Complaints about Nuisance from Stray Cats and Proposal to Standardise Regulatory Treatment for Stray Cats and Stray Dogs
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Ong Teng Koon’s inquiry about rising stray cat nuisance complaints and whether cats should be licensed or regulated like dogs in HDB estates. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong replied that feedback has been stable since 2017 and is managed through stakeholder collaboration and the Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme. He explained that licensing currently applies only to dogs due to rabies transmission risks but noted that NParks is reviewing pet sector policies to improve animal traceability. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong added that a public consultation was recently held to gather suggestions on these issues from stakeholders and the general public. Consequently, the Ministry is currently reviewing its licensing policies for pets, including cats, as part of a broader effort to strengthen animal traceability and public health.
Transcript
68 Mr Ong Teng Koon asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether complaints arising from stray cats being a nuisance has increased in the past three years; (b) whether the Ministry will consider licensing cats for HDB flats; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider applying the same regulatory treatment to stray cats as that for stray dogs in HDB estates.
Mr Lawrence Wong: The number of stray cat-related feedback has remained relatively stable since 2017. NParks works with stakeholders such as Town Councils, animal welfare groups (or AWGs), and other public agencies to jointly manage stray cat-related feedback across Singapore.
NParks works with its AWG partners to humanely manage both the stray dog and cat populations. Similar to the Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage programme for dogs, the Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme sterilises and microchips stray cats in HDB and private estates, as well as industrial and commercial areas.
Pet licensing primarily serves to enable the traceability of animals for the purposes of disease control and to protect public health. At present, NParks only requires dogs to be licensed as they are the most common cause of rabies transmission from animals to humans globally. All pet dogs, whether they reside in HDB flats or otherwise, must be licensed for this reason. NParks is intending to strengthen the traceability of pets, including cats, as part of its broader review of the pet sector. It recently concluded a public consultation exercise that invited suggestions from stakeholders and members of the public on this issue, and will review its licensing policies accordingly.