Singapura Cat Breed Information
Also known as: Drain Cat
The smallest recognised pedigree cat breed, with adults often under 3 kg. The breed has a sepia ticked coat and unusually large eyes and ears for the small head.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, great with young children cat. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool.
About the Singapura.
The Singapura is the smallest recognised pedigree cat breed, with adults often weighing just 1.8 to 3 kg. The breed traces to street cats from Singapore (the original foundation cats reportedly lived in drain systems, hence the nickname). The coat is sepia ticked, and the head carries unusually large eyes and ears for the small frame.
Personality and behaviour
Affectionate, active, people-bonded and playful. The breed is intelligent and sociable, with a strong preference for company.
Care and grooming
Weekly rub with a rubber mitt.
Indoor vs outdoor in New Zealand
Indoor only. The very small size makes outdoor predation by dogs, possums or even larger cats a real risk.
Where to find a Singapura in New Zealand
NZCF lists registered breeders (NZCF Singapura). Litters are infrequent due to the breed’s small queen size and high caesarean rate. Expect a long waitlist, NZD 1,500 to 3,500.
The Singapura, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 4.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Pets
Physical
avg 1.5Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Social
avg 3.3Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Adaptability
Independence
Personality
avg 3.4Trainability
Energy Level
Vocal Level
Prey Drive
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Singapura.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Singapura costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Singapura costs about
$119per month
$27
$4
$21,377
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$27 / mo
$319/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$28 / mo
$340/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$39 / mo
$470/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$0 / mo
$0/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$25 / mo
$300/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $2,500 + setup $300) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Singapura compare?
This breed
Singapura
$21,377
13-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,800
- Food (lifetime)$4,147
- Vet (lifetime)$6,110
- Insurance (lifetime)$4,420
- Grooming (lifetime)$0
- Other (lifetime)$3,900
Reference
Average NZ cat
$23,600
14-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$500
- Food (lifetime)$7,000
- Vet (lifetime)$5,600
- Insurance (lifetime)$5,600
- Grooming (lifetime)$1,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,500
A Singapura costs about $2,223 less over a lifetime than the average nz cat, mostly lowerfood and higherpurchase + setup.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZ cat breeders test for these conditions and share results. The bigger health drivers for the breed appear in the Common group.
Occasional
2 conditionsPyruvate kinase deficiency
DNA test available.
Uterine inertia in queens
Small pelvis size means many Singapura litters require caesarean delivery, restricting breeder economics.
The Singapura in NZ.
- Popularity: A rare NZ pedigree breed with infrequent litters.
- Typical price: NZ$1500–3500 from registered breeders or rescues
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Lean coat means warm sleeping spots in cooler regions.
- Living space: Apartments suit the small size particularly well.
Who the Singapura is for.
Suits
- Households home most of the day
- Apartments (the small size suits compact homes)
- Owners wanting the smallest possible pedigree cat
Less suited to
- Households where the cat would be alone all day
- Outdoor-roaming setups
Common questions.
How small are Singapuras really?
Are Singapuras safe for households with dogs?
If the Singapura appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Abyssinian
Lithe, ticked-coated, and famously busy. The Abyssinian is one of the most active and intelligent cat breeds, often described as a small wild-cat in build with the temperament of a curious, people-oriented terrier.
Burmese
Compact, muscular shorthair famous for being intensely affectionate and following its person from room to room. Often called the "Velcro cat" for the way it sticks close. Vocal but soft-spoken, with a notable separation anxiety risk if left alone all day.
Tonkinese
A deliberate cross between Siamese and Burmese, the Tonkinese sits between its parent breeds in colour, build and temperament. Active, vocal, demanding, and a fixture in NZ Catz Inc and NZCF breeder lists.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.