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The International Cat Association

Singapura

At a Glance

The Singapura’s name derives from the Malaysian word for Singapore. It originates from the Southeast Asian city of Singapore, an area generally recognized as the source for the ticked tabby gene pool. The ticked coat pattern and dark brown color are a common local combination. The Singapura is the smallest breed of cat, but it’s an energy-packed dynamo that wants to help you with everything. They get along with everyone, including children and other pets. Their short coat is easy to groom with weekly brushing. Find out more about this breed and if the Singapura is right for you and your family.

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All About Cats

Temperament

Playful

Height/Weight Range

Singapuras are small-to-medium cats but muscular and stocky.

Adult females

4-6 lbs.

Adult males

6-8 lbs.

Life Expectancy

11-18 years

Colors

Singapuras come only in a sable ticked tabby coloration with a variable range of tones. The preferred colorations are lighter ones, with high contrast tabby markings restricted to the inner front legs and knees.

Similar Breeds

Opposite Breeds

About The Breed

A small breed with a big personality, the Singapura loves to be in the middle of the action and thrives on attention. Nicknamed the Pura, the inquisitive Singapura is known for their energy. Their big, expressive eyes, big ears and extraordinary intelligence are distinct characteristics of this unique breed. While extremely active, they are also renowned for being highly affectionate. They get into everything and are not considered a four-paws-on-the-floor cat.

The Breed Standard

Overall impression of the ideal Singapura is a medium to small, compact cat with a striking face dominated by large eyes and ears. The intensely ticked coat has a muted iridescent quality giving the impression of refined and delicate coloring. The ideal Singapura cat does not bear a strong resemblance to any other recognized breed. This is not a long-bodied cat, nor should the torso be tubular. Males are proportionally larger than females. All Singapuras should have a lively interest in the surroundings and are, above all, outgoing, gentle cats, amenable to handling, well-balanced physically and of sound health.

Activity Level

Don’t mistake this small breed for being meek. The Singapura is considered a powerhouse. Singapuras are busy cats and fast learners. They are always looking for places to explore and things to do. They are not couch potatoes and thrive from high interaction. Some are very vocal and like to use their voice to communicate. They like closets, drawers and to access high places like the top of the refrigerator or shelves.

The Singapura is an extrovert and can usually get along with everyone, including other cats, dogs, and children. While very active, they also enjoy spending time on people’s laps or shoulders. When they are resting, they stay as close as possible to their humans. Singapuras do best in the company of another cat.

TICA Regions, Clubs & Rescues

Want to connect with fellow cat lovers and those who love the same breed as you?
TICA is a large resource made up of smaller regions and clubs around the world.
Click here to find a club near you and contact information for your regional director and website.

Wherever you are, you’re in TICA’s world!®

Find a Kitten: TICA Breeders

The TICA website is the only place where you can find TICA member breeders who have signed the TICA Code of Ethics.

Did You Know?

In 1991, the government of Singapore recognized the breed as a living national treasure. The breed was also once the Singapore Tourism Board’s national mascot.
The Singapura is the smallest breed of cat.
Since 2017, a small group of TICA breeders have been working together towards the introduction of new blood to the breed. The group introduced the unrelated females as new foundation into the collaborative breeding program out of Singapore. The females came with all the official government authorizations, microchip registration from the country of Singapore, certification of the origin, and health and genetic tests. Contact the TICA breed committee for more information on these recent initiatives.

Breed Information & Characteristics

Large celadon eyes twinkling with mischief in an angelic face help the Singapura reach out and capture the imagination while stealing the heart. These delightful, delicate-looking cats wear the colors of the old sepia photographs. They are into everything. When you find them engaged in some mischief, they look up at you with big innocent eyes. No matter what, the combination of those eyes and their enchanting personality quickly has you forgetting their antics and reveling in their affection. The Singapura is the smallest breed of cat. However, it is an energy-packed companion that wants to help you with everything you do. In 1991, the government of Singapore recognized the cats as a living national treasure.

The Singapura, whose name is Malaysian for Singapore, originates from Singapore in South East Asia. There, the ticked coat pattern and dark brown color form a common local combination, recognized as the original gene pool for ticked tabbies.

Hal and Tommy Meadow (USAF) brought the ticked cats home with them when they returned to the U.S. in the early 1970s. In 1971, Hal, a geophysicist working in South East Asia, sent some cats home to Tommy in the US. She proceeded to breed them. Hal transferred to Singapore in 1974, and they moved there with their cats: a blue Burmese, a spayed sable Burmese, and three ticked cats. The ticked cats were the grandchildren of the original cats Hal had sent to Tommy in 1971.

In 1975, they returned to the US with 5 brown ticked cats. These were Pusse, Ticle, Tes, and kittens from Pusse and Ticle named George and Gladys. Barbara Gilbertson imported another brown ticked cat, named Chiko, from the SPCA in Singapore in 1980. On their return to the US, the Meadows began a breeding program to establish the Singapura breed. They consulted a noted British geneticist on their concerns about inbreeding.

Occasionally, solid brown kittens appeared in the litters. By 1985, it was clear some Singapuras carried a recessive gene for solid color. Breeders established a test-mating program to identify the cats carrying solid. They eliminated these cats from the breeding stock. By 1988, breeders had identified only 7 cats and placed them as pets.

In 1987, an early Singapura breeder named Gerry Mayes went to Singapore to find more foundation cats. He brought some back to the US and registered them with TICA. Today, the breed is still rare but has a dedicated following among breeders and pet-owners. TICA accepted the Singapura for championship competition in 1979.

The impish Singapura is a curious, extroverted little cat that just has to help you with everything you do. Their intelligent, interactive personalities are one of their most endearing attributes. These inquisitive minxes are into everything. They are definitely not a four-paws-on-the-floor cat. Instead, they want to be high on your shoulder or the top of the kitchen cabinets. That way, they can have a bird’s eye view of everything that is going on.

They are affectionate cats that love to be with people. That might mean curling in a lap, riding a shoulder, or snuggling up in the bed at night. Lively and active, the Singapura is a gentle, playful cat with a soft, gentle voice. It also gets on well with other cats. Perhaps it is their kittenish looks and ways, or perhaps it is the shining innocence in their eyes. Somehow, the Singapura has a magical presence. It enchants all it comes in contact with, from people to other animals.

Singapuras come in one color only-but what an ethereal color! The coat has rich warm sable brown ticking against an old ivory background, often with yellow tones. The color fades on the undersides to unbleached muslin-just like the tones in old-fashioned sepia photographs. Eye colors are brilliant, rich, and deep, in shades ranging from celadon green through hazel or gold to copper. Dark mascara markings and facial lines offset these colors. A tabby M appears on the forehead. Bars on the inside of the front legs and on the knees of the back legs underscore the delicate coloring.

They are the smallest breed of cat. Their full size doesn’t develop until they are almost 2 years old. Vets who are unfamiliar with the breed may worry that something is amiss given a kitten’s small size. However, there is nothing wrong. Even when fully mature, Singapuras are small cats with little size difference between the males and the females. Males weigh 6 to 8 pounds, while females weigh 5 to 6 pounds.

They have rounded heads. The most noticeable features are the large, brilliantly colored eyes and the dominating large ears. Set just off the parallel, the ears give the cats a very alert expression. Their bodies are compact but powerful. This makes them little dynamos as they race to the next adventure on their strong, medium-boned long legs. While the boning is medium, the cats are small. Medium is a relative term in proportion to the overall frame of these little bundles of energy.

Despite the relatively small size of the breed population, lines differ in their health, life span and breeding performance. Use genetic testing panels to establish whether the cats carry any known genetic mutation associated with disease, such as pKDef, PRA, etc. Schedule heart health check-ups, as some lines have a high incidence of cardiomyopathies.

As with all cats, also keep their vaccinations and parasite treatments up to date and schedule regular veterinary appointments.

Singapuras have short hair coats that need little or no maintenance. If the cat is healthy, bathing is not necessary. Frequent brushing is something they love. Trim their nails every 3-4 weeks. Their ears rarely need cleaning.

As with all cats, brush their teeth regularly with a vet-approved pet toothpaste. Also, provide a nice tall scratching pole to help their natural scratching instinct.

Singapuras do very well on a high protein/ high fat diet. With dry formulas, look for 30% or higher protein and 18% or higher fat, and ideally no grain. A healthy cat regulates intake, so also keep dry food available at all times. Singapuras do very well with raw diets and love snacks such as freeze-dried chicken fish or shrimp.

As with all cats, it is important to give your cat fresh, clean water daily. Fresh, clean water is best, so cats don’t hesitate to drink. If you worry about your cat drinking enough water each day, here’s a tip from cat behaviorists. Place the water bowl at least three feet away from any food. Cats’ noses are sensitive and an overwhelming smell of food may cause them to drink less. If the quality of the local tap water is a concern, use bottled water or filter the water. You can also use filtered drinking fountains in place of a water bowl.

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Singapura Breed Committee (3)

Name	Email
Chair: Adriana Kajon	[email protected]
Chair: Vickie Shields	[email protected]
Catherine Bourreau	[email protected]

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Singapura

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