You might not be aware of this, but there is a particular breed of cat known as the "Singapura".

Most of us will probably know it by the name "Kucinta" though, which is a blending of the Malay word for "cat" (kuching) and "love" (cinta). This name was given after the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) adopted it as a tourism mascot in the 1990s.

This little furry friend of Singapore has a ticked coat pattern with large eyes and ears. Weighing only 2 - 4kg on average, it is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest breed of domestic cat.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="321"] Source: Wikipedia[/caption]

Origins of the Singapura cat

Despite its close association with Singapore, controversy surrounds the Singapura feline breed.

The story goes that, in the 1970s, expatriate couple Hal and Tommy Meadows brought three local strays of similar breed back to the U.S. and bred the Singapura cat, which grew in popularity there.

But the Meadows' claims got called into question by other cat lovers over whether the cats the Meadows brought to the U.S. were truly from Singapore.

Doubts were cast over whether there were actually cats in Singapore with the characteristics of the Singapura cat bred by the Meadows.

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Then in the 1980s, a local feline named Chiko was found at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) that bore characteristics of the Singapura, with the exception of its tail. This discovery ultimately led to the recognition of the Singapura cat as being one of Singaporean origin.

The Singapura is currently classified as a natural breed by the U.S. Cat Fanciers' Association, but there are some who believe that it is a likely a cross between the Abyssinian and the Burmese.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Source: Wikipedia[/caption]

Widely adored

Controversy aside, the adorable feline is known for its lively and affectionate nature, which made it a fitting tourism mascot as Kucinta.

Statues of Kucinta were placed along the Singapore River in 1991. There were as many as 15 sculptures along the river, but many were stolen or vandalised.

The Kucinta was also featured in posters. Here is a poster from 1991:

The cat has also appeared on various merchandise.

For a cat that is so widely adored, it is (quite ironically) not one of the common local cat breeds that you can find wandering around your void deck today though.

Top image from NAS.

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