Singapura

Origin: Although this breed has recently been discovered, it however has been described a lot so far. Singapura is the Singaporean word for the country itself. Kucinta, or love cat, is a name which is very often used in Singapore nowadays for this breed. His portrait is nowadays used as promotion material for the country of origin. The Meadow family lived in Singapore in the early seventies and returned to the USA with some of the local cats.    

They saw these cats in the sewers and lanes of Singapore and they attracted attention because of their common features.

They were small and that is why they fit in the sewers which they used a lot. They had a ticked fur pattern.

The three cats which they took from Singapore were the ancestors of the present Singapura population; Puss, Ticle and Tess. Later on Chico was imported in the USA in the eighties, just like some other Singapura’s from Singapore.  In 1987 Gerry Mayes, an American cat breeder, went to Singapore and came back with a number of cats, under which Littlesing Bull. There is also some doubt concerning the origin of this breed, because people claim that these cats would be a crossing between the Abyssinian and the Burmese. The discoverers of this breed, the Meadow family, deny this and further discuss this on their own site. A number of other breeds have been used to determinate the genotype of the Singapura. Kittens with an uniform colored fur were excluded for breeding and the carriers as well; they continued breeding with the pure agouti devolving cats.

Singapura’s in general were exported from the USA to countries worldwide but they cannot be called general and widespread. Most breeders can be found in England and in the USA.

Appearance:
The Singapura has a small figure (the smallest cat breed) but is solid and muscled. They should have large ears and eyes and in order to simplify it they only occur in one officially registered color: Sepia agouti.
It is a cat with a ticked fur, which means at least double ticking and the hair point is dark (brown). The undercoat, stomach, chest and area around the mouth have an ivory white color. They must have a stripe marking on the inside of their forepaws and on the knees as well.    

Stripe markings on the outside of the forepaws are considered a failure; the knees however may have a stripe marking on the outside.

An eel stripe is allowed and the top of the tail often shows a dark stripe which ends in the tail point. The tail isn’t very long and has a rounded point. The fur should be short, smooth and should feel soft. The eye color must be shining green or warm hazelnut to yellow; blue is not allowed.

They have a dark lineation around the eyes and also a dark line from the corner of the eye towards the nose; this certainly isn’t a tear spot.

They have a brick-red rhinarium with a dark uninterrupted lineation. The cheekbones have a soft brown shade just like the hind paws have above the heels.

The character:
The cat is very social and has a positive approach towards all housemates (people and pets). They usually avoid conflict situations so they hardly ever have a fight. Everything which is new is investigated, they want to be involved in everything and they will soon develop a routine which they love to preserve. If you for example give something sweet to them on a certain point in time they will always remind you to that. Because of their angelic appearance and questioning glance, it will be very hard to refuse them something.    
 

Breedinformation & pictures by: Singapura Cattery Child of Amenhotep.