Brown
Height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Weight: 6-10 pounds (2.7-4.5 kg)
Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
The Havana Brown has a specific gene that is responsible for the production of eumelanin, a pigment that gives the coat its brown color. This gene is known as the "B" gene or the "b" allele.
The breed was developed by crossing a black domestic shorthair with a chocolate point Siamese cat. This breeding program aimed to create a cat with a solid brown coat resembling the color of Havana cigars. The resulting offspring carried the "b" allele. Both parents must carry this recessive gene for it to be expressed in the offspring.
5. Singapura
Height: 6-8 inches (15-20 cm)
Weight: 4-8 pounds (1.8-3.6 kg)
Life Expectancy: 11-15 years
Singapura cats normally have a ticked coat pattern in shades of sepia or champagne. Meanwhile, brown cats from this short-tailed breed have a warm, rich brown hue. The brown coloration is caused by a recessive gene known as the Burmese gene.
Due to this recessive gene, brown Singapuras are not as prevalent in the breed. The majority of these cats are either ticked or have a dilute coat coloration. This makes the brown Singapuras highly sought after by cat enthusiasts.
6. Oriental Shorthair (Brown Tabby)
Height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Weight: 6-10 pounds (2.7-4.5 kg)
Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
The Brown Tabby Oriental Shorthair is a stunning breed with a sleek and elegant appearance. Their coat is short and fine, lying close to their body. This breed comes in various colors and patterns, but the Brown Tabby is particularly striking.
The breed's coat is defined by a rich, warm brown color with darker brown or black stripes. These distinctive tabby markings can be seen on their face, legs, body, and tail. The stripes often have a swirling or marbled pattern, adding depth and interest to their coat.
7. Ocicat
Height: 10-12 inches (25-30 cm)
Weight: 6-15 pounds (2.7-6.8 kg)
Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
Brown Ocicats are considered relatively rare compared to other coat colors within the breed. This breed was developed in the 1960s by crossing Siamese, Abyssinian, and American Shorthair. The breed was created to resemble the wild Ocelot, hence the name "Ocicat."
The original Ocicats had a tawny coat color with dark spots, similar to that of the Ocelot. However, over time, breeders introduced other coat colors, such as chocolate, cinnamon, and silver. Consequently, the brown coat color became less common.
8. Bengal
Height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Weight: 8-15 pounds (3.6-6.8 kg)
Life Expectancy: 12-16 years
The Bengal cat is beloved for its striking coat and wild appearance. The coat is short, dense, and soft to the touch. It has a unique pattern known as "rosettes," which are spots that resemble the markings of a leopard or jaguar.
The coat colors of the Bengal cat can range from brown to silver, with various shades and patterns within these colors. The most common coat color is the brown Bengal, which has a warm, rich coloration with dark brown rosettes on a lighter background.
9. Egyptian Mau
Height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Weight: 6-14 pounds (2.7-6.4 kg)
Life Expectancy: 13-16 years
The Egyptian Mau's most recognized coat color is brown. The cat is known for its unique spotted coat pattern, which can come in three colors: silver, bronze, and smoke. The bronze color refers to the brown coat.
The Egyptian Mau is a naturally occurring breed from Egypt. Its coat is considered one of its defining characteristics, and the brown color is highly prized. The spots on the coat can range from dark brown to a warm golden hue, adding to the breed's beauty and elegance.
10. Tonkinese
Height: 8-10 inches (20-25 cm)
Weight: 6-12 pounds (2.7-5.4 kg)
Life Expectancy: 12-16 years
The Tonkinese cat is a medium-sized, muscular breed with a distinctive coat. The coat is short, soft, and silky, lying close to the body. It has a unique pattern called "mink," which is a combination of solid color and points.
The coat color variations in Tonkinese cats include natural, champagne, blue, and platinum. The natural color is a warm brown, while the champagne is a creamy beige. Likewise, the points on the cat's coat, including the ears, face, paws, and tail, are usually a darker shade than the body color.
Petjurni Team
