Living harmoniously with community cats
What you can do to live harmoniously with community cats
Last updated 30 July 2026
Encountering community cats
Community cats can usually be found amidst our living environment. These cats are generally wary of people and other animals, although some have become used to human interaction through the efforts of responsible caregiving.
What should I do when I encounter a community cat?
Remain calm and quiet.
Maintain a respectful distance.
Allow the cat to approach at its own pace - this lets the cat feel more comfortable and in control of the situation.
If you have children with you, supervise them closely to prevent them from startling the cat.
Do not stare at, chase, or corner the cat.
Do not make sudden movements or loud noises, as the cat may feel threatened and scratch or bite.
What should I do when I want to keep community cats at a distance?
Mesh your gates and entrances to prevent cats from entering your house.
Use rubber spiked mats which may discourage cats from climbing ledges and digging in gardens and flowerpots.
Use natural repellents like white vinegar and citrus peels to deter cats from the area around your home.
Feeding and caring for community cats
AVS has been working with stakeholders including Animal Welfare Groups, community cat caregivers, agencies, and Town Councils on guidelines for responsible community cat caregiving. This draft publication hopes to promote awareness on responsible feeding and caregiving of community cats and address public health concerns in order to bring about peaceful co-existence between humans and cats. The guidelines will continue to be refined further in consultation with stakeholders, such as through engagement with community cat caregiver networks.
Download it here:
Community Cat Caregiving Guidelines [PDF, 1.72 MB] (opens in new tab)
Registering community cats with AVS
When cats are received at AVS’ shelter, AVS will attempt to contact the owner/caregiver by tracing the microchip number in our database. Caregivers who wish to be contacted should register the cat’s microchip under their care in AVS’ database.
Caregivers of community cats are strongly encouraged to microchip and register the cats with AVS for traceability.
For more information on how to register community cats with AVS, please visit this page.
To learn more about the Cat Management Framework, please visit this page.
