🔥 Trending Singapore's New Cat Foster Pilot Scheme: What You Need to Know

The Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) in Singapore is launching a new two-year pilot scheme for cat fosterers, which will allow approved individuals to keep more cats than currently permitted, particularly in public housing (HDB flats) ¹³. This scheme recognizes the important role fosterers play in cat management ¹.

Key Details of the Pilot Scheme

The pilot scheme is designed to support responsible cat fostering and will run from August 3, 2026, to July 31, 2028 ⁴.

Increased Cat Limits

Under the new scheme:

• HDB Flats: Approved fosterers residing in three-room or larger Housing & Development Board (HDB) flats will be allowed to license and keep up to six cats ²³⁴. Previously, there were stricter limits on cat ownership in HDB flats ⁶.
• Private Homes: Fosterers in private homes will be allowed to keep up to ten cats ⁴.

Eligibility and Requirements

To be recognized as an approved fosterer, individuals will need to meet a new set of requirements ³. AVS is currently co-developing these guidelines with animal welfare group partners ⁶. These guidelines are expected to ensure responsible fostering practices.

Context and Background

This pilot scheme is part of a broader Cat Management Framework introduced by AVS. As of September 1, 2024, AVS mandated that all cat owners must register their pets and microchip them prior to registration ⁵. This framework aims to enhance owner responsibility and assist in tracking cats ⁵. After a two-year transition period, there will be a fee for cat registration: S$15 for sterilised cats and S$30 for unsterilised cats ⁵. The pilot scheme for fosterers complements these efforts by providing a structured approach for individuals dedicated to temporary cat care.