Singapura vs Ragamuffin - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

There are conflicting stories surrounding the origination of the Singapura. It does seem however, that natural Singapurans were found in Singapore.

The first documented account was of a cat known as Chiko who was found in a Singaporean SPCA in 1980 by Sheila Bowers and WA Brad.

It is regarded as a national treasure by the country’s government.

The beautiful Ragamuffin cat is a domestic feline that was established as a separate breed in 1994. It is a variant of the Ragdoll cat.

It was during the 1960s that a regular long-haired cat that was also white and non-pedigreed produced different litters of kittens, one of which was an unusually docile litter of kittens.

The history of the RagaMuffin can in fact be traced back to the founder of the Ragdoll cat breed, Ann Baker. Breeders working with Ann decided to create their own breed, the Ragamuffin, in 1994. It is a fairly new breed and the Ragamuffin has inherited quite a lot of the Ragdoll cat’s qualities. It arrived in the UK in 2009.

The Singapura cat is small in size, not weighing more than 2, 3 or 4kg. This short-haired, ivory-colored coat has brown ticking.

The cat is a natural breed and is muscular and strong. It is actually the smallest of the domestic cats. The cat has big ears, large green or yellowish eyes and is often referred to as ‘Pura’.

While the Singapura looks like a small, finely boned cat, when you pick him up, you discover that he is actually deceivingly heavy. The cat has slender legs with the back legs being slightly longer than the front legs. The tail ends with a recognizable black tip.

Temperament:

The Pura is intelligent and inquisitive and loves leaping onto high surfaces to explore. They then love to come bounding down and to land in one of his family member’s laps. This cat is a bundle of energy and playfulness. You'll need to invest in toys for your fun-loving Pura who loves nothing more than to be playing with soft little balls or scampering after a toy-mouse.

He is social and extroverted and gets along well with children and dogs in the house. He isn’t as vocal as some of the other cat breeds and actually has a quiet voice. The Singapura cat personality is outgoing, active and inquisitive and full of tricks and he is always ready to join in with any games.

Ragamuffins are large, muscular cats and some of the larger ones can weigh up to 9kg.

The chest of the cat is broad, he has a broad head and a well-plumed tail. These medium- to semi-longhaired cats have a thick, plush, silky coat with a ruff around the neck.

The coat is available in a number of colors and patterns, but popular colors are tabby with white, brown, blue and tortoiseshell. The nose of the Ragamuffin is shorter than that of the Ragdoll and the eyes are walnut-shaped. The eyes can be green, blue, or gold.

Temperament:

The Ragamuffin cat is a little bit more energetic than the Ragdoll and is a loving, loyal member of his human family. He is a large but docile cat. These cats are amicable, playful and also intelligent.

Many people train them to walk easily on a leash. They make great companions for single people or families.

Calm and unruffled, he makes the perfect family pet. People are always ready to make a fuss of them because of their beauty and they are always ready to lap up the attention. In fact, these big cats are so fond of attention from their owners that they don’t like being left alone for long periods of time.

Singapuras make awesome pets and with all their energy and antics they provide hours of entertainment. They are intelligent, energetic, and playful. The people who have them say they become your best friend because they are cats that are sensitive to the moods of their human owners.

Dynamite comes in small packages, and that’s exactly what you get when you bring the small Singapura cat into your home and life.

Your RagaMuffin promises to make you a splendid pet. He is such an amicable cat, being social and friendly with his human family.

He also gets along with your visitors and any other pets you have in the house. Children love his playful, easy-going nature.

Having a Ragamuffin cat in your home is such a pleasure and this large cat is willing to go out of his way to be the perfect pet and companion for you.

Your sweet Singapura cat has no particular genetic problems to deal with and also no specific health concerns. Although he is a generally healthy cat, one health condition that you want to be aware of is uterine inertia with the females.

This particular condition was found in one of the foundation cats and still appears in some Singapura females.

Look after him well and return his love, and health issues will remain low. Having said that, every cat breed can develop health problems, and it pays to understand some of the more common cat illnesses.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease is something that both male- and female cats can get. Watch that your Singapura doesn’t become overweight or unfit because this disease often occurs in cats who have become overweight.

Stress with a cat can also bring about this most uncomfortable disease in your cat. You’ll see your cat straining to urinate, he cries when urinating, and he isn’t his usual chirpy self. He may even have bloody urine. Get your pet to the vet immediately as not being able to urinate is an emergency.

Ragamuffins are healthy cats with no known inherited diseases, but as with all cats you want to know something of the diseases that can plague cats.

You’ll want to check that your Ragamuffin has been tested for Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as well as Polycystic kidney disease.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy:

This is a commonly diagnosed cardiac disease in cats. Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy causes the muscular walls of a cat's heart to thicken. The heart can no longer work sufficiently. It seems as though genetics plays a role as there are some cats that seem to battle with this disease more than others.

If you catch the disease early enough, the vet can devise a treatment plan to improve the cat’s quality of life.

Polycystic kidney disease:

Although you find this disease more frequently in Persian cats, this inherited disorder can be found in other cat breeds too. Liquid-filled sacs develop in the kidneys, growing in size and taking over kidney tissue which ultimately leads to kidney failure. Your cat will have nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and lethargy, and your cat will have to get to the vet.

Your Singapura cat’s short coat is easy to groom. Brush your pet every week to remove the loose hairs and to also keep the coat sleek and shiny.

Every cat is a carnivore. Singapuras need meat if you want to avoid your cat getting some of the cat health problems there are. Singapura’s digestive system isn’t designed for foods that humans eat.

He will need high-quality food to ensure his ongoing good health. If you are going to feed your Singapura commercially packaged foods, take a good look at the ingredient list and make sure that meat and protein is at the top of the list.

Always buy age-appropriate food. You can imagine that a tiny kitten’s food requirements will be very different to that of an adult cat.

A kitten will require at least 3 or 4 meals a day. It is always a good idea to consult your vet for suggestions on what brand- and type of food to give your kitten and your adult Singapura.

The Ragamuffin's longish coat will require some brushing at least once a week to keep it soft and silky.

These are big cats so you will need to provide him with an adequate diet. He is a carnivore and will therefore require meat.

Kittens will eat 4 meals a day while the adult Ragamuffin can have 2 bowls of food. Cats can sometimes be fussy eaters so you want to be sure to give him what he likes from the wet and dry cat goods you get.

The better quality food he eats, the healthier he will be. Your Ragamuffin's dietary needs will also depend on his age.

He should never be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

If you have any questions about how to look after your Ragamuffin in the best possible way, speak to your local vet.