Are Brown Cats Expensive – Price & Other Factors 

Brown cats can be some of the most beautiful cats out there. Their rich brown coats often take on the color of milk chocolate, which makes them all the more majestic. But, since this coat color is pretty rare, owners might wonder how much it will cost to get a brown cat. Are brown cats expensive? 

Generally, Brown cats are expensive if purchased directly from a breeder. Only a few breeds have brown coats regularly, and brown fur can still be rare, even in some of those breeds. That means that some breeders charge extra for the rare coloring. But brown cats aren’t so rare that they’re hard to find, and shelters and rescues sometimes have brown cats and kittens up for adoption.

So, the price depends on where you get your new cat as much as their coat color. Here’s what you need to know about brown cats and the cost of brown cats. 

Are Brown Cats Rare

Brown cat coloring is relatively rare but not unheard of. A few different breeds have brown fur, including the Havana Brown cat, which is a breed that’s always brown. But there are a lot of breeds that don’t have brown fur ever, or only very rarely. 

That means that brown cats are a lot less common than other colors, like orange or gray and black tabby, but not as rare as breed-specific colorings like Siamese or Bengal breeds. 

When it comes to whether brown cats are expensive, that means that they are usually a little more expensive than breeds with more common colors but not as expensive as breeds with a very distinct or unique look. 

Of course, there are some exceptions. Havana Brown cats can be a little more expensive since they’re rare for only coming in brown fur, and other potentially brown-furred breeds are expensive for other reasons, like Persians and Burmese cats.

How Much Do Brown Cats Cost

The cost of a brown cat depends a lot on the breed and where you get your cat. For instance, Havana Brown cats purchased from a breeder routinely cost as much as $1,000-$1,500. But the same breed of cat can cost as little as $75-$125 when you adopt them from a rescue instead of buying from a breeder. 

The same cost difference is pretty common among brown cats. Most of the breeds that have a lot of brown cats are expensive, prestigious breeds. Even the more common exceptions, like the British Shorthair, still come with premium prices when you buy from a breeder. 

That means that your cost depends greatly on why you’re looking for a brown cat and where you choose to get your cat from. 

It’s worth remembering that cats from breeders do sometimes have lower health costs and better behavior than rescue cats. But, that doesn’t mean that rescue cats are always going to be more expensive to care for or more aggressive; both can be good options depending on your situation. 

But, rescuing cats does also help with overpopulation and other common problems with cats. So there are reasons other than cost to adopt from a rescue. 

How Much Do Havana Brown Cats Cost

Havana Brown cats are some of the most expensive brown cats you can get. Like all cats with a specific breed color, there’s a premium for this breed because you’re guaranteed to get a brown cat with a classic Havana brown shape and personality. 

From a breeder, Havana Brown cats usually cost somewhere between $1,000-$1,500. However, the cost can change depending on local demand, breeding practices, the cat’s age, and whether you’re adopting a kitten or a retired Queen or Tomcat. 

What Are Brown Cats Called

Several breeds of cats can have a brown coat, but there’s only one breed that’s exclusively brown. Havana Brown Cats are always brown, but that doesn’t mean that every brown cat is a Havana Brown. 

Ultimately, if you don’t know what kind of cat you adopted, a brown coat color might not be a great indicator. Solid brown coats are rare, but they do happen in a few different breeds. Brown as part of a patterned or multi-colored coat is much more common. 

There are a few breeds that have brown coats: 

1. Havana Brown
2. York Chocolate
3. Devon Rex
4. Burmese
5. Persian
6. British Shorthair
7. Oriental Shorthair

So, if you want to know exactly what breed of cat you have, your best bet is either to adopt a cat directly from a breeder or to pay for genetic testing for your cat. 

Thankfully, this list of breeds are all relatively healthy and relatively distinguishable. So, unless you want to know the exact breed, testing isn’t required. That said, there are other reasons you might want to consider getting a genetic test done. 

Genetic testing can have other advantages as well. For instance, you can learn more about your cat’s risk of genetic disorders and other health conditions. That’s huge for helping get preventive care or picking a diet that’s healthier for your cat. 

Are Havana Brown Cats Smart

Yes! Havana Brown cats are known to be smart, curious, good with families, small children, and even dogs, and have a friendly temperament. Like many carefully bred cats, Havana Brown has a long history of being bred to be better companion animals to humans, which includes having increased intelligence!

Of course, that doesn’t mean that your Havana Brown is going to start talking in perfect English. They’re smart for cats, which means that they’ll figure things out faster, might learn to understand a few more words, and need more mental stimulation than breeds that emphasize intelligence less. 

Are There Solid Brown Cats

Even though brown is a standard color as part of your cat’s coat, solid brown is rarer. Certainly, a solid brown cat is rarer than a brown cat with tabby markings or a calico that has brown patches as part of its color. 

Solid brown cats are most commonly seen in the Havana Brown breed, but a few other breeds will rarely have a solid brown cat. Persians and a few others will occasionally have solid brown kittens. 

Brown and white markings are more common than solid brown coats, and you’ll occasionally see brown mixed with calico coloring or other markings. 

Things to Consider

Unlike some other colors, like orange, brown isn’t explicitly connected to any set of cat behaviors or personalities. Your brown cat’s personality is probably more a combination of their breed traits and how you raise and care for your cat. 

So, while brown cats might be beautiful, it’s worth thinking about why you want a brown cat and what you’re looking for. 

That’s important not just because you might not want a brown cat as much as you want a cat, but also because knowing what traits and personality you’re looking for can help you pick a breed or choose between a breeder-bred cat or a rescue. 

Brown cats also aren’t known to have any particular health problems, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t factor healthcare into your cat budget. In addition to adoption fees, plan on vaccination and spay/neuter costs, as well as the ongoing cost of regular vet visits, dental cleanings, and the possibility of a health emergency. 

Even if you cut costs by adopting a rescue cat, you should still plan on your brown cat costing hundreds of dollars a year, just like any other cat. Having that money set aside will help keep you and your cat much happier and healthier.