Pet Cat Licensing Scheme to Start on 1 September 2024

- Cat owners can license and keep all existing pet cats if they license the cats within transition period and ensure the cats’ health and welfare are taken care of

- The two-year transition period will be from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2026

All cat owners can license their microchipped pet cats from 1 September 2024, with the roll out of the Cat Management Framework announced by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) in May 2024 to improve the management and welfare of cats in Singapore. AVS, a cluster of the National Parks Board (NParks), has implemented a two-year transition period from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2026 to help cat owners ease into these changes. It is mandatory for all pet cats to be microchipped and licensed by the end of the two-year transition period on 31 August 2026. More information on the framework can be found at https://go.gov.sg/cat-framework.

2          With the implementation of the Cat Management Framework, residents of Housing & Development Board (HDB) flats will, in tandem, be allowed to keep pet cats in HDB flats with effect from 1 September 2024.

Limits on keeping of pet cats

3          Up to two cats (and one dog of an approved breed, as per the current limit) will be allowed to be kept in each HDB flat, and up to three cats or dogs, or a combination of both, in private premises. However, those with more cats than the limits stipulated for HDB flats and private premises will be allowed to keep all their existing pet cats if they license the cats within the transition period and are able to ensure that the cats’ health and welfare are taken care of.  

Licensing of pet cats

4          Cat owners are required to apply for a licence for their pet cats via AVS’ Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS). It will be an offence to keep unlicensed pet cat(s) from 1 September 2026 onwards under NParks’ Animals and Birds Act.

5          Cat owners will need to meet the following prerequisites to apply for a licence:

a)      All pet cats are to be microchipped;

b)      All first-time cat licence applicants will need to complete a one-time free online pet ownership course on basic pet care skills and responsible pet ownership before they can be issued a cat licence[1].

Keeping of cats in HDB flats and private premises 

6          Cat owners in HDB flats and private premises will also need to comply with the following cat-keeping rules:

a)    Ensure that their cats are kept in a safe environment and take reasonable steps to protect their cats from hazards, including but not limited to installing mesh, grilles, screens, or other barriers to prevent the cats from roaming freely or falling from height; and

b)    When in public, cat owners will need to ensure that their cats are kept under physical control (i.e., not allowed to freely roam), such as by placing their cat in a carrier or using a harness.

7          Should there be feedback from neighbours about non-compliance of the cat-keeping rules, the cat owners will be advised to take the necessary mitigation measures. In the case of cat owners in HDB flats, HDB will work closely with AVS to engage and advise them on responsible cat ownership. If the cat owners repeatedly refuse to cooperate and manage their pets properly despite the advisories and having been given sufficient time to do so, HDB may take enforcement action, and offenders may face a fine of up to $4,000. 

8          We encourage pet owners to exercise responsible pet ownership and ensure that their cats do not cause disamenities (e.g. caterwauling; soiling of common areas) and inconvenience to their neighbours. This will enable neighbours to enjoy a pleasant and harmonious living environment, as well as maintain good neighbourly relations. 

Abandonment of pet cats

9          Pet owners are reminded that pet ownership is for life. Abandonment of pets is an offence. Individuals who are found guilty of failure in duty of care to their pets (including pet abandonment) can be charged under the Animals and Birds Act. First-time offenders who fail in the duty of care to their pets may face a fine of up to $10,000, a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.

Start of Pet Cat Sterilisation Support (PCSS) and Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage (TNRM) programmes under the Cat Management Framework

10        AVS’ Pet Cat Sterilisation Support (PCSS) programme for pet cats and the Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage (TNRM) programme for community cats will also start from 1 September 2024.

Pet Cat Sterilisation Support (PCSS) programme

11        The PCSS programme supports low-income households by providing free sterilisation and microchipping for their pet cats. By doing so, the programme aims to stem the unintended breeding of pet cats belonging to households that are unable to afford sterilisation, by facilitating early intervention. It also seeks to address downstream animal welfare issues and disamenities arising from the overpopulation of pet cats. PCSS is supported through the Garden City Fund, NParks’ registered charity and IPC, with contributions from Temasek Foundation, the Estate of Essery Gerald Stephen (executed by Dr Tan Hwa Luck), corporate organisations such as MARS Petcare, and individuals including Ms Dawn Kua and Mr Vincent Toe. The public can find more information on the eligibility criteria and register for PCSS at https://go.gov.sg/avs-pcss.

Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage (TNRM) programme

12        As part of the TNRM programme, AVS will partner animal welfare groups, veterinarians, and community caregivers to manage the community cat population island-wide. This replaces and builds on the current Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme (SCSP) under which AVS has been subsidising the sterilisation and microchipping of community cats since 2011. Under TNRM, AVS will enhance funding support for the sterilisation and microchipping of community cats and fund additional components such as the trapping and boarding[2] of community cats. Sterilised cats will be rehomed where possible, while the remaining cats will be released back into the community, where they can continue to be responsibly cared for by community cat caregivers. More information can be found at https://go.gov.sg/cat-tnrm.

13        AVS has also been working with stakeholders including animal welfare groups, community cat caregivers, agencies, and Town Councils on guidelines for responsible community cat caregiving. The public can view the draft guidelines on AVS’ website at https://go.gov.sg/cat-tnrm. The guidelines will continue to be refined further in consultation with stakeholders, such as through engagement with community cat caregiver networks.

-END-

[1] From 1 September 2024, first-time dog licence applicants will similarly need to complete this one-time free online pet ownership course before they can be issued a dog licence.

[2] Boarding of cats for pre- and post-sterilisation