Extract from a caregiver's blog
Letter to HDB May 15
Dear Sir, Madam,
I am writing in on behalf of a group of volunteers and residents. We had earlier spoken to the Town Council Manager regarding the building of a cat café at the unused land behind the bin center near blk ***. She told us that we would need to get approval from HDB.
A cat cafe is a small structure for feeding community cats (see attachment). The purpose is to keep the cats further away from the HDB blocks, car park and bin center and also to provide some shelter from rain and sun and to discourage irresponsible feeding and littering. The slope behind the bin center would be an ideal location for the first cat cafe in this estate.
Presently there is a stable population of about 10 cats at around this bin center. All the cats are sterilised and under the care of volunteer caregivers.
Please let us know what steps need to be taken to obtain approval for this project.
Thanks and regards,
Reply from HDB
I refer to your email below and apologise for taking some time to reply to you.
2 To preserve the neighbourliness in our housing estates, HDB maintains the current policy of not allowing cats to be kept in HDB flats. This is because, cats being nomadic in nature, it is difficult to restrict their movements or confine them within the flat. Cats also have defecation or urinary habits which may annoy other residents. HDB is aware that there are cat lovers who feel strongly that cats should be allowed in HDB flats. However, there are many HDB residents who do not like cats and are strongly against allowing cats in HDB flats.
3 We have considered your request carefully and regret to inform you that approval cannot be granted to build a cat cafe, as cats are not allowed in HDB flats. We seek your understanding in this, as HDB has to consider the sentiments of the HDB residents in setting its policies, for both who like and dislike cats.
Yours sincerely,
