Singapura Cat Breed: Info, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

Have you ever heard the phrase “dynamite comes in small packages?” The Singapura may be the world’s smallest cat but is the absolute epitome of this phrase. Singapuras attract a great deal of attention for their tiny frames, delicate features, and big, beautiful eyes. They’re also little firecrackers, happy to dart around after toys, climb to new heights, and explore as they are to cuddle up in their human’s lap for hours.

Breed Overview

In this post, we’ll share all you could possibly want or need to know about Singapuras if you’re considering adopting one. Read on to find out more!

Singapura Cat Characteristics

Singapura Kittens

Singapura kittens don’t come cheap. Females cost more than males as a rule, due to people wanting to breed them. If possible, it is better to adopt a Singapura that needs a new home. Due to their uniqueness and popularity, if you see a Singapura up for adoption, you’ll need to move fast as they’ll likely be snapped up by fellow cat lovers pretty quickly.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Singapura

The Singapura is highly intelligent and needs a lot of mental stimulation. They love playing and enjoy toys that challenge them a bit, so you might want to think about getting some interactive cat toys for your Singapura. A great idea would be a treat-feeding puzzle toy or something obstacle-based.

Because they’re so intelligent, it should come as no surprise that Singapuras are also very inquisitive and like to involve themselves in everything. Whether that’s exploring your home, picking out their favorite spot on your windowsill, or being “helpful” while you’re typing away on your computer, the Singapura is never far away from their nearest and dearest.

Best of all, Singapuras are friendly, affectionate, and extroverted. They love spending time with their people and greatly appreciate quality cuddle time, though they do need their alone time, too, on occasion. Despite being so extroverted, Singapuras are pretty sensitive cats. They don’t do well in environments where there’s a lot of noise like bangs, crashes, or shouting, for example. Singapuras are more suited to quiet, peaceful environments.

Potential Singapura parents should also note that this breed doesn’t take well to being left alone for long periods of time. They become very close to their people and are susceptible to the negative effects of prolonged loneliness or isolation. If you work a lot or take a lot of vacations, a Singapura may not be the best breed for you.

Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪

Generally, yes. Singapuras are very devoted cats and they thrive on love and attention from their families. As mentioned, Singapuras are sensitive to loud sounds so they may be more suited to homes with older children.

Children must be able to understand and respect the Singapura’s need for a calm, quiet environment. Though they can often be found darting about looking for new nooks and crannies to explore or playing with their humans, Singapuras are a pretty delicate breed.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

The Singapura can certainly get along with other pets, including dogs. If you have a dog that barks a lot, it may not be a good fit as Singapuras value tranquility. If your dog is calm and isn’t prone to excessive barking, there’s no reason why your Singapura won’t get used to them. They may even begin to rule the roost—Singapuras may be tiny, but they’ve got massive personalities, after all!

Things to Know When Owning a Singapura:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Like other cats, Singapura cats are carnivores, and as such, need an animal product-based diet. High-quality commercial cat foods are a great option as they’re specially formulated and contain all the proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals that your Singapura needs.

Their needs don’t really differ from those of other cat breeds—in short, they require a high-quality, nutrient-rich diet and plenty of clean drinking water at all times.

Exercise 🐕

The Singapura may be pint-sized, but their energy levels are certainly not! This is not the kind of cat that spends the whole day slumbering on the sofa. Singapuras need a cat parent who will set aside time for daily play to ensure their need for physical and mental stimulation is being met. They enjoy chasing, running, playing with interactive toys and can even learn to play games like fetch.

As Singapuras are house cats, it is also a good idea to provide scratching posts to satisfy their natural scratching urges and, of course, cat trees. In their downtime, the curious Singapura loves nothing more than perching atop something tall, watching the outside world go by.

Training 🎾

The Singapura is easy to train. You should have no problem training this whip-smart cat in basic house training, like how to properly use the litter box. Likewise, it isn’t especially hard to train a Singapura to follow basic commands like “come!” or “go find!” A few of your Singapura’s favorite treats may be a useful aid here, as well as lots of praise and positive reinforcement.

Grooming ✂️

As a short-haired breed, the Singapura doesn’t shed much so doesn’t require much help grooming-wise. That said, it’s not a bad idea to set time aside for a weekly grooming session. Grooming is a fantastic way to bond with your cat, as this is something they regularly do to themselves and each other. Start with very light, gentle brushes to get them used to the new sensation.

If your Singapura doesn’t sit still, stop brushing and sit there with the brush, allowing them to sniff it and get accustomed to the strange new object. If they walk away, wait until they come back and give a few more light brushes. Over time, your Singapura should get used and may even start to love the sensation of being brushed.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Singapuras are a generally healthy breed, but there are still some health conditions to keep an eye out for, as with any cat. As a rarer cat breed, it’s more difficult to find and collect data on health conditions that Singapuras are more prone to than other breeds. Researchers have to look at breeds genetically linked to the Singapura to predict potential health issues that the Singapura may experience.

Some of the potential health issues that researchers have linked to Singapuras include heart disease, Arterial Thromboembolism, Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), and Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency. All cat breeds have the potential to experience certain health conditions, both serious and minor, so this doesn’t mean that your Singapura will get any of the diseases linked to the breed. It’s always a good idea to be vigilant, though.

Male vs Female

Males tend to be slightly larger than females and as such, may weigh a little more, too. Apart from this, there aren’t any major gender-based differences. The only differences in male and female behavior tend to occur when the cat is unneutered or unspayed, or if the female Singapura is pregnant. This is the same across every cat breed, though.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Singapura Cat

1. They have a few different names.

The Singapura is considered Singapore’s national cat and even serves as the mascot for the Singaporean Tourist Board. In Singapore, the breed is known as “Kucinta,” which is a blend of Malay words “kucing,” which means “cat” and “cinta,” which means “love.” Some refer to Singapuras as “Drain Cats,” likely due to their reputation for having been discovered on the streets.

2.  Singapuras are always the same color.

Unlike many other cat breeds, Singapuras only come in one color—one that can be best described as sepia. The type of coat pattern the Singapura has is called “ticked tabby”.

3. Controversy surrounds the Singapura’s origins.

It was once thought that the Singapura originated from the streets of Singapore. It was later found that they may have, in fact, been bred in the U.S. and taken into Singapore. Despite the confusion as to the Singapura’s exact origins, The Cat Fanciers Association(CFA) continued to consider it a natural breed after investigating the claims.

Final Thoughts

The Singapura is the jewel of the cat world—tiny, delicate, and beautiful with a brilliant personality. As long as you can provide a loving, not-too-noisy living environment and would enjoy spending time with your Singapura as much as they would enjoy spending time with you, this could be the right breed for you. Just remember that Singapuras need lots of mental stimulation, attention, and though they’re small, they have a desire to be a huge part of your life!

See Also:

• How Much Are Cats at PetSmart?
• Burmilla Cat Breed: Info, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

Featured Image Credit: jojosmb, Shutterstock