By Dee Lim
Question:
Can I’ve a pet cat in my Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat?
Answer:
Legally, cats will not be allowed in HDB flats. The official motive given within the HDB web site is that they’re typically tougher to include inside an condominium, and should find yourself roaming across the neighbourhood. This can leads to shedding fur, defecation and urination in public areas. Their caterwauling noises may also inconvenience different residents.
The excellent news is that this ruling is currently being re-looked at. On any would-be cat proprietor’s half, there are measures you’ll be able to take to make sure that your flat is cat-proofed in order that they keep safely indoors and contained in the flat always.
HDB additionally doesn’t actively implement the present ban and solely acts in opposition to errant home house owners whose cats are a public nuisance.
Owning a dog in an HDB flat is allowed, however there are additionally restrictions on their dimension, and the variety of dogs you’ll be able to have in a flat.
When did the HDB ban on cats begin?
The cat ban has been round since 1960, and was a part of a blanket ban on all animals, livestock and poultry in HDB flats.
The ban remains to be in place, and a press release on the HDB web site mentioned, “They are typically troublesome to include inside the flat. When allowed to roam indiscriminately, they have an inclination to shed fur and defecate or urinate in public areas, and in addition make caterwauling sounds, which may inconvenience your neighbours.”
HDB has mentioned that it’s working with the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) to discover the opportunity of permitting cats to be saved as pets in flats.
Who has been attempting to get HDB to take away its ban on cats in flats?
Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Ng has been pushing for a change to the ban on cats since 2011 as he felt the present rule, although not actively enforced by HDB, discriminates in opposition to cat house owners.
A survey done by AVS between September and November 2022 confirmed that almost 90 per cent of over 30,000 individuals polled felt that cats are match to be saved as pets, with most supporting a transfer to permit cats to be saved as pets in HDB flats.
Over 80 per cent of survey respondents agreed that pet cats needs to be microchipped and licensed, and that licensing might assist to enhance the well being, welfare, and traceability of cats.
The AVS has held focus group discussions since June – it had mentioned these would final a number of months – involving cat house owners, non-cat house owners, cat caregivers, HDB and animal welfare teams.
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