Some cat lovers and animal lovers were
recently taken aback by the revelation that cats are prohibited as
pets in HDB flats.
Judging from the reaction to a widely-circulated letter
in which the Housing Board ordered a flat-owner to remove his pet
cat, this is apparently a ruling that not many knew about.
Many asked, "If dogs are allowed in our HDB flats, why
aren't cats?"
According to HDB's website: "Cats are not allowed in
flats. They are generally difficult to contain within the flat.
When allowed to roam indiscriminately, they tend to shed fur and
defecate or urinate in public areas, and also make caterwauling
sounds, which can inconvenience your neighbours."
Although a blanket ban seems harsh, there is some truth
to the reasons given for the banning of cats in public housing
estates.
As solitary creatures, cats are difficult to contain
within the flat given their independent streak and penchant for
wandering.
However, when it comes to issues of shedding,
defecating and urinating in public spaces, cat lovers have some
grounds for feeling unjustly targeted. The logic seems lacking when
dogs are prone to the same behaviour.
Dogs, like cats, shed fur. As for defecating and
urinating, cats actually have a habit of covering up their
excrement as this masks their tracks in the wild and hides their
unique scents from would-be predators.
As it stands, the ban is not actively enforced and the
authorities act only when a complaint is made against a HDB cat
owner. When that happens, chances are that the cat will have to be
rehomed.
On the contrary, dogs are commonly seen to defecate and
simply walk away. Yet despite this, there isn't a blanket ban on
dogs in HDB flats.
Instead, responsible ownership is encouraged, where dog
owners are actively educated to clean up after their pets.
In this case, why can't the same solution be extended
to cat lovers?
It could take some work, but there are many steps
responsible cat owners can take to prevent their pets from
wandering from home and inconveniencing others, such as installing
wire mesh at the gates and windows and keeping a closer eye on the
curious kitty.
As an animal lover, I'm for removing the ban on cats. I
think it's time for the authorities as well as the community to
relook this archaic regulation.
The authorities have already shown they are open to
softening their stance on the issue.
A pilot programme in Chong Pang, dubbed Love Cats, was
launched in 2012 to allow flat dwellers to keep cats as long as
they are registered, sterilised, microchipped and kept indoors.
Four years on, the programme, spearheaded by Cat
Welfare Society (CWS), has 105 registered households, and talks are
underway for the scheme to expand to other neighbourhoods, which is
on hold only for the lack of funds.
With the advocacy of animal welfare groups like CWS,
cat owners can take steps to better look after their pets and avoid
inconveniencing their neighbours.
These may include confining the cats indoors and
toilet-training them.
As it stands, the ban is not actively enforced and the
authorities act only when a complaint is made against a HDB cat
owner. When that happens, chances are that the cat will have to be
rehomed.
Instead of complaining to the authorities whenever we
encounter an errant cat, why not just have a chat with its
owner?
Cat owners would appreciate having an honest
conversation that comes across as a friendly reminder to keep their
pets in check.
On the other side of the fence, having a pet comes with
great responsibilities.
I keep a close eye on my cat if he roams outside. None
of my neighbours knew about my cat until they saw my cat in a
carrier on the way to the vet.
Our neighbourhoods are communal spaces. Some residents
are animal lovers, others may not be. Living in a community, it is
important that we respect the differences among us.
If someone can make the effort to initiate a chat about
an animal being a nuisance, the least the pet owner can do is be
sensitive to his or her neighbour's concerns.
In time, pet owners can learn to be mindful of their
neighbours' needs and non-owners can learn to appreciate their
neighbours' pets. They could even teach us a thing or two about
being human.
If we allow 62 breeds of dogs in HDB flats, we should
allow cats as well.
There is only so much regulations can do to ensure
neighbourly peace, so why not leave it to residents to figure out
what works for them?
Or has the cat got our tongue?
Mr Noi Muhammad is Assistant General
Secretary, Marketing Communications, Singapore Kindness Movement.
This article was first published on The Pride (pride.kindness.sg).
via
TNP