History of The Singapura Cat

Cats of Asia come in many forms and cover short to long hair strains. Another cat of significance that has popped up in the breeding world is the Singapura cat. This cat follows the tradition of its Asian cousins by maintaining an exotic appearance. Its wide and rounded eyes stand out from the traditional slanted eyes that the Asian Group typically possess. As the name suggests, it is a cat that has roots from Singapore and have been known to roam the streets of the country for many years. Singapore, as a relatively new country had exposure of its cats in the mid-70s. After a matter of years, the cats were officially recognised by various associations around the world as a fancy. After their initial discovery, a number of breeding programmes were put into place to ensure the development of the breed.

When discovered, the cats were initially in a wild and uncontrolled state. The initial perception of this cat was wild and was heavily associated with taking residence near drains. Consequently, they were referred to as the drain cats and were not part of the general domesticated population. Much of the social perception around cats in Singapore would soon shift as breeding programmes would realise the official Singapura breed after a number of years. The reform in cat reception of the country saw the adoption of these cats as the national feline and they were renamed as the loving and affectionate cat. A fitting name that encompasses the true nature of these elegant and petite cats.

Despite being known as the Singapura cat of Singapore, discoveries relating to the lineage of these cats were under scrutiny. It was revealed shortly after being recognised as a breed by various associations, import records stated that the Singapura may have not occurred naturally at all. The possibility of a cross between two other Asian cats were possibilities and they may have been imported to the country and then out again. Despite this possibility however, it was ruled that the breeding origin was not an issue and the founding components of the stable breed were indifferent. Origin of breeding was not an issue and its status as a natural breed remained unchanged. The attention and history around the Singapura cat is a relatively new yet interesting one that has mustered much attention from both the local nation and the global industry as a whole.