Singapura cat

The Singapura is one of the smallest cat breeds, if not the smallest. It has a short, silky coat and large, expressive eyes. The body is stocky and the tail is short. Despite its diminutive size, the Singapura is known to also be one of the most active, playful and curious breeds.

General details

Singapura cats are one of the smallest breeds, with males typically weighing between 2 and 3 kilos and females between 1.5 and 2.5 kilos. They do not exceed 4 kilos. They are approximately 15 to 20 centimeters tall and have a body length of about 23 to 30 centimeters. Under normal conditions, they can live between 11 and 15 years. This breed is recognized by associations such as the International Cat Association (TICA) and the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA).

Breed history in brief

The Singapura has its origins in the streets of Singapore, and is believed to be up to 300 years old. Their small size would be justified in that they were cats that slept and lived in drains and sewers. In the mid-1970s, Hal and Tommy Meadow brought three cats of the Singapura breed to the United States and started a selective breeding program from them. The breed was officially recognized by several cat associations in the 1980s and has since gained popularity. They may be related to the Abyssinian, Siamese and Burmese breeds.

Breed characteristics

The Singapura is a small-sized breed with a compact, muscular and well-proportioned body. Its eyes are large, almond-shaped and can be green, golden or hazel, giving an alert and lively expression. The ears are large and broad at the base, accentuating their alert appearance. The Singapura`s coat is its most distinctive feature: it is short, silky and has a ticking pattern with bands of color in each hair, creating a luminous, shiny effect. The typical coat color is sepia agouti, with an ivory base and dark brown bands. They have darker hair on the colder parts of the body, due to a mutation that causes partial albinism. Newborns are light and darken as they grow. Singapura are known to be very active, curious and playful cats. They enjoy human companionship and get along well with other pets. They are intelligent and love to explore their environment.

Common health problems

Due to inbreeding, they are a breed with little genetic variety. Pyruvate kinase deficiency is frequent in them and they may suffer from uterine inertia.