Personality:
- Curious, friendly, and extremely affectionate.
- Playful and maternal in nature.
History:
Originated from the natural cat gene pool of Southeast Asia. In 1975, three cats found on the streets of Singapore were imported to the United States and became the foundation for the breed. Another cat was obtained from the Singapore SPCA in 1980 for use in the breeding program. Accepted by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) for championship in 1988.
Body Type:
- Small, muscular, and moderately stocky.
- Rounded head with large eyes and ears.
- Feet are small for the size of the cat.
- Eyes color is hazel, green, or yellow with no other color permitted.
Coat:
- Coat is very short, silky, and close lying.
- Warm, ivory-ground color with warm, dark-brown ticking.
- Each hair should have at least two bands of dark ticking separated by light bands.
- Some barring on the inner front legs and back knees.
Health and Wellness:
- Because of the limited gene pool, occasionally kittens may have zyphoid sternums (protruding sternum bone) and/or juvenile heart murmurs.
- Although cats with these defects may be fine as pets, they should not be used in a breeding program.
- Kinked tails and white lockets are also seen from time to time. These minor aesthetic defects do not affect the well being of the cat, but are grounds for disqualification in the show ring.
What you should know:
- Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest breed of domestic cat.
- Considered to be a rare breed. Some kittens may be shy with strangers.
- Spend time with kittens before selecting your pet to insure that your kitten will have a sociable nature.
