Mary Allen
The Singapura cat is a very small cat. It resembles a Siamese cat in appearance. Presumably, it is descended from the Siamese via the Burma cat. It is reported that Abyssinian cats are also ancestors.
Origin and Breed History
Reliable information on the original breeds of this new breed is not known. With “Singapura” this cat was given an oriental-sounding name; the Malay word for Singapore. However, the Singapura is a breed from the USA, where attempts have been made to create a mini cat since the 1970s. Similar to the toy, teacup, or mini breeds in dog breeds such as Chihuahua or Yorkshire Terrier, such efforts may not be without health risks for the animals.
Too much dwarfism can limit some of the cat’s body functions. The blueprint of the dog or domestic cat species is only made for sizes up or down within a certain range. How far this applies to Singapore is not known. Singapura cats over one pound should not be affected by these issues. It is simply too rare for a well-founded assessment, at least in Germany. In any case, friends of exotic pedigree cats can look forward to having a very small, very graceful cat friend in the Singapura. In 2014 the Singapura cat received official recognition from the Fédération Internationale Féline.
Description
The Singapura cat is a small, shorthair cat. The fine, silky texture of their fur and their very special color variation is striking. Only one color is allowed: sepia ticked. The coloring goes back to the original breeds. Burma and Siamese are so-called point cats. The coat colors are created by a mutation called partial albinism, or acromelanism. The color of the fur is, therefore, lighter, while the so-called points, which are darker in color, appear on the cooler regions of the body such as the face, ears, legs, and tail.
The kittens are born light and only darken later. A special gene variant of acromelanism was introduced into the breed via the Abyssinian cat, which ultimately gives the fur a silky appearance. The breeders call this ticking. With a ticked coat, each individual hair has several bands or ringlets. The fur as a whole does not show any markings except for an iridescent, silky structure, in the case of the Singapura: sepia ticked. According to the standard, the coat color is sometimes not fully mature until the age of 2 to 3 years. The fur should also be very short and close-fitting. It has no undercoat. What is striking about the Singapura are the large, expressive eyes and large ears. The Singapura weighs between 2.5 and 4 kilograms, male cats are naturally a bit heavier.
Temperament and Essence
Due to the original races Siam and Burma, the Singapura has a very people-oriented, friendly nature. They are just a loving breed and seek closeness to their people, with whom they can develop a close bond. It is also a good breed of cat for families. Of course, the predatory cat’s urges are still alive in a Singapura cat. She is also stronger and fitter than her delicate-looking physique suggests. She has keen senses and good reflexes and likes to play extensively. For this purpose, the trade offers a lot of suitable cat toys such as a game rod or a spring stick. You can play with it a lot. Singapura cats like to exercise in nature, but their urge to do so is not particularly developed compared to other cats. A sheltered balcony with climbing opportunities and a shelter are also ideal for them.
Attitude
The Singapura cat is an ideal breed to be kept indoors as a house cat. It is very undemanding and frugal with regard to its keeping conditions but needs an intimate relationship with its two-legged friends. Singapura loves to experience the common experience with people or the animal partners in her family and does not have to be outdoors to feel completely comfortable. But she doesn’t want to be left alone for long. She is happy to have a suitable second cat by her side. Singapura cats are extremely sociable and get on very well with other animal housemates. However, both cats and dogs, for example, should have been used to each other with a little patience. The play partner of a Singapura cat shouldn’t be too rough with this graceful beauty.
Upbringing
Singapura is easy to educate. If it comes from a reputable breeder who has looked after and socialized parent animals and kittens well, then it will fit into the rules and habits of its family by itself. With a little guidance, she can be house-trained quickly and easily.
Care and Health
The silky fur of the Singapura cat should be brushed regularly. However, it is relatively easy to care for as it does not tend to become matted due to the lack of an undercoat.
Diseases Typical of the Breed
Breeds of this breed naturally suffer from the risk of severe inbreeding. This not infrequently leads to immune deficiencies, sickness, and shortened life expectancy. A number of hereditary diseases common inbreeding can occur in the Singapura, but no documentation is known about this.
Nutrition / Feed
The Singapura cat is usually a problem-free border for a cat.
Life Expectancy
A Singapura, bred without inbreeding and not too small, can easily live to be more than 12 years old. Inbreeding can dramatically reduce the life expectancy of this breed of cats.
Singapura Cat Buy
If you want to get a Singapura, you should make sure with the breeder that parents and kittens grow up in good circumstances, especially with a close social connection to the human family. You should look at the family tree. No ancestor should appear twice here in order to rule out excessive inbreeding. Both parent animals should weigh no less than 2.5 kilograms. Singapura kittens have a particularly seductive charm. But you shouldn’t let that mislead you when buying. A seriously bred Singapura should cost around € 700 to € 1500.