Animal & Veterinary Service, HDB exploring possibility of allowing pet cats in flats

Members of the public can now share their views on the possibility of allowing pet cats in Housing Board & Development (HDB) flats, shared Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Kiat How at the Pets’ Day Out event held today (Sep 3). 

This is one of the considerations under the proposed pet and community cat management framework by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS).

Through a public consultation, which is part of the larger Forward Singapore movement, AVS will seek feedback on three strategies under the proposed framework.

The three strategies include expanding the existing pet dog licensing and microchipping scheme to include pet cats, extending the Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage (TNRM) programme for free-roaming dogs to community cats, and new engagement and outreach programmes to promote responsible cat ownership, the adoption of cats, and responsible community cat caregiving.

As part of the proposed framework, AVS will consider expanding the pet dog licensing and microchipping scheme to include pet cats. This would improve their traceability and allow AVS to hold cat owners to greater accountability. 

With this proposed licensing scheme, AVS and HDB will also explore the possibility of allowing pet cats in HDB flats.

The second strategy – extending the TNRM programme to community cats – would see these cats sterilised after capture. They will then be rehomed or released back into the community. The TNRM programme is a holistic, humane, and science-based approach to community animal population management, said AVS.

The third strategy aims to improve standards of pet care. AVS, in partnership with the community and animal welfare groups, will continue to explore ways to further promote responsible cat ownership, adoption and caregiving.

The public consultation will run from September 2022 to March 2023. It consists of a two-month online survey for the public, as well as community dialogue sessions and focus group discussions with key stakeholders.

AVS will use the findings gathered during the public consultation to refine its proposed cat management framework. 

The survey is open until Nov 2. AVS aims to share the findings of the public consultation exercise and its revised recommendations in 2023.

For more content about Forward SG and how youths can participate, click here.