Singapura: the Smallest Cat has a Big Personality

By Julia Williams

We recently profiled the largest domestic cat breed, the beautiful Maine Coon, so I thought it only fair to profile the smallest cat breed too. If you prefer itty bitty kitties over super-sized ones like the Maine Coon, the petite Singapura might be the perfect cat breed for you. The Singapura is the smallest of all the recognized domestic cat breeds. Females average 5 to 6 pounds, while males typically tip the scales at around 6 to 8 pounds.

Singapura is the Malaysian word for Singapore, which means “Lion City.” The plucky feral felines that became the foundation of the Singapura breed were sometimes called “drain cats,” because they often took refuge in the storm drains of Singapore.

Appearance of the Singapura Cat

The Singapura is a shorthaired cat with an angelic round face and noticeably large eyes in hazel, green or yellow. Singapura cats are only found in one coat color, a warm beige ticked with sepia brown. (Ticking refers to bands of color on the tips of the hair). Their silky coat requires minimal grooming; some say it resembles that of a cougar. The Singapura’s muzzle, chest, stomach and inner legs are an unticked, light ivory color.

Although they do have a petite frame, Singapura cats are not delicate creatures by any means. They are muscular cats with good bone structure and a moderately stocky build, yet even so, they have an irrefutable air of elegance about them. The Singapura is slow to develop, and may not reach full size until about 15 to 24 months of age. Because the Singapura is small compared to most felines, veterinarians unfamiliar with the breed might wonder if something is wrong with the cat or kitten.

Personality of the Singapura Cat

They may be small in stature, but the Singapura cat has a larger-than-life personality. It’s as if they are saying, “I may be little, but I am a force to be reckoned with.” If you like extroverted cats who have “purrsonality plus,” then the Singapura is a good choice. They are lively, curious, mischievous and intelligent cats that genuinely seem to enjoy the company of their human companions. Agile and active, Singapura cats love high places and are known to be climbers.

Singapura cats remain extremely playful well into adulthood, and some say they never truly abandon this endearing trait. These felines insist on being in the middle of everything, a trait that has earned them the label of “pesky people cat.” Rita Kay Bee, a breeder of Singapuras, describes their attitude as: “The world is my oyster. Get out of my way - I'm going for the pearl and you can't stop me.”

History of the Singapura Cat

Though there is some controversy over the origins of the Singapura, it’s generally believed the gene pool that created this rare breed came from Singapore, a result of mating between the Burmese and the Abyssinian. The breed was brought to the U.S. in the early 1970s, and today is found worldwide and recognized by most registration associations. Singapuras were accepted for CFA registration in 1982 and for championship competition in 1988.

There are relatively few breeders and exhibitors working with the Singapura cat, so the breed is still somewhat rare and hard to find. However, Singapuras have enjoyed considerable success in the show ring for such a young breed. In 1991, Singapore tourism officials erected statues of the Singapura along the river and featured the cat in various types of promotional material.

Read more articles by Julia Williams

Why Do Dogs Drool?

By Linda Cole

Anyone who has seen the movie “Beethoven” will remember the scene where the dog is sitting in the middle of his owner's bed with a long string of drool hanging from his mouth. As he shakes his head, drool flies everywhere. It was funny in the movie and some dogs drool naturally, but excessive drooling can indicate a more serious problem.

I had a dog who would get a drink of water, walk over to sit beside me and then slobber excess water down my leg. It wasn't so bad during the winter months with a pair of jeans on, but in the summer when I wore shorts, it really gave me a start when I wasn't expecting it. She was a breed of dog that drooled naturally and, like in the movie Beethoven, anytime she shook her head, we'd run for cover. That dog would send drool flying everywhere! The cats weren't even spared from a flying string of dog drool and ran away from her just as fast as we did. I learned to leave towels in easy to find places throughout the house – just in case.

Some breeds have lips that are heavier than others. Bloodhounds, Mastiffs, Boxers and Saint Bernards, along with other breeds, are known for their drooling. These types of dogs drool because the loose skin around their jaw catches saliva where it collects and fills up until there's no room for more. Slobbering and drooling is just part of who they are, but even for them, excess drooling can indicate there's something wrong. Excessive drooling can cause a dog to become dehydrated.

Breeds who normally don't drool may have times when they become over stimulated, which can cause excess saliva to build up. It's nothing to worry about unless the dog suddenly begins to drool with no clear reason. A medical problem may be why.

Dogs drool when they have something caught in their mouth, on their tongue, in their throat or between their teeth. Our canine friends use their mouths to help them determine what things are, and an inquisitive dog can pick up small objects that can become stuck somewhere in their mouth. A bad tooth or gum disease will also cause your dog to slobber. One sure sign of dental or gum problems is a dog with extremely bad breath. A bone that splintered or became caught in the dog's throat or a splinter from chewing on wood can get stuck on the roof of their mouth, under the tongue or caught between their teeth. If you see your dog pawing at his mouth and drooling, something is bothering him.

Digestive problems will cause dogs to drool. Bloat is a dangerous condition that needs to be taken care of immediately. A hard stomach, foaming at the mouth along with drool and attempts to vomit are symptoms of bloat. For more information on bloat, read What is Bloat? What Are the Symptoms?

Heat stroke, epilepsy and other medical conditions are more reasons why dogs drool. Nausea from riding in a car or an upset stomach from eating something that didn't agree with him will cause a dog to drool. Overeating, eating too much spicy food or mixing different kinds of food together can cause a stomach ache in some dogs.

A reaction to flea control products, bee stings, poison and allergic reactions to food or medications will produce excess saliva. Pain-induced drooling from conditions like urinary tract infections and ear infections, liver disease and tumors in their mouth are a few reasons why your dog could be suddenly drooling. A dog who picks up stinging insects and spiders will sometimes bite them on the tongue or side of the mouth causing them to drool.

Toads, snails and slugs will cause a dog to drool if they grab one. Every summer during the evening hours we comb through the grass in my dog's pen trying to find toads and slugs before my dogs do. Most toads aren't poisonous to dogs, but they have enough toxin to make them drool if a dog picks one up or tries to bite it. In some parts of the country, there are a few toads that are deadly to dogs and cats.

Some dogs drool naturally, and from experience I know that even with them, you know when they have excessive drooling. Any time a dog drools more than usual or suddenly begins, it's an indication something is wrong. Never put off seeing your vet, because your dog's life could depend on your fast action. When caught early, most medical conditions can be taken care of and some of them are nothing to mess around with.

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Dog Food Month- Raw Meaty Bones

Please welcome guest blogger Jim McBean. He is a dog lover and blogger at Doggy Bytes. The purpose of Doggy Bytes is "to provide useful dog/puppy related information, product information and entertainment. We tend to favour “environment friendly” dog products." Here he shares his views on Raw Meaty Bones.

Raw Meaty Bones

by Jim McBean

As much as some people might like to argue or confuse the point, dogs ARE carnivores designed to eat raw meat and bone.

Canine digestive physiology;

• dentition, (sharp teeth obviously designed to grip, rip, tear and crunch raw flesh and bone)


• lack of amylase an enzyme in saliva that starts the digestion of carbohydrate (possessed in the saliva of omnivores and herbivores but not carnivores)


• stomach acid of pH of 1-2 (capable of digesting whole pieces of bone), four times more acidic than human stomach acid


• short digestive tract designed to move food quickly from Point A to Point B

Notice I didn't include "chewing" when I talked about a dog's teeth. A dog doesn't chew, its jaws moves straight up and down with no side to side motion, a characteristic of omnivores (humans) and herbivores (cows), who's jaws are capable of lateral movement needed to chew and grind their food into smaller pieces in order to swallow and digest them. A dog's jaws were designed for ripping, tearing and cutting their food into chunks just big enough to swallow, their stomach's handle all the heavy digestion work, their saliva serves only to lubricate the esophagus to help move food through it to the stomach.

A dog's digestive tract is about one third to one half the length of of an omnivore, and is designed for quick digestion of raw meat and bone. Strong stomach acids combined with quick transit of food through its digestive system protects the carnivore from dangerous bacteria and other pathogens. This is why a healthy dog can drink pond water and rotting meat and not become ill.

Omnivores possess a much longer GI tract than carnivores giving them more time to digest complex carbohydrates, which in the dog, often times pass through undigested, evident by the big sloppy stools of kibble fed dogs that are forced to eat commercial pet foods containing grains and starches. In fact, dogs have no known requirement for carbohydrates.

"There is no known minimum dietary carbohydrate requirement for either the dog or the cat. Based on investigations in the dog and with other species it is likely that dogs and cats can be maintained without carbohydrates if the diet supplies enough fat or protein from which the metabolic requirement for glucose is derived." - Waltham Book of Dog and Cat Nutrition (2nd edition, 1988)

So What Should a Carnivore Eat?

Now that we've determined that dogs are carnivores what should they eat? The following three raw feeding principles are taken from Dr. Tom Lonsdale's book, Work Wonders: Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones.

1. Feed meaty bones raw.


2. Feed meaty bones in large pieces to ensure maximum cleaning of teeth and gums.


3. Feed meaty bones from a variety of animals - for instance chicken, lamb and rabbit - thus ensuring good balance of nutrients.

Here are a few low cost foods that you can start feeding your carnivore right away.

• Turkey backs


• Turkey necks


• Lamb necks


• Chicken Backs


• Pork Hocks


• Green Buffalo Tripe


• Fresh Pacific Herring


• Fresh beef heart


• Fresh beef liver


• Fresh beef kidney

**All of the above are always given raw, never cooked, and I always supervise my dogs when they eat.

Benefits of Feeding Raw Meaty Bones

1. Healthy teeth and gums which means a healthier pet needing fewer vet visits saving you money.


2. Cleaner teeth means no doggy breath.


3. Mental stimulation and exercise by having to work at eating their raw meaty bones.


4. Smaller firmer stool (about 1/3 the size of a kibble fed dog) that naturally expresses anal glands.


5. A shinier, healthier coat.


6. Fewer or no skin problems.


7. Fewer or no ear problems.


8. Lower chance of arthritic problems.


9. More energy.


10. Dogs love it!


11. Longer life!

For a healthier, longer lived pet, feed them raw meaty bones. Challenge the status quo and do your own research into feeding your pet carnivore a species appropriate raw meaty bones diet.

Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can heal your patients with food. - Hippocrates

Recommended Reading

Work Wonders: Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones
- Tom Lonsdale

Yahoo Groups
Raw Meaty Bones

Raw Feeding

Do you use raw meaty bones? How does your dog like them? Leave us a comment here.

*Check in Monday for more Dog Food Month about canine food allergies.
* Leave a comment or question and be entered into a drawing for free dog food, gift certificate, or treats at the end of the month!

*Jim McBean is a blogger, dog lover and guardian to a Border Collie named Sweety and an American Pit Bull Terrier named Zeus. Jim blogs at http://doggybytes.ca on canine health and nutrition with emphasis on feeding dogs a diet of raw meaty bones.

Fun Dog Quotes

"Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog."
--Franklin P. Jones

"Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful."
-- Ann Landers

"No animal should ever jump up on the dining room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation."
-- Fran Lebowitz

"Outside of a dog, a book is probably man's best friend; inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
-- Groucho Marx

"No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does."
-- Christopher Morley

"I wonder what goes through his mind when he sees us peeing in his water bowl."
--Penny Ward Moser

Laser Therapy: What it is and How it Works

By Ruthie Bently

My beloved dog Skye had a bad accident in December and severed two ligaments in her left leg. I found out the vet used laser therapy in her rehabilitation, and as a responsible pet owner, I wanted to learn more about it.

I know lasers have been around for many years and that the word itself is an acronym (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation). The term laser was coined by Gordon Gould (a Columbia University grad student) in a paper published at a conference in 1959, and applies to a very powerful form of visible light energy in a single wavelength. I remember watching several movies where the hero was going to be cut or injured by a laser, and a Johnny Quest cartoon in the 1960s where the villains used lasers to blow up ships. So what is my vet doing using a laser on my dog?

I needn’t have worried. While lasers can be used in surgery to cut through tissue and cauterize it, laser therapy is not surgery and does not use a cutting laser. Laser therapy has been used on pets for over twenty-five years, and has gained credence as an alternative therapy. Its use as a healing therapy has been documented in over 3,000 publications. As the term laser cannot be used in any treatment other than a superficial one, another acronym was used: LEPT. This stands for Low Energy Photon Therapy, and the machine is called a “cold LASER.” The colors used most often are red (at 610 to 810 nanometers) and infrared (at 800 nanometers or higher wavelength). The color used depends on the energy needed to stimulate a specific healing process in the body.

Pulsed and continuous are the two kinds of laser therapy used by veterinarians. You should speak with your veterinarian to determine your best course of action in using laser therapy. They will be the ones best qualified to advise you on which method should be used, depending on your dog’s situation.

Continuous laser therapy is used when inflammation is present. It is used to stimulate blood vessels to increase blood circulation and heat to the area affected by the inflammation, as well as dispersing fluid buildup to the area. This method also helps to reduce any pain associated with the inflamed area and is used to help heal surgical incisions, chronic ear problems, surface injuries or wounds.

Pulsed laser therapy is used when immediate pain relief is needed. It interferes with the transmission of pain impulses to the brain and is used in pain management. It works well for long-backed dogs like Basset Hounds or Dachshunds that are prone to back pain, though it can help any dog with back pain. It is also used for overexertion during sports competitions or regular exercise, as well as arthritis.

Other health issues laser therapy is used to treat are traumas to the body due to a wound or injury to bone or muscle. Effects of surgery from the removal of a growth or a broken bone can be sped up by laser therapy. Inflammatory conditions that can be helped are gingivitis, granulomas caused by excessive licking, ear problems (either acute or chronic), inflammation of the anal glands and idiopathic cystitis (an inflammation of the bladder). Neurological conditions, nasal problems, and dermatological issues have also be cited to have been helped. Laser therapy can be used to stimulate acupuncture points for pets unable to tolerate the acupuncture needles.

A word of caution: while laser units are available for purchase by the general public, there is a danger of applying the therapy at the wrong frequency. This can cause disruptive rather than healing benefits. Protective glasses should be used, as there is a danger of eye damage to the patient, veterinarian or handler. This can happen either through reflection or directly by the beam, especially with the infrared wavelengths. Laser therapy should only be administered by a veterinarian or by someone you have been referred to by your veterinarian. While you can treat your own animal, if you treat someone else’s animal you could be cited for practicing veterinary medicine without a license. If you are considering purchasing one of these units, I strongly recommend asking your vet to teach you how to properly use it.

The benefits of laser therapy are that it can be used to treat many kinds of injuries, without drugs, pain or surgery. It stimulates the body to heal itself by using non-thermal photons administered to the body to be absorbed by the injured cells. The injured cells are stimulated and the rate of metabolism is increased. This in turn increases circulation which reduces inflammation, relieves pain and accelerates the body’s natural healing process.

Read more articles by Ruthie Bently