Straits Times Forum Page, 10 July 2002 I REFER to the article, 'Animal abusers to face heavier penalties' (ST, July 9), and on the subject of cats not being permitted in HDB flats. The SPCA welcomes the news of increased penalties for those found guilty of abusing animals and the inclusion of abandonment as an offence under the Animal & Birds (Amendment) Bill passed by Parliament on Monday. Also mentioned was that the ruling against keeping cats in HDB flats is going to stay because the authorities believe they can be a nuisance to neighbours. Reference was made to the 'caterwauling of cats'. As Minister of State for National Development Vivian Balakrishnan mentioned, most caterwauling occurs during mating. This problem does not exist if the cats are sterilised. The SPCA has, in the past, appealed to the Housing Board to review the ruling on cats being kept as pets in HDB apartments. The response was that 'due to the innate nature of cats', owners would have difficulty confining their cats within their HDB flats. This decision is regrettable because many people do keep cats in flats and in a responsible manner, that is, the cats are sterilised and not permitted to stray outside. With conditioning from a young age, cats will not have the desire to roam. In the SPCA's experience, cats make ideal companions in flats and can be confined. They are also independent and do not require constant attention. It is the SPCA's belief that if cats were permitted to be kept in HDB flats strictly on the condition that owners microchipped, sterilised and confined them indoors, the stray population, which is considerably high, would be reduced significantly. DEIRDRE MOSS Executive Officer Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals