Singapura Cat

What you Need to Know about the Singapura

The Singapura is one of the smallest of all pedigree cats. Also known as the ‘Pura’, they're remarkably intelligent and like to be everyone's best friend.

Be warned, though. This is a cat that can make its owners mad! They love to work things out, and that can include things like playing telephone messages and opening windows.  

For its small size, the Singapura has a muscular body and eyes that seem a little too big for its small head. At least their ears are in proportion! 

Is the Singapura that small? Yes, a full-grown adult male will weigh about 6 pounds. Females are even smaller and won't move the scales much past the 4-pound mark.

Appearance Matters. What does a Singapura look like?

Much smaller than your average feline, the Singapura is known as one of the smallest cat breeds. 

Singapura cat size comparison to a common house cat

If you think about an average size cat, then a good Singapura cat size comparison would be about half of the normal house cat size. 

An average-sized cat can be as long as 18 inches (without a tail) and weigh around 10 pounds. The Singapura can be between 9 and 12 inches (without a tail) and weigh between 4 and 8 pounds.

But don't let that small size fool you. They have large intelligent eyes that will follow you wherever you go. 

These eyes might seem a little too big for their small heads but can be a gorgeous green, yellow, or hazel. 

They also have a normal length tail and small feet. Having a quick look, you could be forgiven for thinking you're looking at a small Abyssinian cat.  

With a medium length muscular body and a warm sepia brown colored coat, this small cat certainly makes an appearance. This coloring is very specific to the breed and reminds us of wild cougars.

The color of the coat is also enhanced by the Burmese gene. This results in the sepia brown exterior blending with a rich 'old ivory' base coat.

Alternating bands of color can also be seen on individual hairs. This is as a result of the dominant ticked tabby gene. The same effect can be seen on cats like the Abyssinian and makes for subtle color changes within the lovely coat.

Singapura kittens are slow developers, and you might have to wait up to 24 months before they reach their full size 'potential'.

It's all Personal. The Singapura Personality

The Singapura cat personality can be described as one of affection and warmth. They are also ever curious, playful, and natural extroverts. 

They love to investigate what's going on and will try and get involved in whatever you are doing. This might be as simple as wanting that pen in your hand or 'helping' you with the computer keyboard.  

One Singapura owner had quite an unusual and charming story about their cat. His pet had a habit of pressing the alarm clock 'snooze' button in the morning because it didn't like the alarm sound. Try explaining that to the boss when you're late for work!

The solution ended up being hiding in the alarm clock in a drawer so the cat couldn't get to it.

Singapura's have a reputation for being quite easy to train. There's no doubt that these are intelligent cats who love the interaction. 

Stories of these cats being trained tricks are common. These include shaking 'hands' and sitting on command. There are even reports that some Singapura cats have learned to use human toilets.

Whilst not as active as their Abyssinian ancestor, they have plenty of energy. If you're looking for a completely laid back pet, then this cat probably isn't for you. But there's no doubt that the Singapura is an easy cat to love and care for. 

They'll also be friendly with everything and everyone, including other cats, dogs, and children.

Caring for your Singapura

Singapura cats are very easy to care for, and that's not only because they're so small. Weekly grooming is all that is required to keep their short coat looking great. They also don’t shed a lot of hair, which can be great for your home and health.

Is the Singapura hypoallergenic? Your Pura doesn’t fit into the ‘heavy shedder’ category but like all cats, they are not completely hypoallergenic. If your allergy symptoms are mild and you regularly groom your new friend, then the Singapura might be ok for you. 

Your cat shouldn't need a bath, either. Their short coat won't need it unless they've been exploring somewhere they shouldn't. If you do find that you need to bathe your cat then make sure to towel dry only. 

Add nail trimming and cleaning of the ears into the routine, and grooming is nearly complete. Don't forget to check out the eyes as well and wipe away any natural discharge with a soft, damp cloth.

Being a small cat, you might want to consider keeping your 'Pura' as an indoor cat only. This will protect them from animal attacks and any diseases that other cats might have.

The Health and Happiness of your Singapura

This breed is generally healthy, although the impacts of its small gene pool are not yet fully known. Long term health for future Singapura cats will depend on the amount of outcrossing of the breed.

Some conditions that do affect Puras include:

• Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency. A deficiency with red blood cells this condition can lead to anemia in male and female Singapura's. There is a test available for this. Symptoms can be vague but look out for lethargy, lack of appetite, and weight loss.
• Uterine inertia. This is a condition associated with female Singapura cats only. The breed is known for having weak uterine muscles. This can lead to complications during birth.

Affected females might need to have Cesarean sections to help with their labor.

What is the Singapura cat lifespan?

A healthy Singapura cat can expect to have a healthy lifespan of between 10 and 15 years.

How Do I Find Reputable Singapura Cat Breeders?

This extremely small cat breed is also quite rare, so finding a breeder can be quite the predicament.

Still, we’re here to help, so check out our list of Singapura cat breeders. We update it regularly, so make sure to visit from time to time and try to catch a good breeder that will provide this cat to you.

Singapura cats are priced between $800 and $2,000, which is about the normal price for a rare cat breed.

Feline History. Where does the Singapura come from?

The Singapura came from the streets of Singapore. For such a lovely-looking feline, it has the unfortunate nicknames of 'sewer' or 'drain' cat.

It is reported that expats Hal and Tommy Meadow first brought the breed to the US in the 1970s. This is despite later controversy suggesting that the cat was exported to Singapore from the U.S.

These claims have since been rejected by breeder associations. The Singapura breed is recognized around the world today by many cat associations.

Registration with the CFA was accepted in 1982. The breed was accepted for championship competition in 1988.