Cat owning under scrutiny

Since 1989 it has been prohibited to keep cats as pets in dwellings belonging to the Housing and Development Board (HDB) in Singapore. Keeping a cat illegally in an HDB apartment is punishable by a fine of up to 4 000 Singapore dollars (approx. 2 800 euros).

The online magazine Today has now reported that in the last two years, up to 2 000 complaints have been submitted annually regarding cats. Most of the complaints were reportedly related to illegal cat ownership or to outdoor cats defecating in the entrances to dwellings or in communal areas, for example.

The official Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) has now proposed to make it mandatory for pet owners to get a licence and have their cats provided with a microchip. Cat owning would then potentially be permitted in HDB dwellings, the online magazine continues.

Cat owners and animal welfare bodies told the magazine that the new strategies would make it possible to punish negligent cat owners and at the same time give responsible cat owners the opportunity to have their pets to live with them in their HDB apartments.