Singapura breed guide

Extroverted and people-oriented, a Singapura helps with everything: cooking dinner, typing on the computer, making the bed and then cuddling under the covers. It does not lie on the couch looking decorative.

Confident in familiar territory, it may turn wary if something substantial changes. CFA says to give it time and gentle reassurance.

Playful and curious, the Singapura feels compelled to investigate whatever has your attention. CFA says the love of play continues well into adulthood and the energy level rarely flags with age.

Relatively quiet and best in a quiet environment, it can still speak up surprisingly loudly. Small in stature, it gets what it wants in a low-key way, so effortlessly that owners rarely notice or object.

The short close-lying coat does not shed heavily and needs only minimal grooming. A weekly combing removes dead hair, conditions the coat and doubles as bonding time and bathing is for show cats.

Given street-cat ancestry, CFA says most Singapuras are vigorous and very few health problems have been recorded. Breeders test genetically and remove carriers, though not every condition is detectable, so CFA suggests asking about progressive retinal atrophy, which can cause blindness, in the lines.

CFA classes the Singapura as a natural breed believed to descend from street cats. Hal and Tommy Meadow, Americans who had been working in Singapore, brought five Singapuras to the United States in 1975 and a sixth was imported from Singapore in 1980.

CFA accepted the breed for registration in 1981 and championship status followed in 1988.