Cat ownership limits
How many cats you can keep depending on your residential type
Last updated 17 November 2025
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Notice: As pet ownership is a lifelong commitment, owners currently keeping cats beyond the allowable limit can continue to keep their existing pet cats if they apply for licences for their cats during the transition period and ensure that the cats’ health and welfare are being taken care of.
Two-year transition period: Licensing and keeping of all existing pet cats
A two-year transition period will be introduced to allow pet owners to ease into the changes and meet the cat-keeping rules and licensing conditions. The transition period will be from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2026.
As pet ownership is a lifelong commitment, owners currently keeping cats beyond the allowable limit can continue to keep their existing* pet cats if they apply for licences for their cats during the transition period and ensure that the cats’ health and welfare are taken care of.
*Excluding newly acquired cats (e.g. purchased directly from pet shops) during the transition period.
Cat owners who fail to license their existing pet cats by the end of the transition period will only be allowed to license and keep up to two pet cats in each HDB flat, or up to 3 cats and/or dogs in private premises.
Cats in HDB flats
Up to two cats, as well as one dog of an approved breed (under the Housing and Development Board Animals Rules 1989), are allowed to be kept in any HDB residential unit. You can face a fine of up of to S$4,000 if you fail to comply with HDB’s rule.
Cats in private premises
A maximum of three cats and/or dogs are allowed to be kept in any one private (non-HDB residential, industrial or commercial) premises.
Number of cats allowed per unit of non-HDB residential, industrial or commercial premises
(These changes will take effect from 1 September 2024)
Date of cat licence application | Number of dogs | Number of cats allowed | Maximum number of cats and/or dogs allowed |
On or after 1 September 2024 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
1 | 2 | ||
2 | 1 | ||
3 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
I currently live in a HDB flat and own more than two cats. What should I do?
Cat owners currently keeping cats beyond the allowable limit can continue to keep all their existing pet cats (i.e. owned before 1 Sept 2024) if they apply for licences for their cats during the transition period. Cat owners who fail to license their existing pet cats by the end of the transition period will only be allowed to license and keep up to two pet cats in each HDB flat, or up to 3 cats and/or dogs in private premises.
I am currently keeping cats beyond the allowed limit. Can I buy/adopt more cats after 1 September 2024?
As pet ownership is a lifelong commitment, pet owners can continue to keep all their existing pet cats (i.e. owned before 1 September 2024) if they apply for licences for their cats during the transition period and ensure that the cats' health and and welfare are taken care of. If you are already keeping cats beyond the allowed number limit, you should not be keeping more cats after 1 September 2024.
I am currently fostering cats beyond the allowed limit. Can I foster more cats after 1 September 2024?
AVS is co-developing guidelines for cat fosterers together with animal welfare group partners and looking into how responsible fosterers which meet these guidelines can be allowed to keep more cats. This will be done in a phased approach and AVS will share more details when ready. If you are rescuing and fostering new cats after 1 September 2024, please ensure that cats are sterilised and licensed to their adopters.
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