The Singapura is defined by its alert and healthy appearance, presenting a small to medium-sized, muscular body coupled with strikingly large eyes and ears that are proportionally significant to its head. This breed exudes an illusion of delicate refinement in its coloration. Below is a detailed breakdown of the breed standard.
Point Score for Singapura Cats
| Point Score | HEAD (15) |
|---|---|
| Skull shape | 4 |
| Width at eye | 4 |
| Muzzle shape | 4 |
| Profile | 3 |
| EARS (10) | |
| Size | 4 |
| Set | 4 |
| Openness | 2 |
| EYES (10) | |
| Size | 6 |
| Shape | 3 |
| Color | 1 |
| BODY, LEGS and TAIL (20) | |
| Neck | 3 |
| Proportion | 10 |
| Legs and feet | 5 |
| Tail | 2 |
| COAT | 15 |
| COLOR & MARKINGS (30) | |
| Color | 10 |
| Ticking | 9 |
| Facial Markings | 6 |
| Leg Markings | 5 |
General Appearance of the Singapura Cat
The ideal Singapura cat breed standard embodies an alert and healthy feline of small to medium size, characterized by a muscular physique. Distinctive features include notably large eyes and ears, which are in harmonious proportion with the head, contributing to the Singapura’s unique charm. The overall impression is one of refined elegance and delicate coloring, making the Singapura a captivating breed.
Head Conformation
In evaluating the Singapura head, specific traits are paramount. The skull should exhibit a rounded contour both from front to back and side to side, presenting a rounded width at the outer eye that gracefully narrows towards a clearly defined whisker break. The muzzle is described as medium-short and broad, culminating in a blunt nose. In profile, the skull maintains its rounded form with a gentle curve situated well below eye level. A straight line from the nose to the chin is essential, complemented by a well-developed chin.
Ears
The ears of a Singapura are a defining characteristic, being large, slightly pointed, and wide open at the base, suggesting a deep cup shape. They are medium set on the head, with the outer lines of the ears extending upwards at an angle that is slightly wider than parallel. The size of the ears is critically important; small ears are considered a serious fault in judging a Singapura.
Eyes
Singapura eyes are large and almond-shaped, set wide open to reveal a slight slant. They should be neither protruding nor recessed, and set with a space of at least an eye’s width between them. Acceptable eye colors include hazel, green, or yellow, with no other colors permitted in the breed standard. Brilliance of eye color is highly preferred. Similar to ear size, small eyes are also considered a serious fault in Singapura cats.
Body, Legs and Tail Structure
The Singapura cat presents a small to medium overall size. Its body is moderately stocky and muscular, with legs and body forming a square stance. The mid-section should be firm, not tucked up, indicating a robust build.
Neck
The neck of the Singapura tends to be short and thick, supporting its muscular frame.
Legs and Feet
Legs are heavy and well-muscled at the body, tapering down to small, short, and oval-shaped feet. This contributes to the balanced and proportionate appearance of the Singapura.
Tail
The tail length is specified to be shorter than the shoulder when laid along the torso. It tends towards a slender form, but not whippy, and finishes with a blunt tip, adding to the Singapura’s distinctive silhouette.
Coat Characteristics
The Singapura cat’s coat is fine, very short, and possesses a silky texture that lies very close to the body. This contributes to the breed’s sleek appearance. A springy coat is considered a fault in the breed standard.
Singapura Color Standard: Sepia Agouti
The Singapura cat breed standard exclusively recognizes the Sepia Agouti color. This specific coloration is defined as dark brown ticking on a warm old ivory ground color. Each hair is required to exhibit at least two bands of dark ticking, separated by lighter bands, with the lightest portion being closest to the skin and culminating in a dark tip. The tail tip is notably dark, with the color extending back towards the body on the upper side. A spine line is not considered a fault.
The muzzle, chin, chest, and underside of the Singapura should present the color of unbleached muslin. It is typical for Singapura cats to display some barring on the inner front legs and back knee only. Allowance is made for undeveloped ticking in kittens. The hair between the toes should be dark brown.
Facial Markings
Distinct facial markings are desirable in the Singapura breed. These include dark lines extending from the brows and the outside corners of the eyes, as well as “cheetah lines”—dark lines extending downwards alongside the nose bridge from the inner corners of the eyes. Cheekbone shading is also a desirable trait. Eyeliner, lips, whisker apertures, and noseliner should all be dark brown.
Nose leather: ranges from pale to dark salmon.
Paw Pads: are rosy brown.
Salmon tones in the ears and nose bridge are not considered a fault and are acceptable within the breed standard.
Penalties and Disqualifications
Penalize:
- Coldness or gray tones in the coat.
- Gray undercoat next to the skin.
- Barring on outer front legs.
- Necklaces (markings resembling necklaces around the neck).
- Non-visible tail faults.
- Lack of nose liner.
Disqualify:
- White spotting.
- Barring on the tail.
- Unticked top of the head.
- Unbroken necklaces or leg bracelets (solid, unbroken markings).
- Very small eyes or ears.
- Visible tail faults.
- Blue eyes.
- Any color other than sepia agouti (dark brown ticking on an old ivory undercoat).
This comprehensive guide outlines the breed standard for the Singapura cat, emphasizing the key characteristics that define this unique and charming breed.
