1. Overview of Pet Cat License
   
   Pursuant to the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), a division of the National Parks Board (NParks), which announced the finalized Cat Management Framework on 11 May 2024, all pet owners must apply for a new cat licence from AVS and implanted with a microchip.
   
   The mandatory licensing and microchipping scheme aim to enhance the welfare and traceability of pet cats and will be rolled out from 1 September 2024, with the transition period extending until 31 August 2026.
   
   
2. Microchipping scheme
   
   Microchips provide the best form of permanent identification for your pet, utilizing a tiny transponder the size of a grain of rice. When scanned, the microchip reveals a unique code specific to the pet.
   
   Owners and caregivers of cats are required to microchip and register the animals with the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS). The registration must include details such as the animal's breed, the pet owner's name, and contact information in AVS's microchip registry.
   
   Microchipped pets have a significantly higher chance of being returned to their owners if they go missing. However, if the microchip code is not registered in a database with the owner's contact details, the microchipped pet cannot be traced back to its owner.
   
   
3. Eligibility
   
   

   (1)	Prior to the license application, the applicant must ensure that the cat is implanted with a microchip and that first-time cat license applicants complete a one-time, free online pet ownership course.
   (2)	The licensee must follow the Code of Animal Welfare (for pet owners) for the standards in relation to animal housing, management, and care. Otherwise, the licensee may be liable for an offence in the event of any breach of the cat-keeping rules or licensing conditions.
   (3)	Cat owners must ensure that their cats are kept in a safe environment by taking reasonable steps to protect them from hazards, such as installing mesh, grilles, screens, or other barriers to prevent the cats from roaming or falling from heights.
   (4)	When in public, cats must be kept under physical control, such as using a harness or placing them in a carrier, to prevent them from roaming freely.

   
   
4. License Fee
   
   

   (1)	Licence fees (From 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2026) Between 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2026, all cat licenses will be issued free of charge. One-time licenses with lifetime validity will be issued for sterilized cats, while licenses covering the transition period will be issued for unsterilized cats.
   (2)	Licence fees (From 1 September 2026 onwards) Pet owners are strongly encouraged to sterilize their cats as soon as possible. All cats must be licensed before the end of the transition period, as it will be an offence to keep unlicensed pet cats from 1 September 2026 onwards.

   
   *An additional 10% rebate is extended to licensees who make payment via GIRO, online, or via AXS.
   
   
5. Important Notice
   
   

   (1)	A two-year transition period will be implemented to facilitate pet owners in adapting to the new cat-keeping rules and licensing conditions. This transition period will run from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2026. Beginning 1 September 2026, it will be an offence to keep unlicensed pet cats.
   (2)	Cat owners who fail to license their existing pet cats by the end of the transition period will be restricted to keeping a maximum of two pet cats in each HDB flat or up to three cats and/or dogs in private premises.
   (3)	Recognizing that pet ownership is a lifelong commitment, pet owners may retain all their existing pet cats (i.e., those owned before 1 September 2024) provided they apply for licenses during the transition period and ensure the health and welfare of their cats are adequately managed. If you currently own more cats than the permitted limit, you will not be allowed to acquire additional cats after 1 September 2024.

All the information and requirement are revised periodically and may be subject to change from time to time by the Singapore government authorities without prior notice. Please consult with Kaizen Consultants for more information.

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