Straits Times Forum Page, 15 Jul 2002. By Alice Leong It is good to know that the proposal to allow cats to be kept in HDB flats is under review. While it is fair to put a cap on the number of cats that are allowed to reside within a flat, it does not make much sense to disallow the keeping of them entirely, on the basis that they may 'become a nuisance to the residents'. If a cat is domesticated and kept indoors, how does it affect the residents of other units within a block of flats? If 'nuisance' refers to the level of noise that female cats make while in heat, sterilisation should resolve much of the problem. A cat is no bigger than a toy dog, and makes about as much noise, if not less. Cats are, by nature, very hygienic and fastidious animals, and have the habit of burying their waste, which dogs do not. There are incidents of people being attacked by dogs, but I have yet to hear of someone who has been mauled by a cat for no apparent reason. Disallowing the keeping of cats in HDB flats will result in more stray cats wandering around. These cats will propagate at a high rate. Many are put down and a significant number die from road accidents, fights with other cats and disease. Cultivation of a tolerant and kind spirit helps in the building of a gracious society. It is time that we exhibit some of that grace in our treatment of animals. I urge strongly that the authorities give this issue serious consideration and adopt the proposal submitted by the Cat Welfare Society.