Pilot cat ownership project launched in Chong Pang

CAT lovers in Chong Pang are now allowed to keep their feline friends in Housing Board flats under a new pilot project.

The two-year programme, called “Love Cats”, was launched yesterday by Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam at a community event.

Residents from a total of 123 blocks in Chong Pang will be involved in the scheme, which is organised by the Cat Welfare Society (CWS) and supported by the Ministry of National Development, Housing and Development Board (HDB), Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), Chong Pang Citizens’ Consultative Committee and Sembawang-Nee Soon Town Council.

Shanmugam, who is also MP for Nee Soon GRC, said the project would try and put in place a proper management system to ensure responsible cat ownership.

“The aim is to ensure that cat ownership does not unreasonably interfere with the way non cat owner neighbours lead their lives,” he said.

“The pilot project will encourage all stakeholders to work together to create and maintain a harmonious living environment between neighbours and their pets.”

He added that if the project was successful, “then it can be a good model of what can be achieved through the partnership of the community, animal welfare groups and government agencies”.

Chong Pang residents living in 123 blocks of flats will be allowed to own one pet cat per flat, while new adopters can offer a home to a cat from the CWS or the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

All participants of the pilot project will also need to comply with the ownership conditions and a code of responsible behaviour.

Ministry of National Development said the pilot project would complement the on-going Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme at Chong Pang that involves CWS, AVA and Sembawang-Nee Soon Town Council.

The ministry will also work with CWS and the rest of the stakeholders to review the outcomes and the effectiveness of the community management framework during the two-year pilot.

In the meantime, there is no change to HDB’s rule on cat ownership in other Housing Board estates.