Singapura Cat
Cat Facts

The Singapura cat, the 'Drain or River Cat', the Pura, 'Kucinta, the Love Cat' are all names used to describe the smallest registered cat breed. This little darling had humble beginnings - they were originally feral cats found in the drains of Singapore and today, this rare and beautiful little cat is owned by only a lucky few.

The Singapura cat has a small to medium sized body that is moderately stocky, fairly muscular but not very heavy - in fact, this is one of the lightest and smallest cat breeds. The back is slightly arched, the rib cage is rounded and the neck is thick and short. The tail is slender and ends in a blunt tip. In terms of length, if the tail is laid along the body, it should end just short of the shoulder. The Pura's legs are well muscled and heavy and the paws are small and oval shaped.

The Singapura cat has a round head with a rounded, well developed chin and the muzzle is short to medium in length and broad with a blunt nose. The ears are alert and large and the tips of the ears are moderately rounded. The base of the ears are wide with deep cupping.

Another distinctive feature of the Kucinta is its large, almond-shaped eyes. The eyes are wide open and may present at a slight slant. There are only three accepted eye-colors - green, hazel or yellow and the eye-color should be brilliant. The eyes are outlined or accentuated by dark brown eyeliner.

The Singapura's coat is short, shiny and fine and lies flat against the body. The only color that is recognized is Sepia Agouti, which is a golden-ivory background color with brown tipping otherwise known as a ticked tabby pattern. (Each hair must have a minimum of 4 alternating light and dark bands of color). The underside of the cat, its chest, muzzle and chin is the color of unbleached muslin. The back and spine has intense ticking, whilst the underside of the Singapura cat displays very little ticking. Kittens may have a slightly longer and thicker coat, but the coat should never be wooly.

The Singapura has some very distinctive markings. Very dark, bold outline around the eyes, nose and lips; 'Cheetah-tear' lines running from the corners of the eyes; cheek-bone shading and the 'M'-shape marking on the forehead. Broken bracelets (or barring) on the front legs and on the knees of the back legs. The hair along the spine and on the tip of the tail is also darker.

In a nutshell, this is a small, sturdy cat with large eyes and ears with a unique sepia-colored coat, distinctive markings and an angelic face.

Personality and Temperament

The Singapura is a loving, affectionate and sociable cat. Its favorite playmate is its owners, but they are dog and cat friendly pets too. The owners we chatted to describe them as curious, extroverts who like to 'help' around the house. When they're not involved with household activities, you'll find them perched on the tallest item of furniture, or racing around the house like they're possessed!

The Singapura is a 'lover not a fighter', they avoid confrontation at all costs. The females are loving mothers and male cats love to socialize in groups. The Singapura cat is described as a curious and lively extrovert. They are active cats and love to 'help' around the house. They are playful and love to learn tricks.

They love the company of all people, even visitors. They have very soft, discreet voices and they dislike loud noise, so a tranquil environment would suit them best. This is quite amazing if you consider they grew up on the streets of one of the busiest cities in the world. Pura's are described as intelligent, non-aggressive cats that love attention and gentle petting.

As they are ardent and agile hunters, they do enjoy the freedom of a safe, enclosed garden. The Pura is an active and intelligent cat, but one that still enjoys a warm lap, loads of attention and gentle frequent petting.

As mentioned, the Pura dislikes harsh or loud noise, but they also dislike been on their own. They get on well with children, but younger boisterous children need to be taught that all cats prefer gentle play - Pura's prefer a more tranquil home. When introducing your new cat to the family, the introductions should be done gradually and always respect the space of the resident animals. This cat gets on well with other cats and cat-friendly dogs.

The ideal home for a Singapura would be a mature family where there is always company at home. They do adapt well to apartment living provided they are not left alone for hours on end.

Singapura Cat Information

Indoor or Outdoor Cats

Like any cat, they do love being outdoors, however, many cat breeders have contracts that stipulate that the cat must be kept indoors only.

Outdoors means: An enclosed garden, one that is covered on all 4 sides and includes the roof. If your cat has direct access from your home to a large enclosure of this type it will be possible to allow some access to the 'outdoors'. Indoor cats need an 'adventure zone' to prevent boredom.

Cat Care and Cat Grooming

The Singapura cat needs very little grooming. A weekly brush, dental hygiene and an occasional claw clip...and that's all that's needed. Bathing is generally not required, except if it's a Show Cat, in which case it should be bathed a week before show day to allow the coat to recover its natural oils.

For additional information about grooming your shorthaired cat, visit the chapter on general cat care.

Cat Health Concerns

The Singapura cat is considered a healthy cat breed with very few health issues. Breeders are concerned about the poor genetic pool diversity and the resultant inbreeding due to this small gene pool. Some lines do suffer from uterine inertia which means that the queen may require caesarean when giving birth to her kittens.

It is always wise to consider medical cat insurance for your cat and you do need to vaccinate your cat against the common infectious feline diseases

Cat Diet and Nutrition

No special diet is required, but they do need to be fed a well balanced diet that contains the correct amount of nutrients. The review on cat food provides excellent information on the different types of feline foods and the cat nutrition guide reviews the importance of specific nutrients in your cat's diet. Water and not milk is also an essential part of their diet.

The Average Weight

The average weight of these small cat breeds is between 2 - 4 kg (4.4 - 8.8 lbs). Male cats are larger than the females.

Life Expectancy

The average life span for the Singapura cat is 12 years. A well cared for cat may live to 15 years or more.

Related Cat Pages:

Singapura Cat Breeders - an international breeder directory

Small Cat Breeds - the origin of the Singapura

Singapura Photos Courtesy of:

Top: Dreamstime.com

Center © Sarah Thexton Photography Java Gino Giolette. Breeder and Owner: Tracy Nairn.of Java Cattery

Bottom: Singapura - Breeder & Owner: Tracy Nairn, Java Cattery