The Singapura is a breed whose homeland still can’t make up its mind about it. Some call this cat “Kucinta,” meaning “love cat,” while others call it the “drain cat.” Can such contradictory names really describe the same kitty? And what is the Singapura really like?
History of the Breed
The breed’s history reads like a spy novel. On the island of Singapore, the ancestors of the future breed were plentiful and lived mostly in storm drains and gutters. When the government rebuilt the drainage system, part of the cat population died out. These beauties might have disappeared entirely over time if chance hadn’t stepped in.
An American named Hal Meadow, a geologist, noticed these unusual cats while in Singapore on business and sent four of them home to the US, where he and his wife, Tommy, started breeding them. Breeders at the time were very interested in miniature breeds, and these four tiny cats (one male and three females) caught their attention.
Exactly how the Meadows’ breeding work went isn’t known. But some years later, other breeders decided to try their luck and bring fresh Singapore cats into American catteries. That’s when Mr. Meadow reappeared, insisting that the honor of founding the breed was his. It turned out he’d been in Singapore on a confidential assignment, and it proved impossible to fully document that he was the one who first brought the cats to the New World.
Be that as it may, the newly imported Singapuras got along with the cats already in the US, and going from rags to riches, the Kucinta became everyone’s favorite! In some ways, the breed is similar to the Ceylon cat.
Singapura Breed Description
No picture can capture the special glow that Singapuras give off. Their eyes shine, and so does every single hair! The breed standard doesn’t include that glow in its description, of course, but there’s no ignoring that Singapuras are truly radiant ladies!
- Head: very neat and rounded. A noticeable rounding from the outer corners of the eyes to the whisker break and a rounded profile are hallmarks of the breed:
- the nose is blunt, with a noticeable stop slightly below eye level. The nose and chin should form a straight line;
- the ears are large; small ears are a disqualifying trait. The ears are deeply cupped, and their outer edges should be parallel or flare slightly outward toward the top;
- the eyes are large, very bright and almond-shaped. They’re set at a slant, no more than one eye-width apart. Eye color can be green, yellow-green or yellow (hazel); red, gray or black flecks aren’t allowed. What does this special gaze make the cat look like? As if someone just gave it a big surprise. Every owner notices the look of amazement in its eyes, whatever the situation.
- Until fairly recently, the Singapura was considered the smallest cat breed in the world. Singapura kittens really are tiny, but they’re strong and muscular.
The legs are of medium length and truly powerful, while the paws are small and oval.
Per the standard, the tail should be long enough that, laid along the body, it reaches the shoulders. It shouldn’t be whip-like; it’s slimmer toward the blunt, rounded tip. Adult females weigh about 4–6 lb, and males up to about 8 lb.
- A Singapura kitten’s coat shouldn’t feel silky; that quality, as well as an overly soft coat, is a fault. In adults the coat is fine and short. A slightly longer coat is seen only in young kittens.
What sets Singapuras apart from other breeds is their size, their special gaze and, of course, their unusual rosy-tinted coloring! Each hair has at least two bands of dark ticking separated by a light band. The hairs are light at the base and dark at the tip. The coat hardly sheds.
The tail tip is also dark, as is a line along the tail and the top of the body. The line may continue along the inside of the front legs and the knees of the hind legs. The CFA accepts only one color, sepia agouti: dark brown ticking on a warm “old ivory” background. White markings, tail rings and missing ticking on the head are not allowed.
Personality
“No standing, jumping or shouting in the construction zone,” or where a Singapura lives. These cats are timid and can’t stand people arguing or making a ruckus nearby.
The Singapura’s quirks have become its virtues. Yes, they’re quite cautious with new people. Yes, they need time to look and sniff around. But they’re tactful and won’t shock your guests with crazy stunts. Craziness just isn’t their style. A Singapura will happily get into mischief, but only when it’s expected to.
Owners describe the Singapura as friendly and peaceful. But know that a person will never become an authority for these cats, no matter how good your care is. They’ll show their affection in every way (by kneading with their paws, for example) and accept your affection in return, but they always make their own decisions based on their own feline experience.
They’re excellent, caring parents themselves, and if there are human kids in the family, they’ll adopt them as their own and look after them constantly.
Health
This small cat also develops quite slowly. Singapuras fully mature only at about two years old. Catteries send kittens to new homes at 12–16 weeks.
Like any cat shaped by nature itself, the Singapura is known for robust health. Only occasionally is there an increased sensitivity to vaccinations. Singapuras also don’t tolerate drafts well. How can you tell your cat has a cold? Watch for these symptoms:
- nasal and eye discharge;
- general lethargy;
- frequent sneezing;
- a slight fever.
If you notice these symptoms, take your cat to the vet. A cold is fairly easy to treat, but it’s better to prevent it and protect your cat from the cold it dislikes so much. The breed’s wider popularity is also held back by the fact that a female has no more than 4 kittens per litter.
The Singapura lives about 15 years.
Care and Living Conditions
Avoid drafts, brush the coat every two weeks, and wipe the ears and eyes from time to time, and this little Asian beauty will thank you!
By the way, many owners notice how clever these cats are about the “powder room.” Singapuras figure out what the big porcelain bowl is for, and over time some of them start doing their business sitting on the toilet. You can speed this up by buying a special toilet-training seat for your pet. And don’t forget to leave a newspaper with a crossword nearby!
Feeding
This cat doesn’t have to watch its figure; Singapuras aren’t at risk of obesity. Diets are for the faint of heart, and the Singapura is only afraid of drafts. Still, proper nutrition is the key to feeling good.
A homemade diet must be balanced. Don’t feed a Singapura pork, sausages, freshwater fish or sweets, and don’t give it milk. Grains, lean meat and non-red vegetables make a great menu for a Singapura!
Commercial food should contain at least 30% meat and be at least 80% digestible.
Photos
Singapore embraced the cat as its own only in the early 1990s, making it a mascot of the island. Tourists’ photos show all sorts of Singapura cat sculptures. And although the toy-sized Toybob is now considered the world’s smallest cat breed, Singaporeans prefer not to know that and keep praising their miniature beauty.
Where to Buy a Singapura Kitten
The Singapura is still one of the rare breeds. It’s most widespread in the US, while in Europe you’ll hardly ever see one.
Even in the US, kittens are hard to come by because litters are small (demand outpaces supply) and breeders are very careful with the breed, keeping the bloodlines pure and excluding cats with faults from breeding. Expect a waiting list.
In the US, a pet-quality Singapura kitten typically costs about $1,200–2,500, while show-quality kittens from top catteries can reach about $4,000.
Singapura Catteries
Both the CFA and TICA recognize the Singapura, so start with their breeder directories:
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
Ask for registration papers, a health guarantee and a video call with the kitten before you pay a deposit.
The Singapura: an Asian beauty with big eyes, a real anime cat!
