Singapura Description

The Singapura is a small to medium sized cat that should have the illusion of refined and delicate coloring. The coat is fine, very short and silky, and lies close to the body. Only one color is accepted; the sepia agouti. It is a dark brown ticking on an old ivory background color. There must be at least two dark colored bands on every hair, beginning with the lighter ground color and ending with a dark tip. Chin, muzzle, chest and undersides should be an unbleached muslin color. Dark lines should be seen on the brows and outside the corners of the eyes; shading and darkening should extend downward along the bridge of the nose and cheekbone. The head is rounded with a medium short, broad muzzle and blunt nose. Ears are large and slightly pointed with a deep cup. They should be medium set. This breed should not have small ears. Eyes should be large and almond shaped, set no less than one eye width apart. They must be hazel, green or yellow and brilliance is preferred. The body should be small to medium, moderately stocky and muscular. The legs should be heavy and muscular, tapering into small, short and oval feet.

Singapura Temperament

This breed is known as the 'pesky people cat', it is extroverted and curious, loves to welcome guests and insists on helping its owners with everything. They are intelligent and interactive into their old age. They love to be up high, are quiet voiced and very trusting.

Singapura Care

There are no special needs for Singapura cats.

Singapura History

The Singapura originates from the streets of Singapore and get their name from the Malaysian word for this small island. They are a natural combination of the ticked or agouti coat and the dark brown, both of which are indigenous to South Asia. They have been observed on the island since at least 1965, but are not the only cats to be found. The breed as we know it in North America has made the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest breed of cat, has had an entire advertising campaign based around it by the Republic of Singapore, and is the center of a large kitty controversy. In 1975, couple Tommy and Hal Meadow returned from Singapore with three ticked, sepia colored cats. Tommy Meadow, a former CFF judge and Abyssinian/Burmese breeder began the breeding program for the Singapura and wrote the standard. The breed received recogniction with the CFA in 1982 and Championship status in 1988, that is not, however where the story ends. Tommy Meadow was interviewed by a Singapore reporter in 1990, and admitted that the three cats had been imported to Singapore from Texas when she and her husband Hal moved their in 1974. She claimed that they were the grandchildren of some cats her husband had sent her in 1971. She then went on to explain that she became convinced, after allowing the cats to breed, that they could become the foundation of a breed. Because of the nature of her husbands work, however, she was sworn to silence concerning their origins. She also did not keep records of the first three cats and maintains that the breed began in 1975. In 1991, the couple were invited to come before a CFA board and explain the discrepancy. They restated the story and provided passport and visas but could not provide import or export papers for the cats as they were moved on company ships. The CFA found no reason to revoke recognition of the breed, but many cat breeders are not convinced. They see the Singapura as nothing more than a money-making scam as they have many similarities to the Abyssinian and Burmese- both breeds bred by Tommy Meadows. There is, however, no proof behind the claims of a scam, and so the breed continues to be recognized by the CFA.