This year Singapore will lift a 34-year-old ban on pets in public housing, letting many cats finally relax.
Adam, 42, the owner of a cat named Tommy and who used a pseudonym due to the regulation, recently told The Guardian he was baffled by the ban's existence.
“Normally for cats, they’re not a problem. Maybe a dog [could be a problem] – they’re noisy, and if a dog bites you’re in trouble,” he said.
The ban, which includes a fine of up to SGD$4,000 ($2,970) and potential pet eviction, is often ignored in Singapore, known for its law-abiding nature.
Though the rule is rarely enforced, issues arise if neighbours complain.
The ban applies to high-rise blocks managed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), established in 1960 to address a housing crisis.
Today, over 80% of the population lives in HDB flats.
The 1989 cat ban cited issues like fur shedding, public defecation and noise.
The policy change may have been influenced by public opinion, with about 90% of survey respondents supporting cats in HDB flats.
New regulations will allow up to two cats and one approved breed of dog per household, provided owners complete a free online pet ownership course and microchip and register their pets. Owners must also install protections like mesh or grilles to keep cats safe.
Households with more than two cats can apply for licences during a transitional period.
The new rules, effective from September, come at a time of a rise in pet ownership and spending in Singapore. Pet services now include luxury hotels, yoga, sound baths and bespoke homes.
A Euromonitor International report noted about 94,000 pet cats in Singapore in 2023, up nearly 10% from 2019.
Many stray or community cats live in HDB flats, cared for by residents with food, water and beds.
Aarthi Sankar, executive director at the Singapore Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said she hoped cat registration would reduce pet abandonment, a growing issue for rescue centres.
“We are perpetually at about 70 to 80% of our shelter’s limit,” she told The Guardian. “We try not to take on more cats than that in case we have an emergency rescue.”
Sankar said she worried some owners might abandon excess cats, unaware of the transition period allowing additional registrations.
Meanwhile, Adam, Tommy’s owner, questioned how the new rules would be enforced or why there was a need for such regulations given the rules were already being flouted.
However, he said he planned to comply. “Of course, I will go and get the microchip and get the licence.” His cat was already sterilized, he added.
