Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on how long will the Ministry take to complete its review of pet cat ownership in HDB flats following the end of the public consultation and the key factors which Ministry will consider in this review

Nov 7, 2022

*3592. Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: To ask the Minister for National Development

(a) how long will the Ministry take to complete its review of pet cat ownership in HDB flats following the end of the public consultation; and
(b) what are the key factors which the Ministry will consider in this review.

Answer:

In September this year, NParks launched a six-month public consultation exercise on our proposed cat management framework. The framework aims to promote responsible cat ownership and caregiving, while safeguarding public health and ensuring the well-being of our pet and community cats. Following the public consultation, we aim to complete our review, including the possibility of allowing pet cats in HDB flats, in the later part of next year.

2       As we review HDB’s pet ownership policies, we will carefully consider the feedback received through our various consultation channels. These include our online survey, which gathered more than 30,000 responses, and our upcoming community dialogues and focus group discussions. In conducting the review, we will continue to balance the needs of different segments of the community, such as residents who would like to keep cats in their flats, and others who may have concerns about the disamenities caused by irresponsible cat ownership.

3       We will also place importance on protecting public health and animal welfare. For example, the possibility of regularising the keeping of pet cats in HDB flats will be studied alongside the proposal to introduce a licensing and microchipping scheme for pet cats. This would improve the traceability of pet cats, so that we can respond to animal disease outbreaks more effectively, and better protect public health. In addition, this would allow us to hold irresponsible cat owners to greater account if their cats are found to be neglected, abused, or abandoned.

4       We will also be mindful of the circumstances of existing cat owners, including those with multiple cats. Any new measures will be carefully studied and implemented in phases where necessary, and we will provide the necessary support to help affected stakeholders adapt to any changes that are introduced.

5       In the meantime, we encourage members of the public to share their views by taking part in our upcoming engagement sessions, as we work together to improve our policies for cat management and welfare.