This year, the 34-year-old ban will be overturned, allowing the city's many fugitive cats to breathe a sigh of relief.
Tommy's owner, Adam, who spoke under a pseudonym because he is breaking the regulation, says he can't understand why the ban existed in the first place. "Normally for cats, they're not a problem. Maybe a dog [could be a problem] - they're noisy, and if a dog bites you're in trouble," he said.
The ban, which carries a fine of up to 4,000 Singapore dollars (US$3,000) and the risk of a pet's eviction, is widely flouted in the city state of 6 million people, otherwise known for its law-abiding culture. While the rule is rarely enforced, owners can face problems if neighbours complain.
The ban applies to high-rise blocks run by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), set up in 1960 to solve a housing crisis that saw many living in overcrowded settlements without proper sanitation. Today, about 80% of the population live in HDB flats.
This story is from the June 21, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
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This story is from the June 21, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
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