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Are cats allowed in Singapore HDB flats and why?
Ask The Property Expert: HDB has said that it is working with the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) to see how cats can be kept in flats.
By Dee Lim
Question:
Can I have a pet cat in my Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat?
Answer:
Legally, cats are not allowed in HDB flats. The official reason given in the HDB website is that they are generally more difficult to contain within an apartment, and may end up roaming around the neighbourhood. This can results in shedding fur, defecation and urination in public areas. Their caterwauling noises can also inconvenience other residents.
The good news is that this ruling is currently being re-looked at. On any would-be cat owner's part, there are measures you can take to ensure that your flat is cat-proofed so that they stay safely indoors and inside the flat at all times.
HDB also does not actively enforce the current ban and only acts against errant home owners whose cats are a public nuisance.
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Owning a dog in an HDB flat is allowed, but there are also restrictions on their size, and the number of dogs you can have in a flat.
When did the HDB ban on cats start?
The cat ban has been around since 1960, and was part of a blanket ban on all animals, livestock and poultry in HDB flats.
The ban is still in place, and a statement on the HDB website said, "They are generally difficult to contain within the flat. When allowed to roam indiscriminately, they tend to shed fur and defecate or urinate in public areas, and also make caterwauling sounds, which can inconvenience your neighbours."
HDB has said that it is working with the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) to explore the possibility of allowing cats to be kept as pets in flats.
Who has been trying to get HDB to remove 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 current rule, though not actively enforced by HDB, discriminates against cat owners.
A survey done by AVS between September and November 2022 showed that almost 90 per cent of over 30,000 people polled felt that cats are fit to be kept as pets, with most supporting a move to allow cats to be kept as pets in HDB flats.
Over 80 per cent of survey respondents agreed that pet cats should be microchipped and licensed, and that licensing could help to improve the health, welfare, and traceability of cats.
The AVS has held focus group discussions since June – it had said these would last several months – involving cat owners, non-cat owners, cat caregivers, HDB and animal welfare groups.
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