Believe it or not, Singapura cats are descendants of shelter pets including at least one so-called “Drain cat” from Singapore. The story goes like this: A pair of cat aficionados named Hal and Tommy Meadow found a few of their first six foundation cats in Singapore, where this natural breed is known as the Drain Cat. These cats were small, with brown ticked tabby coats that are common throughout Southeast Asia.
Feline geneticists surmise that these kitties share some ancestry with Siamese, Abyssinian, and Burmese cats. This isn’t just a guess: In 2008, a DNA study showed little to no difference between Singapura and Burmese cats.
The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted the Singapura for registration in 1979. The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) granted the Singapura official recognition in 1982, and granted championship status in 1988.
Today, Singapura cats enjoy worldwide recognition. In Singapore, they have been elevated to national treasure status. There, Singapura cats are nicknamed Kucinta, which translates to “Love Cat” or “The one I love.”