Singapura Breeders and other links
History
The Singapura is the worlds smallest domestic cat. They were only recognised as a breed in 1974 when the first Singapura was found living wild as a street cat on the island of Singapore. It is from the local word for the island of their origin, Singapura, that the breed takes it's name.
It seems likely that the breed has existed in its current type for perhaps 300 years, being descended from cats arriving from all parts of the world on trading ships, and perhaps even crossed with already resident feral, or wild cats. They are one of three typical 'types' living in Singapore, the other two be akin to the Abyssinian and the Japanese Bob-tail. Singapuras lived in small colonies throughout the city, and were periodically culled by the authorities who considered them to be vermin. It was one such cull prior to a Royal visit in 1974 that would have appeared to have almost wiped out the breed, and meant that only three cats matching the description of the breed could be found and exported to the States. It is from these three cats, and a fourth found in 1980, that the entire breed has descended.
Because of the fact that the breed was considered as vermin in its native country, many of the cats lived in the sewers and gutters of the city, earning themselves the nickname of 'Drainpipe Cats'.
The Singapura descended from a cat that is native to Singapore and is also referred to as the drain cat in Singapore. The original Singapuras were imported to the United States in the early 1970's. Another cat was imported in 1980 by Barbara Gilbertson.
Type and characteristics
Body, legs and feet
The appearance of an alert healthy small to medium sized muscular bodied cat with noticeably large eyes and ears. Cat to have the illusion of refined, delicate coloring. Legs and Feet: Legs heavy and muscled at the body tapering to small short oval feet.
Head
Skull rounded with rounded width at the outer eye narrowing, definite whisker break and a medium-short broad muzzle with a blunt nose. In profile a rounded skull with a very slight stop well below eye level. Straight line nose to chin. Chin well developed.
Ears
Large, slightly pointed, wide open at the base, and possessing a deep cup. Medium set. Outer lines of the ear to extend upward at an angle slightly wide of parallel. Small ears a serious fault.
Eyes
Large, almond shaped, not round but held wide open showing slant. Neither protruding nor recessing. Eyes set not less than an eye width apart. Color hazel, green or yellow with no other color permitted. Brilliance preferred. Small or non-slanted eyes a serious fault.
Body
Small to medium overall size cat. Moderately stocky and muscular. Body, leg and floor to form a square as viewed from shoulder blades to base of tail. Mid-section not tucked but firm. Neck short and thick.
Tail
Length to be short of the shoulder when laid along the torso. Tending toward slender but not whippy. Blunt tip.
Coat
Fine, very short, lying very close to the body. Springy or plush coat a serious fault.
Color:
Sepia agouti. Color to be dark brown ticking on a warm old ivory ground color. Warm light shades preferred. Muzzle, chin, chest and stomach the color of unbleached muslin. Nose leather pale to dark salmon. Eyeliner, nose outline, whisker apertures, hair between the toes to be dark brown. Foot pads rosy brown. Salmon tones to the ears and nose bridge preferred.
Markings
Each hair to have at least two bands of dark ticking separated by light bands. Light next to skin and dark tip. Dark tail tip with color extending back toward the body on the upper side. Cat to show some barring on inner front legs and back knee only. Spine line NOT a fault.
Accepted Colors
Sepia
Singapura Breeders and other links
More Breed Descriptions on the Net
CFA Breed Profile - http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/singapura.html
Breed Article - http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/articles/singapura.html
Singapura Breed Council - http://www.singapurabc.org/
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