The Singapura is the smallest recognised breed, 1.8-3.6 kg fully grown, which changes the arithmetic of every care decision. A 100 g loss is 4% of body weight on a 2.5 kg cat; a 200 g gain is visible in the flank. Portions, weighing and water intake all need a finer scale than for a 6 kg breed.
Plan the year around a monthly weight, three small meals, an annual eye exam from age 5, and a house checked at cat height — because a cat this size fits through gaps a normal cat cannot.
The 100-gram rule
Weigh monthly on a kitchen scale, in grams, and keep a log. A healthy adult sits at 2.0-3.0 kg for females and 2.5-3.6 kg for males. Normal monthly variation is 40-60 g; a drop of 100 g or more, or a rise that stays for two months, is a change worth acting on rather than watching.
Body condition still applies: 4-5 out of 9, ribs easy to feel, a clear waist. This breed is naturally fine-boned and looks thin, so do not chase a heavier cat — a chubby Singapura at 4 kg is obese, not sturdy, and the extra weight lands on small joints.
Three meals, because the tank is small
Feed three measured meals a day, or two meals plus a timed feeder for the midday one. A 2.5 kg active adult needs roughly 150-180 kcal a day, split into portions of 50-60 kcal. Two large meals on a stomach this size produce vomiting within 30 minutes of eating, which owners often mistake for illness.
Kittens eat four meals until 6 months. Wet food at two of the three meals is the easiest way to keep water intake up, since this breed drinks small amounts often. Treats stay under 10% of calories, roughly 15 kcal — one or two small pieces, not a handful. More on meal spacing: feeding frequency.
The first year: growth checkpoints
A kitten weighs 60-80 g at birth and should double that in the first 10 days. By 8 weeks expect 500-700 g, at 4 months 1.2-1.6 kg, at 6 months 1.8-2.2 kg, and at 12 months 2.0-3.0 kg. Weigh weekly until 6 months: a kitten gaining under 50 g a week for two weeks needs a vet visit, not a bigger bowl.
Screening: PRA, PK and the muscle condition
Progressive retinal atrophy in this breed is late-onset: cats can be 5-8 years old before night blindness appears. A DNA swab gives the genotype; an affected cat needs a dilated eye exam yearly from age 5, plus a dim-light test at home — watch whether it hesitates at the stairs after dusk.
Pyruvate kinase deficiency and related inherited anaemias turn up in these lines, so ask for the DNA result and test once. A hereditary muscle weakness has been recorded in the breed; ask the breeder directly whether their lines have produced weakness or exercise intolerance, and have any cat with an odd gait examined rather than assuming it is laziness.
Warmth, height and small-cat proofing
This breed likes heat and height. A heated bed, a window perch at 1.2 m and a shelf at 1.8 m will all be used daily. Keep the room at 20-24 C; a 2.2 kg cat loses heat faster than a 6 kg one, and a cold Singapura eats more to compensate, which then shows on the scale.
Proofing is different from a normal kitten pass: block gaps behind appliances wider than 4 cm, fit drawer stops, and check the gap under the sofa. Screen windows with pet mesh and never leave a balcony door open — a cat this light can slip through a 6 cm opening. The standard proofing checklist covers most of it, with smaller measurements.
Teeth, eyes and the weekly ten minutes
Small mouths collect tartar fast. Brush three times a week from 4 months with a finger brush, and book a dental check every 12 months from age 1. Watch for a cat that chews on one side or drops hard food — in a mouth this small, one painful tooth changes eating quickly.
Wipe the eye corners with a damp pad weekly and check ears at the same time. Because PRA is late-onset, an annual dilated exam from age 5 is the single most useful screening item on this calendar; the DNA test tells you whether to start earlier.
When to call the vet
Any weight loss of 100 g or more in a month, no food for 18 hours (a smaller reserve than a big cat has), or reduced drinking for a day. Also: vomiting more than twice in 12 hours, sunken eyes or skin that stays tented when pinched — dehydration signs that appear fast at this body weight. Sleeping respiratory rate above 30 a minute is a call; above 40 is a drive.
The year at a glance
| Period | Weight and food | Health | Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan-Feb | Monthly gram weigh-in; 3 meals | Annual exam; dental check | Heated bed; drafts sealed |
| Mar-May | Shed: weekly glove wipe | Flea and worm schedule | Screened windows open |
| Jun-Aug | Watch water; wet food twice daily | Heat: no sunny windowsill | Room under 26 C |
| Sep-Nov | Weigh monthly; adjust by 10 g | Eye exam from age 5 | New perches; toy rotation |
| Dec | Yearly panel from age 8 | Blood pressure if over 8 | Holiday hazard sweep |
Six mistakes made with a very small cat
- Feeding two large meals and mistaking the vomit for illness.
- Judging weight by eye on a frame that always looks thin.
- Leaving gaps behind appliances a 2 kg cat walks through.
- Skipping the eye exam because the cat is only 5.
- Keeping the house at 18 C and wondering why it eats so much.
- Using a large litter box with high sides the cat must climb.
Start here this month
- Weigh in grams and start a log with the date.
- Split the day's food into three measured portions.
- Book the eye exam if the cat is 5 or older and never screened.
- Walk the kitchen at floor level and block every gap over 4 cm.
Frequently asked
How much should a Singapura weigh?
Females usually run 2.0-3.0 kg and males 2.5-3.6 kg, with 4-8 lb the full registered range. Weight alone is not the test: score body condition by hand, since the breed is fine-boned and looks thin at a healthy weight. A 4 kg Singapura is obese, and the extra load lands on very small joints.
Why does my Singapura vomit after meals?
Usually portion size. On a 2.5 kg cat the stomach holds roughly 30-40 g of food comfortably, so two large meals come back within half an hour. Split the daily ration into three portions of 50-60 kcal, use a slow feeder or a timed feeder for the midday meal, and if vomiting continues past a week, book a visit.
When should a Singapura start eye screening?
From age 5, because the breed's progressive retinal atrophy is late-onset and night blindness can appear at 5-8 years. A DNA swab tells you the genotype and whether to start earlier. At home, watch whether the cat hesitates on stairs after dusk; that is the earliest practical sign.