Cat-related issues are often less about cats and more about irresponsible ownership. For example, a domestic cat that defecates outside another person’s home has either been allowed to roam free or was not provided with a litter box, says Thenuga Vijakumar. Many other common problems can also be resolved through cat-proofing or sterilisation, adds the president of Cat Welfare Society (CWS).
Still, she treats every complaint about alleged cat-related disamenities as an opportunity to educate the community. “There’s almost always an information disparity,” she explains. Founded in 1999, CWS is a registered charity that advocates responsible pet cat ownership and responsible community cat caregiving. Thenuga, who first became acquainted with CWS when she was trying to help neuter a cat in her parents’ estate, has been in her current role since 2014.
Among its key initiatives, CWS introduced an islandwide cat sterilisation programme to reduce the chronic tension caused by overpopulation. While it initially relied on partial subsidies, the programme now covers the entire process—trapping, transporting, neutering, boarding, and returning animals.
This demonstrates that the cat population can be effectively managed, and that sustainable and humane solutions can be achieved when guided by speed, efficacy, and compassion, Thenuga notes.
As it stands, there are cumulative consequences when population growth goes unchecked: more kittens requiring rescue, more cats falling ill, and more needing palliative care over time. In the absence of a corresponding rise in adoptions, an increase in cats fostered in the homes of individual rescuers places additional strain on the rescue system.
This is why she hopes that the Cat Management Framework developed by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) will advance towards enforced sterilisation. In her opinion, it should be mandatory to sterilise all cats in commercial and industrial buildings without culling or removal.
“The fact that sterilisation is not mandated despite the high volume of feedback regarding unsterilised cats remains a missed opportunity.”
Thenuga Vijakumar on current policies
Additionally, CWS recommends keeping a two-hour window for providing food to community cats to promote civic-mindedness. “We support penalising ‘ghost’ or ‘drive-by’ feeders who do not clean up and leave food lying around. In this case, irresponsibility can turn a caring act into one that harms animals that cannot help the situation or themselves.”
Contrary to widespread belief, CWS is more of a human-focused organisation, and Thenuga’s greatest challenge is in orienting people in that direction. In her view, caregivers, owners, fosterers, and others within the ecosystem are better equipped to look after the cats under their care when they are supported.
Another key challenge has to do with empowering people to help animals in need. “When I first started volunteering, I noticed how few people actually stepped forward to help [because they didn’t know how]. CWS provides support and information, so people can help the animals directly.”
According to Thenuga, a cat-friendly society has sufficient resources to provide a comfortable standard of care to all community cats. In addition to being neutered or spayed, they should also be afforded sufficient space so their territories do not overlap. This prevents uninvited strays or roaming pets from disturbing the balance or vying for resources.
She believes that the statutory board overseeing animal welfare should bear responsibility if the conditions in Singapore do not improve. “They have a direct mandate and the responsibility to effect meaningful change for animal welfare. They should lead social change, not just catch up to social opinion.
“Compassion for animals is great, but it is not a panacea nor a substitute for systems and processes that incorporate animal welfare from the onset.”
Photography Mun Kong
Art direction Ed Harland & Anna Espino Lim
Hair Sarah Tan using Goldwell
Makeup Rina Sim using Bobbi Brown
Photography assistant Hizuan Zailani
