![Cats in flats Delight as covert pets finally given legal status](https://cdn.magzter.com/1588175420/1718941660/articles/jFex1oHJO1718958113879/CATS-IN-FLATS-DELIGHT-AS-COVERT-PETS-FINALLY-GIVEN-LEGAL-STATUS.jpg)
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.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 21, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Dangerous Alliance Putin And Kim Are The Odd Couple With A Dual Mission](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1747903/uEKyeu5451719558107995/crp_DANGEROUS-ALLIANCE-PUTIN-AND-KIM-ARE-THE-ODD-COUPLE-WITH-A-DUAL-MISSION.jpg)
Dangerous Alliance Putin And Kim Are The Odd Couple With A Dual Mission
They make an odd couple. One is smiley-faced and chubby. The other is thin-lipped and scowls a lot.
![Evangelicals On Crusade To Return Trump To Presidency](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1747903/G-YRLqrPf1719559082295/crp_EVANGELICALS-ON-CRUSADE-TO-RETURN-TRUMP-TO-PRESIDENCY.jpg)
Evangelicals On Crusade To Return Trump To Presidency
God's army is on the march. And many of its foot soldiers are wearing Make America Great Again regalia, sensing that their unlikely standard-bearer, former US president Donald Trump, is once again close to the promised land.
![Friends Reunited What Can Russia And North Korea Do For Each Other?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1747903/aQs916T6m1719557958763/crp_FRIENDS-REUNITED-WHAT-CAN-RUSSIA-AND-NORTH-KOREA-DO-FOR-EACH-OTHER.jpg)
Friends Reunited What Can Russia And North Korea Do For Each Other?
China accounts for more than 90% of North Korea's trade and has been its most dependable aid donor and diplomatic ally.
![Tensions Rise On Border As War Looms](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1747903/bLdjbA-DK1719558717144/crp_TENSIONS-RISE-ON-BORDER-AS-WAR-LOOMS.jpg)
Tensions Rise On Border As War Looms
Doctors prepare for casualties, people flee their homes and apprehension hangs in the air as threat grows of conflict with Hezbollah
![The Prosecution Of Roy Is A Stark Warning From Modi To His Critics Salil Tripathi](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1747903/Vqvuuonye1719559976219/crp_THE-PROSECUTION-OF-ROY-IS-A-STARK-WARNING-FROM-MODI-TO-HIS-CRITICS-SALIL-TRIPATHI.jpg)
The Prosecution Of Roy Is A Stark Warning From Modi To His Critics Salil Tripathi
This month, the highest ranking bureaucrat of the state of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena, permitted the Delhi police to prosecute Arundhati Roy (pictured), and Sheikh Showkat Hussain for remarks they made at a public event 14 years ago.
![Heads up Road deaths prompt a rethink over bike helmets](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1747903/oKI6I-6zF1719560816312/HEADS-UP-ROAD-DEATHS-PROMPT-A-RETHINK-OVER-BIKE-HELMETS.jpg)
Heads up Road deaths prompt a rethink over bike helmets
When 42-year-old Myrthe Boss gets on her bike to go shopping in the Dutch town of Ede, she pops on a helmet.
![How Easter Island is swamped by deluge of plastic](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1747903/_ckmlXWmi1719560645633/HOW-EASTER-ISLAND-IS-SWAMPED-BY-DELUGE-OF-PLASTIC.jpg)
How Easter Island is swamped by deluge of plastic
Ocean currents are dumping tides of multinational rubbish on to the shores of one of the world's most remote habitats
![Bold ideas for a well-dressed salad - and without the need for oil](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1747903/Q2TpyS_UD1719560434641/BOLD-IDEAS-FOR-A-WELLDRESSED-SALAD-AND-WITHOUT-THE-NEED-FOR-OIL.jpg)
Bold ideas for a well-dressed salad - and without the need for oil
It's hard to deny the transformative power of a good salad dressing, but you don't need much oil, if any. Honey, for example, will give \"a natural stickiness that helps adhesion to your salad, while the sweetness balances the acidity of vinegar\", says Tony Rodd, head chef at Pomus in Margate
![The German theatre that puts climate centre stage](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1747903/APT2A8FD21719560346362/THE-GERMAN-THEATRE-THAT-PUTS-CLIMATE-CENTRE-STAGE.jpg)
The German theatre that puts climate centre stage
As part of a wider project to reduce its carbon footprint, a Potsdam theatre is reusing props, recycling costumes and doubling up tickets as transport passes
![Out of the shadows](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21668/1747903/eOYIk7XPZ1719560133674/OUT-OF-THE-SHADOWS.jpg)
Out of the shadows
Anthony McCall made his name with 'light sculptures' that people could enter. But a show in Sweden led to 20 years in the wilderness