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Free microchipping and sterilisation is also available for lower-income households.
More than 24,000 pet cats have been licensed as of Jan. 31, 2025, following the rolling out of the new cat licensing scheme by the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS).
The scheme, part of the cat management framework, was introduced on Sep. 1, 2024, which allows residents residing in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats to license up to two cats per household.
Microchips and licenses
Of the 24,000 pet cats that have been licensed, 97 per cent were sterilised, and 24,000 people have completed the online pet ownership course, which is a mandatory requirement for first-time cat license applicants.
The cat management framework brought to an end a 35-year ban on HDB residents owning pet cats.
It also marked the start of a two-year transition period for which HDB residents could get their cats microchipped and licensed.
During this transition period, which ends on Aug. 31, 2026, licensing cats would be free, as part of a bid to help pet owners ease into the new changes.
Lower-income households can also access the Pet Cat Sterilisation Support programme, which provides free sterilisation and microchipping for their cats, which prevents unintended breeding for families that cannot afford sterilisation.
It is part of a number of requirements that have been laid out for the keeping of cats in public housing, including taking reasonable steps to protect their cats from hazards or from roaming freely, such as installing mesh or grills over windows and gates.
Microchip drives
As part of the rollout of the cat management framework, the AVS has launched a number of free microchipping drives.
In 2024, AVS microchipped 2,780 cats during 11 pet-related and animal welfare group events, and there are plans to hold an additional 30 microchipping drives in 2025.
These drives will be held at schools, community centres, and veterinary clinics, as well as other community pet-related events.
NParks also lauded the support given by members of the community, saying that volunteers had stepped forward to help with such events.
These included some private veterinarians, who had assisted by conducting microchipping drives at their clinics.
In the first two months of 2025, microchipping drives were held at Toa Payoh Central Community Centre, as well as Bukit Merah Secondary School.
Upcoming microchipping drives will be conducted at various locations, such as Bishan Community Centre, Singapore Expo, NUS, and Dunman High School.
People interested in registering for microchipping drive slots can do so at the following link.
Registration slots for the month open at 12pm on the first day of the preceding month.
In other words, cat owners heading to any such drives held in March may register now.
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Top image via NParks/Facebook
