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Getting a Cat or Kitten
17 min read
| Family-friendly: | 3/5 |
| Playfulness: | 4/5 |
| Intelligence: | 5/5 |
| Likes Other Pets: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
| Shedding: | 2/5 |
Singapura
The Singapura is a pretty little cat, elegant, muscular and lithe but not extreme or harshly angular in build. Their head is rounded with a short broad muzzle, eyes are large, almond shaped, and come in hazel, green or yellow, with a strong black outline or eyeliner.
The Singapura coat is short and smooth, with agouti banded hairs that give the cat an attractively shaded coat.
Lifespan
11 - 15 years
Weight
2 - 3kg
Colours
Shaded coat, darker across the back, tail and legs, paler on the face, chest and belly.
The need-to-know
- Benefits from an experienced owner
- Needs high-level of enrichment including simulated hunting games and interactive play
- Playful and curious cat
- Sociable and dependent cat
- Slightly talkative cat
- Lean and elegant cat
- Requires grooming once a week
- Needs extensive outdoor space
- Great family cat
- Can be regularly left for a few hours
- Needs a calm environment
Generally healthy breed
Singapura cats can suffer from:
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency which is a disease that causes anaemia (death of red blood cells).
- Progressive retinal atrophy which is an inherited disorder where part of the eye degenerates and wastes away which can result in blindness.
Testing available:
- DNA testing for pyruvate kinase deficiency and progressive retinal atrophy which tests whether or not a cat has the potential to be affected by these conditions.
Personality
Often described as ‘impish’, this little cat with the large eyes and curious, extroverted nature is endlessly appealing. This is a ‘helpful’ cat, not quite the full chaos levels of many other oriental type cats, but very much inclined to be involved in your business, whatever that may be. Expect them to be sat on your paperwork, on your laptop or climbing around your shoulders or practicing the ancient feline art of ‘pushing things from high places’. Choose your household décor with caution when there is a Singapura around!
Friendly and affectionate with family and familiar friends, they can be a little aloof with strangers to begin with. Playful and lively, they are good with respectful children but will find a chaotic or loud household rather stressful.
Descended from the feral and ships’ cats brought to Singapore by traders throughout the centuries, the Singapura (Malaysian for ‘Singapore’) evolved into a naturally robust, intelligent and tough little cat. Fending for themselves in the gutters and drains of the city and harbour, the cats hunted vermin and at times, were considered vermin themselves and almost wiped out by the authorities.
Several cats caught the attention of USAF members, and they were taken back to the US, where they founded the recognised pedigree breed. Whilst still rare in the US and the UK, they are rapidly gaining in popularity due to their cheerful, friendly nature and appealing looks.
The Singapura will benefit from some outdoor space, ideally in the form of a secure cat run or ‘catio’, where there are climbing branches and high platforms to sunbathe on, and survey their world from. The fresh air and sunshine will help keep your cat healthy and reduce the risk of damage to your home.
The Singapura is too small, curious and agile to be left to roam free, as this is a cat who will very much get themselves into trouble, such as getting into delivery vans or visiting other people’s homes.
Climbing opportunities are vital, as are small spaces, tunnels, tubes and boxes, as the Singapura will enjoy snuggling into tight spots. Provide extensive cat trees, and ensure worksurfaces and shelves are free from small, ‘pushable’ objects… or these will come tumbling down!
Providing entertainment in the form of the traditional ‘thing on a string’, and food dispensing puzzle toys will also prove popular. Above all else, plenty of opportunity to snuggle and sit with you should be given.
Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.
The short, neat coat of the Singapura will need very little grooming, however a once-a-week routine comb-through will allow you a bonding experience and an opportunity to check for any wounds or parasites.
A greasy coat is a sign your cat is not self-grooming at all and this may indicate poor health.
As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended.
For the calmer family home with older children who can respect a cat’s space, the Singapura can make an excellent companion. Better suited to those home most of the time, as the Singapura is an affectionate and sensitive breed, who won’t appreciate long periods alone.
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