CONSTRUCTION OF 'CAT CAFES' IN UNUSED AREAS OF HDB ESTATES

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CONSTRUCTION OF 'CAT CAFES' IN UNUSED AREAS OF HDB ESTATES: * * *

3.

Mr Siew Kum Hong asked the Minister for National Development whether there is a policy against the construction of "cat cafes", being small structures used for feeding community cats in unused areas of HDB estates, away from HDB blocks, car parks and bin centres, funded by volunteers who feed the cats themselves and also ensure that the cats being fed are sterilised.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: HDB estates are not fenced to allow residents to move about and interact freely. Unfortunately, this means that stray cats in housing estates can also roam about freely. Locating such "cat cafes" in housing estates may compromise the estates' cleanliness and hygiene.

Furthermore, the sentiments of HDB residents have to be considered. While some are cat lovers, others are more sensitive to the disamenities they cause. Every year, HDB receives about 530 complaints from residents on cats.

There are, therefore, measures in place to manage the stray cat population. They include selective culling and public education to promote responsible pet ownership.