This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Ryan Corrigan is a Licensed Veterinary Technician in California. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010. She is also a Member of the Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians since 2011.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Singapura cats were developed in Singapore in the 1970s by cat fanciers Hal and Tommy Meadow. They are now considered a mascot of Singapore’s tourism industry, and the Cat Fancier's Association in the United States officially recognized them in 1988. These cats are known for their distinctive coats, petite stature and curiosity. To determine if your cat is a Singapura, examine their physical appearance and observe their temperament.[1]
Steps
Examining Physical Appearance
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1Look for a short and smooth sepia-tone coat. Singapura cats are known for their smooth, short coats and sepia coloring. If your cat looks as though they could blend right into an old-timey photo, they could be a Singapura. Look for a tan to light brown color that’s “ticked” or flecked with small bits of white.[2]
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2Look for non-blue eyes that are large for your cat’s size. Singapura cats have big, expressive eyes that are large relative to their head and body size. Their eyes tend to be wide-set on their head, giving them an almost “bug eyed” appearance. Typical eye colors for Singapuras include yellow, green, hazel and brown.[3]Advertisement
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3Look for ears that are large for your cat’s size. Singapuras have exceptionally large ears for their head size. They might call to mind the large-eared cats pictured in hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt. Inside, these ears are usually pale in tone, but the coloring on the exterior may darken as it moves towards the tips.
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4Examine your cat’s face for cheetah lines. Singapuras often look like they’re wearing eyeliner. The breed has dark brown lines running from both eyes down along each side of the nose, much like a cheetah.[4]
- Use petting as an opportunity to really look at your cat’s face. Pet them gently, examining facial markings.
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5Weigh your cat. Singapura cats are petite in size, ranging from 4-8lb or 2-3.5kg. If you want to weigh your cat at home, a good method is to weigh just yourself, then weigh yourself holding your cat. The difference will be the cat’s weight.[5]
- Singapuras are so petite that often vets examining a Singapura kitten will think something is wrong with the kitten’s growth. This is just the way the breed is.
Observing Temperament
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1Engage your cat in play. Singapura cats are exceptionally playful and are unusual in that they don’t outgrow their kittenish desire for play when they become adults. They are very high energy, don't tire easily, and tend to be good with other cats and pets. In particular, they are known to chase balls of paper or climb curtains. Create a lightweight ball out of crumpled paper or tinfoil and try to engage your cat in play to gauge their interest.[6]
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2Place your cat in your lap. Singapuras love to sit in laps and crave human company. Place your cat in your lap to assess their interest in being with you.
- Singapuras get lonely easily and are often unhappy staying home by themselves for long stretches of time. If your cat displays destructive behavior when you are gone and meets the other criteria, it’s possible you have a Singapura.
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3Look for a curious cat. Singapura cats are known to be very curious, often to the point of getting into mischief. However, they are not usually destructive. To test your cat’s curiosity, show them a toy then hide it behind a piece of paper. If your cat seeks out the toy even when it’s hidden, they are naturally inquisitive.[7]
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4Talk to your cat. Singapuras are not usually big talkers, and when they do “speak” their voices are tiny. Try to engage your cat in a conversation by chatting with them about toys or food. If you’re not getting much response, it could be that your cat is vocally shy, like a typical Singapura.
References
- ↑ http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/singapura-cats#/slide/1
- ↑ http://cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsSthruT/Singapura.aspx
- ↑ http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/cats-101/videos/singapura/
- ↑ http://www.petmd.com/cat/breeds/c_ct_singapura
- ↑ http://www.cat-breeds-encyclopedia.com/Singapura-cat.html
- ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/cats/singapura
- ↑ http://www.petful.com/misc/how-smart-are-cats/
About This Article
To identify a Singapura cat, look for a cat with a short, smooth sepia-toned coat, wide non-blue eyes, exceptionally large ears, and dark brown lines running down the sides of its nose. You should also weigh the cat to see that it is between 5 and 8 pounds, as Singapura cats tend to be very petite. They are also very playful, but tend to be very vocally shy, so when you talk to your cat, try encouraging it to meow back at you. If you don’t get much of a response, your cat might be a Singapura! For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, like how to test your cat’s curiosity, keep reading!
