Six myths about sterilising your pet cat

The Cat-ember 2025 celebration marks one year since the National Parks Board’s Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) launched the Cat Management Framework on Sept 1, 2024.

- Lin Anhui

Organised by the statutory board, Cat-ember is a month-long event in September with community events, workshops and exhibitions to promote responsible pet ownership and harmonious living with cats.

The framework strives to improve the welfare and management of pet and community cats, while striking a balance between the differing views on the keeping of cats.

Under it, pet owners are allowed to keep up to two cats in an HDB flat, and up to three cats for each private residence, with owners required to license and microchip their cats by Aug 31, 2026.

Those with more cats than the stipulated limits are allowed to license and keep all their existing pet cats if they can ensure that the animals' health and welfare are taken care of.

About 41,000 pet cats have since been licensed, with around 95 per cent sterilised.

Some owners, however, may still have reservations about sterilising their cats due to unfounded concerns or misunderstandings. Here are some myths.

MYTH 1: MY FOUR-MONTH-OLD KITTEN IS JUST A BABY AND TOO YOUNG TO BREED

Cats can breed from four months old and produce up to four litters annually.

Based on AVS' survey, some owners delay sterilisation because they deem their cats too young. A female cat will give birth about two months after becoming pregnant.

An unsterilised pair can multiply very quickly and overwhelm your capacity for care.

MYTH 2: MY SIX-MONTH-OLD KITTEN IS TOO YOUNG TO BE STERILISED