Singapura Cat Names, Names For Singapura Kittens
The Singapura is the smallest pedigreed cat breed. Adult males weigh 6 to 8 pounds; females 4 to 6. The coat is a single colour — sepia agouti, dark brown ticking on a warm old-ivory ground, with cheetah-line markings running from the inner eye corner down the cheek. Eye colour is restricted to hazel, green, or yellow. In 1991 the Singapore government recognised the breed as a living national treasure and used it as a Tourism Board mascot.
The origin story has a twist. The official version: Hal and Tommy Meadow returned from Singapore in 1975 with cats they said had been picked up from local street populations. CFA registered the breed in 1981 and granted Championship in 1988. The local name — Kucinta, the Love Cat — appeared on the breed paperwork.
In 1987, American breeder Jerry Mayes went to Singapore on a cat-finding trip and found importation papers showing the Meadows' three foundation cats had been brought *into* Singapore from the United States in 1974, registered as Abyssinians. The Meadows had been breeders of Abyssinians, Burmese, and Siamese in the US. Hal Meadow later told CFA the cats were grandchildren of four cats he had sent back from a previous Singapore trip in 1971 — something his wife Tommy had not mentioned. CFA investigated and found no wrongdoing, keeping natural-breed status. A 2007 DNA study later showed very few genetic differences between Singapura and Burmese.
The breed is genuine; the paperwork is more complicated than the marketing suggests. For naming, lean into the Malay-language and Singapore side honestly: Kucinta, Cinta (love), Merlion, Sayang (darling), Bintang (star). Or the foundation cats: Pusse, Tess, Faye Raye (the first UK Singapura, 1988), Chiko. Or the size — Pip, Pixie, Bean, Mochi, Peanut — names that fit a four-pound adult.
Name Ideas from This Breed Collection
An introductory selection from this editorial collection, ordered by catalog ID. This is not a popularity ranking. Browse the alphabetical list below for all 458 options.
Meanings, origins and pronunciations appear only for records with checked sources. Blank fields have not been verified. Gender and collection labels are browsing choices.
| Name | Meaning | Gender | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abby | Female | ||
| Abbymini | Female | ||
| Ace | Male | ||
| Adam | Male | ||
| Adriel | Male | ||
| Aiko | Female | ||
| Al | Unisex | ||
| Alan | Male | ||
| Alex | Male | ||
| Alexander | Male | ||
| Alexis | Female | ||
| Allison | Female | ||
| Alvin | Male | ||
| Amanda | Female | ||
| Amelia | A variant of Amalia | Female | European form of a Germanic-derived name |
| Amos | Male | ||
| Andre | Male | ||
| Angela | Female | ||
| Apple | Female | ||
| Ashley | Female | ||
| Asterisk | Unisex | ||
| Atom | Male | ||
| Attila | Male | ||
| Axle | Unisex | ||
| Babe | Female | ||
| Baby | A very young child or animal | Unisex | English word name |
| Babycakes | Unisex | ||
| Baggins | Male | ||
| Balbina | Unisex | ||
| Bambi | Female | ||
| Bambino | Unisex | ||
| Barbie | Female | ||
| Bean | A bean seed, pod or the plant bearing it | Male | English word name |
| Bebop | Unisex | ||
| Belle | A short name form; also associated with French belle | Female | English name usage; French word association |
| Belly | Unisex | ||
| Benedict | Male | ||
| Benjamin | Male | ||
| Bennett | Male | ||
| Berry | Male | ||
| Bert | Male | ||
| Beth | Female | ||
| Beverly | Female | ||
| Bilbo | Unisex | ||
| Binky | Unisex | ||
| Biscuit | A small quick bread in US usage or a cookie in British usage | Unisex | English word name |
| Bit | Unisex | ||
| Bitsy | Female | ||
| Bitty | Unisex | ||
| Blossom | Female |
458 names found. Page 1 of 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Singapura really the smallest cat breed?
Yes — adult males typically weigh 6 to 8 pounds, females 4 to 6 pounds. CFA, TICA, and GCCF all recognise the Singapura as the smallest pedigreed breed. The breed reaches full maturity around two years, slower than most cats — so kittens look extra-tiny against their slow growth curve. Compact, muscular bodies despite the small frame.
What is the Singapura origin controversy?
In 1987, breeder Jerry Mayes found importation papers showing the three foundation cats brought back from Singapore by Hal and Tommy Meadow in 1975 had actually been imported *into* Singapore from the United States in 1974 — registered as Abyssinians. Hal Meadow later told CFA's investigation that the three cats were grandchildren of four cats he had sent back to the US from an earlier 1971 Singapore trip. CFA found no wrongdoing and kept the natural-breed status. A 2007 DNA study showed very few genetic differences between Singapura and Burmese, complicating the 'natural Singapore street cat' framing — though the breed remains officially a natural breed.
Why is the Singapura also called Kucinta?
Kucinta is the breed's local Singaporean name. It comes from the Malay word for 'love' — the Singapore Tourism Board adopted the name when they made the breed a national mascot. Singapura itself is simply the Malay name for Singapore. So owners outside Singapore use Singapura; in Singapore the breed is more commonly called Kucinta or 'the Love Cat.'
What colour is a Singapura?
One colour only: sepia agouti. Dark brown ticking on a warm old-ivory ground, with at least two bands of sepia ticking on each hair separated by lighter bands. Cheetah-line markings run from the inner eye corner down the cheek. Eye colour is restricted to hazel, green, or yellow — no blue, no copper. Paw pads are brown. The strict standard means an adult Singapura should be visually unmistakable.
When did the Singapura arrive in major registries?
TICA accepted the breed in 1979. CFA registered it in 1981 and granted Championship in 1988. The first UK Singapura, named Faye Raye, arrived in July 1988 — and the breed was later registered with GCCF. In 1991 the Singapore government recognised the breed as a living national treasure and used it as a Tourism Board mascot, regardless of the registry questions raised by the 1987 import-paper discovery.
What names suit a Singapura?
Three threads. Genuine Malay-language and Singapore-cultural names: Kucinta, Cinta (love), Sayang (darling), Bintang (star), Merlion, Manis (sweet). Foundation-cat references: Pusse, Tess, Faye Raye (the first UK import in 1988), Chiko (the 1980 SPCA import). And size-grounded names that match a four-to-eight-pound adult: Pip, Pixie, Bean, Pebble, Mochi, Peanut, Tiny. Some owners pick ironic large names — Atlas, Hercules, Goliath — for the smallest pedigreed breed there is.