SINGAPORE: Sunny is proud to be a law-abiding Singaporean citizen, but for the past three years she has been harboring an escaped cat named Mooncake.
The fluffy ragdoll lives with Sunny in defiance of a 34-year-old law banning cats in government-built apartments, where the majority of Singaporeans live. Fortunately for Mooncake, Singapore plans to repeal the ban later this year, freeing Sunny from the threat of a S$4,000 (US$3,007) fine and possible pet eviction.
“Cats are very quiet compared to dogs. I don’t understand why they allow dogs but not cats,” said Sunny, 30, who works in the marketing department. She asked that only her name be used because she did not want to risk having her cat taken away. .
Although authorities rarely enforce the ban and it only applies to Housing and Development Board (HDB) high-rise apartment blocks, where 80% of Singapore’s 3.6 million people live, it has been ignored by countless cat lovers for years. Ta.
But the ban makes things difficult. HDB pet cats like Mooncake are not covered by pet insurance as they technically shouldn’t exist. Lawmaker Louis Ng, who has campaigned for the ban to be repealed, said the restrictions can sometimes serve as leverage for neighboring countries in conflict.
“Cats often become involved when there is trouble in the neighborhood,” he says. “The neighbors just say, ‘Oh, you have a cat. I’m going to go and warn (the authorities).'”
“catering”
The ban on cats from HDB housing in Singapore is another example of the city-state’s notoriously strict rules-based culture, with the sale and import of chewing gum, for example, still prohibited.
Established in 1960, the HDB scheme sells government-built units directly to eligible citizens on 99-year leases. This has led to home ownership rates among the highest in the world, but residents are subject to many restrictions and regulations.
Cats were allowed in HDB flats until Parliament amended the Housing Act in 1989. HDB justifies the ban by saying on its website that cats are “difficult to contain within apartments…Cats tend to shed hair and defecate and urinate in public places.” It also makes a catting noise, which may disturb the neighbors. ”
It is not clear why the Singapore government changed its mind, but the turning point was an official survey in 2022 in which 9 out of 10 respondents agreed that cats are suitable pets to keep, including in HDB flats. That seems to be something we agree on.
Authorities are currently surveying the public about the proposed Cat Management Framework, which is expected to come into force in the second half of 2024.
Similar bans do not apply to dogs, but they are limited to one per household, and only certain breeds and sizes can be kept as pets (for example, miniature poodles). (Yes for Golden Retrievers, No for Golden Retrievers).
Market research firm Euromonitor International predicts that the number of cat owners will increase sharply. In its outlook report, the cat food company estimates Singapore’s current pet population to be around 94,000 cats and 113,000 dogs.
Rep. Ng, who ran an animal welfare organization before becoming a member of the Diet in 2015, also hopes that the latest amendment will lead to more people adopting rescue cats.
Under the new framework, HDB residents will be limited to two animals. It also requires cats to be licensed and microchipped, and to install mesh screens on windows to prevent cats from falling into them.
Some cat lovers say the new regulations don’t go far enough.
Tenuga Vijayakumar of the Cat Welfare Association wants sterilization to be made compulsory by law. Chan Chow Wah, 50, the cat’s guardian, is also calling for penalties for irresponsible owners. He said he had to care for a cat who fell from the third floor and whose owner refused to pay for medical care, and another cat that was diagnosed with heart disease and abandoned.
“Eventually I will take over these cases. Basically, I will look after them until they die,” said Chan, adding that she will be spending S$60,000 on veterinary fees in 2022. He estimated that he spent $45,100.
But for many cat owners like Mooncake’s Mama Sunny, the law is a blessing in disguise.
“I think this is a good thing and I think it’s a step forward after 30 years,” she said.