Animal welfare groups believe that removing the ban on pet cats in HDB flats will lead to fewer abandoned felines. (Photo: Tomoaki Inaba, Flickr)
The Housing Board’s ban on pet cats is under the spotlight again after an HDB notice advising a Woodlands resident to remove his cat from his flat attracted online attention, reported The Straits Times.
In the letter dated 28 December 2016, which was posted by the resident on Facebook, the HDB said pet cats are prohibited because they can cause a public nuisance and are difficult to confine within flats.
This comes just as a pilot programme for cat lovers in Chong Pang nears its four-year trial period.
Managed by the Cat Welfare Society (CWS), the Love Cats programme requires flat owners to sterilise, register and microchip their pets, as well as prevent them from roaming outdoors.
Currently, 105 households are registered under the scheme.
The Ministry of National Development revealed that it is assessing future plans for the pilot programme, as well as the CWS’ proposal to expand it.
CWS spokesman Veron Lau said plans to extend the programme to other areas like Marine Parade were mooted back in 2015, though talks had been delayed due to funding issues.
Dr Jaipal Singh Gill, Executive Director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, noted that allowing cat ownership in HDB flats will lead to better handling of complaints, as well as enforcement against errant owners.
Removing the ban will also help in mediation and education efforts, which could result in fewer abandoned cats, said Lau.
Describing the pilot as a success, Louis Ng, MP for Nee Soon GRC and founder of animal welfare group Acres, said the programme could be rolled out to more areas.
“Cats don’t bark, and they are toilet-trained – neighbours wouldn’t even know they’re there,” said 50-year-old housewife Ivy Tan, who has three rescue cats registered under the scheme.
“Cats can definitely be kept indoors as long as owners are responsible – it’s up to them, not the cats.”
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
