SingapuraCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

In 1975, Tommy and Hal Meadow returned to the USA from Singapore with three brown, ticked local cats, which they called “drain cats”. They became the foundation of the breed, named after the Malay name of Singapore. In 1981, another similar cat was brought from a shelter in Singapore.

In 1987, the breeder Gerry Mayes found papers showing that the three founding cats had been taken to Singapore from the USA, in 1974. Some suspected that the breed was actually a cross between Abyssinians and Burmese. CFA investigated, concluded there had been no deception, and the Singapura kept its status as a natural breed. TICA recognised it in 1979, CFA in 1982 and FIFe in 2014.

How the breed developed

• 1974–1975 – three cats arrive in the USA from Singapore.
• 1979 – recognised by TICA.
• 1982 – accepted by CFA (championship in 1988).
• 1987 – evidence emerges that the founding cats had come from the USA.
• 1990 – Singapore wants to make it a national mascot.
• 2014 – recognised by FIFe.

• People who spend a lot of time at home. German Wikipedia says it follows its owner into every room.
• Warm homes. French Wikipedia says it does not like the cold.
• Apartments. It is small, adaptable and easy to care for.
• Active families. It is playful and curious.

It is the smallest cat breed widely accepted by breed registries: adult females usually weigh 1.8 kg and males 2.7 kg. The body is moderately stocky and muscular.

General appearance

The ears are large, slightly pointed and deep, and the eyes are large and almond-shaped. The tail is thin, a little shorter than the body, with a blunt tip.

Each hair has alternating bands: usually two dark bands separated by two light ones, with a dark tip. The chest, muzzle and chin are the colour of the light bands. It is recognised in a single colour, sepia agouti: “dark brown ticking on a warm old ivory ground”.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Abyssinian also has a ticked coat, but is larger. The Burmese has the same sepia gene. Some breeders even suspected that the Singapura is a cross between the two.

French Wikipedia says CFA describes it as active, curious and playful, affectionate and eager for contact with people. German Wikipedia adds that it is gentle, loving and very attached: it follows its owner into every room and feels best next to its people.

Socialisation

German Wikipedia describes it as very friendly, adaptable and uncomplicated.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is active and playful; it likes high places and warmth.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The very short, fine coat is very easy to look after: a weekly polish is enough.

Common health problems

Breeders are concerned about uterine inertia: the muscles of the uterus are too weak to push the kittens out, so some females give birth by caesarean section. The problem was present in one of the founding cats. The breed also has pyruvate kinase deficiency, which leads to anaemia. A DNA study from 2007 found that the Singapura and the Burmese had the lowest genetic diversity of 22 breeds.

Recommended genetic tests

For pyruvate kinase deficiency there is a test that shows whether a cat is affected, a carrier or clear. Cats with this disease can usually live normally.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days. In the Singapura, some females have uterine inertia and may need a caesarean, so the birth should be monitored by a vet. Litters are small.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Ask for the parents' pyruvate kinase deficiency test result.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• The smallest breed. An adult female usually weighs only 1.8 kg.
• “Drain cats”. The founding cats were presented as drain cats from Singapore.
• A controversial mascot. In 1990, Singapore wanted to make it a national mascot, but an article in “The Straits Times” showed the origin story was uncertain.
• A single colour. It is recognised only in sepia agouti.

Singapore's mascot

In 1990, the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board began a campaign using the Singapura as a national mascot. It was then that the journalist Sandra Davie published the story of the founding cats brought from the USA.

Is it the smallest cat breed?

Yes, most associations consider it the smallest and lightest pedigree breed.

How much does it weigh?

Females about 1.8 kg, males about 2.7 kg.

How long does it live?

French Wikipedia gives 11–15 years.

Does it really come from Singapore?

The founding cats had been taken to Singapore from the USA, but CFA decided the breed remains a natural one.