Cats in our HDBs (block)

Just throwing it out there; issues that feel close to my heart for a sense of night-vision familiarity

Lifting the ban of cats in public housing could have the effect of reifying roles and responsibilities of cat owners as they receive instructions, guidance and training, coupled with valuable experience of owning cats and knowledge sharing in the form of exchanging tips and other invaluable support. Currently, owners are mostly left to their own devices which varies and depend much on their individual access to resources and their resourcefulness. Those with the bare minimum may not be doing any favours at all.

As people become familiar with caring for cats, we can then safely hope for the overall improvement of their welfare particularly of those currently confined to the streets, forced to live in deplorable conditions as is expected from little to no care or support in terms of health or access to clean water, food or private place of rest. Without a ban, we can expect an enlargement of the pool from which caregivers come as they extend their houses as shelters especially from the worst threats present outdoors which includes pythons, crows, wild dogs, serial cat abusers, circulating infectious diseases, increase risk of injury and infections and so on.

It’s a plus for a booming sector in the economy; we can expect an increase in the demand for veterinary services and/or other cat-related products and services including grooming, pet hotels, pet-taxis, pet-sitting, pet-(overseas) relocation services leading to a decrease in prices to the point of greater and wider affordability and a thriving (new) market spurring innovation, creativity, jobs creation and investment opportunities.

People will have fewer reservations when it comes to taking in more street cats as they become affordable thus relieving the government of the problem of caterwauling cats that do their business and fight in public areas, angering residents.

Our mental health can benefit from our feline companions; some studies have shown that petting a cat are beneficial to people suffering from mental health issues such as depression, loneliness and so on. They are particularly helpful to our elderly, bringing them much joy and love through loyal and faithful companionship.

At the end of the day, it’s not a one-way take only relationship. There could only be so much happiness to be had from circulating happiness. Caring for an animal also instil values such as empathy, self-sacrifice, generosity, mercy, tolerance, patience, holding and keeping promises; fostering a sense of responsibility as well as important life lessons such as how to cope with the death of a loved one.

Happiness feeds and grow into more happiness. There is so much to benefit from this that it seems disproportionate and ridiculous to abandon them just to show loyalty to ignorant, ill-informed, lazy and often selfish views. I say, let our feline friends into our homes!