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Cat lovers in Singapore, rejoice! You’ll be able to keep up to 2 cats in your Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat from 1 Sep 2024. This reverses a 35-year ban, one that many people did not even know existed.
But here’s the caveat: owners will have to microchip and license their felines. This is to improve traceability to safeguard public and animal health, said the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) under the National Parks Board (NParks) in a press release.
Owners will have 2 years to do so, from 1 Sep 2024 to 31 Aug 2026. This transition period will help them to ease into the planned cat management framework.
The good news is that licensing your cats will be free during this transition period. Eligible low-income residents will also be able to sterilise and microchip their cats for free.
Can you have more than 2 cats in HDB flats?
Those with more than two cats will also be allowed to keep all their existing cats as long as they are licensed within the period, and owners can ensure that their cats are taken care of. This rule applies to HDB apartments and private residences.
The guidelines are part of the finalised cat management framework, which Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Kiat How announced at the 24th Pets’ Day Out celebration on 11 May.
“The cat management framework is a significant milestone in our efforts to improve animal health and welfare standards in Singapore, and enhance accountability and responsibility towards our pet and community cats,” said Mr Tan.
The framework is the result of a nearly 2-year-long consultation with the public, community cat caregivers, cat (and non-cat) owners, animal welfare groups, veterinarians, and more.
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