A cat license in Singapore is no longer free by default. From 1 September 2026, current AVS fees apply, and keeping an unlicensed pet cat is an offence. If your cat is still unlicensed, the practical next step is to check the housing limit, arrange a microchip if needed, complete the Pet Ownership Course if you are a first-time applicant, and apply through PALS.

TL;DR

  • Already have an active one-time licence for a sterilised cat? It remains valid for the cat's lifetime unless it is cancelled or revoked. You do not need to buy it again because the transition ended.
  • Have a periodic licence for an unsterilised cat? Check its expiry date in PALS and renew it before it expires. Renewals are now chargeable.
  • Your pet cat is unlicensed? Apply as soon as possible. AVS says it will investigate feedback and take enforcement action where owners have not complied.
  • Applying for the first time? Your cat needs a microchip, and you must complete the free online Pet Ownership Course before applying on PALS.
  • Current ordinary fee for a sterilised cat: S$35 for a one-time licence within the first-three-animal tier, before the 10% eligible-payment rebate.

What changed on 1 September 2026?

Singapore's two-year transition period for pet cat licensing ran from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2026. During that period, sterilised cats could receive free one-time licences and unsterilised cats received free periodic licences covering the transition.

That window has now closed. Four practical changes matter:

  1. Licence fees now apply. The amount depends on the cat's age, sterilisation status, licence duration and whether it falls within the first three cats and/or dogs.
  2. Keeping an unlicensed pet cat is now an offence. NParks states that AVS will investigate feedback and take enforcement action against owners who have not complied.
  3. AVS's free microchipping services have ended. AVS says the programme ceased in August 2026. Most owners who still need a microchip should now arrange it with a vet at their own cost.
  4. Transition-only concessions have ended. These include self-declaring a cat's sterilisation without supporting evidence and licensing existing over-limit cats under the transition arrangement.

An existing valid licence did not disappear at midnight. If PALS shows that your sterilised cat has an active one-time licence, it remains valid for that cat's lifetime unless it is cancelled or revoked.

Who needs a cat licence in Singapore?

AVS states that all pet cats must be licensed. The requirement applies whether you live in an HDB flat, condominium or landed home, and whether your cat was bought, adopted or imported.

AVS's current cat-licensing page says all pet cats must be licensed and publishes a one-year S$15 licence for cats below five months. Check the current PALS requirements for a kitten rather than assuming that a young cat is exempt.

Community cats

Community cats do not need pet licences. AVS encourages community caregivers to register them for traceability, but this is separate from licensing a cat kept as a pet in your home.

Foster cats

Foster cats are treated as cats being kept in a home and need licences. AVS also runs a separate pilot for approved fosterers, with different limits and fee arrangements. Check the official fosterer pilot rather than assuming an informal foster arrangement is exempt.

How to apply for a cat license in Singapore

The application itself goes through PALS, but a little preparation prevents you from reaching the form without the required information.

Step 1: Check your existing PALS record and housing limit

Log in to PALS and check whether the cat already has a licence under you or a previous keeper. Note whether it is:

  • a one-time licence, which is available for sterilised cats and is valid for the cat's lifetime; or
  • a periodic licence, which has a stated expiry date and must be renewed.

Also check that the cat can be kept at your address. The ordinary limits are two cats plus one HDB-approved small-breed dog in an HDB flat, or three cats and dogs in total in private premises. A licence is not permission to ignore the housing limit.

If a shelter, fosterer or previous keeper licensed the cat, the licence may need to be transferred to you. Do not create a duplicate application without checking the existing record.

Step 2: Have your cat microchipped

Your cat must be microchipped before you apply. AVS describes the microchip as a small implant placed by a licensed vet, with a unique number used to connect the cat to its keeper and registered address.

Arrange the procedure with your preferred vet and ask for the microchip number and supporting record. AVS does not publish a standard clinic price because charges vary, so confirm the consultation and microchip cost with the clinic before the appointment.

Need a clinic? Browse our Singapore veterinary clinics directory for locations and contact details, then call to confirm cat microchipping availability and the total appointment fee.

The free AVS microchipping programme has ended. Eligible lower-income households may still apply for sterilisation and microchip support through the Pet Cat Sterilisation Support Programme.

Step 3: Complete the Pet Ownership Course if required

If this is your first cat or dog licence application, complete AVS's free online Pet Ownership Course before applying.

AVS estimates that the course takes 20 to 30 minutes. It covers basic biology, health and care, responsible pet ownership, and the rules that apply to keeping pets.

Singaporeans, permanent residents and FIN holders can follow the Singpass registration route. AVS publishes a separate manual-registration guide for passport-only applicants.

Step 4: Prepare the supporting documents

You will need your cat's microchip number. Depending on the application, AVS may also ask for:

  • a veterinarian sterilisation certificate;
  • a vet examination letter or vaccination card showing the sterilisation status;
  • an Animal Welfare Group adoption or fosterer agreement; or
  • an import permit for an imported cat.

During the transition, an owner who could not produce a sterilisation certificate could self-declare that a cat was sterilised. AVS limited that option to 1 September 2024 through 31 August 2026, so do not assume it remains available for a new application now.

If a document is missing, ask your vet, shelter or AVS which accepted record applies to your case before submitting inaccurate information.

Step 5: Apply and pay on PALS

Once the course and supporting documents are ready:

  1. Open PALS.
  2. Start a new cat licence application or the relevant renewal or transfer transaction.
  3. Enter the cat's microchip and keeping-address details carefully.
  4. Upload the applicable documents.
  5. Choose the available licence duration and make payment.
  6. Check the confirmation and the licence details shown in PALS.

AVS provides a downloadable PALS user guide on its licence application page. Processing can depend on the application and documents, so allow time for follow-up rather than assuming approval is instant.

Cat license Singapore fees from 1 September 2026

The following are the AVS fees for cats and dogs not kept on a farm, checked on 14 September 2026. They are the published amounts before the 10% rebate available for GIRO, online or AXS payment.

The first-three tier counts cats and dogs together. Include any dog in the household when working out whether a cat is the fourth animal. For the dog side of the rules, see our Singapore dog licence guide.

Cats below five months

  • One-year licence: S$15

AVS does not list a two-year, three-year or one-time option in this age tier.

First three cats and/or dogs: sterilised

  • One-year licence: S$15 per animal
  • Two-year licence: S$25 per animal
  • One-time licence valid for the animal's life: S$35 per animal

For example, a S$35 one-time licence becomes S$31.50 after a 10% eligible-payment rebate.

First three cats and/or dogs: unsterilised

  • One-year licence: S$90 per animal
  • Two-year licence: S$165 per animal
  • Three-year licence: S$230 per animal
  • One-time licence: not available

An unsterilised cat therefore stays on a renewal cycle. Sterilisation is not mandatory, but it changes the available licence types and fees substantially. Our guide to cat sterilisation costs and support in Singapore explains the separate care decision.

Fourth and subsequent cat or dog

The standard higher tier is:

  • One-year licence: S$180 per animal
  • Two-year licence: S$325 per animal
  • Three-year licence for an unsterilised animal: S$460 per animal
  • One-time licence for a sterilised animal: S$460 per animal

AVS publishes a reduced first-three rate for a qualifying fourth cat that is sterilised and adopted from an AVS animal welfare rehoming partner. Supporting adoption evidence is required.

This fee schedule does not authorise an extra animal. HDB and private-property limits still apply, and keeping more pets can require prior approval.

If your cat was licensed during the transition

Start with the exact status in PALS rather than applying again.

Active one-time licence

A one-time licence for a sterilised cat is valid for the cat's lifetime unless it is cancelled or revoked. The end of free licensing does not create a new renewal charge for that active one-time licence.

Keep the registered keeper, contact information and keeping address current. If you move the cat to another address, AVS requires the change to be reported within 28 days.

Periodic licence for an unsterilised cat

Check the displayed expiry date and renew before it expires. Current fees apply to the renewal.

If your cat has since been sterilised, update the sterilisation status in PALS and upload the sterilisation certificate. AVS says the reduced fee applies at renewal. It also states that a three-year licence for an unsterilised cat will automatically change to a one-time licence when the sterilisation status is updated. Follow the option PALS presents for the existing record.

Licence under another keeper

The current licensee starts the transfer in PALS using the new keeper's details. The new keeper then accepts or rejects it. This matters after adoption, rehoming or a permanent change in who is responsible for the cat.

HDB and private-property cat limits now

Licensing and permission to keep an animal at a particular home are related, but they are not the same thing.

HDB flats

An HDB flat may ordinarily keep:

  • up to two cats; and
  • up to one dog of an HDB-approved small breed.

See our detailed guide to how many cats you can keep in an HDB flat for the housing side of the rule.

Private premises

Private premises may ordinarily keep up to three cats or dogs in total. Specified-dog rules can narrow the permitted combination. An owner who wants to keep more than three licensed pets needs prior AVS approval, assessed case by case.

What happened to the over-limit transition arrangement?

The arrangement applied only to cats that were already owned before 1 September 2024 and licensed by 31 August 2026. Those licensed cats can continue to be kept, provided their welfare is maintained.

The window cannot simply be recreated by paying the current fourth-animal fee. If your household is over the ordinary limit and one or more cats were not licensed during the transition, contact AVS and HDB where applicable for guidance on your specific situation. Do not assume retrospective approval.

Cat-keeping conditions and enforcement

A licence comes with ongoing responsibilities. Under the current rules, owners must take reasonable steps to:

  • keep the cat in a safe environment;
  • prevent the cat from falling from height;
  • prevent the cat from leaving the home except under physical control; and
  • keep the cat under physical control in public, such as in a carrier or on a harness.

AVS gives mesh, grilles, screens and other barriers as examples of ways to prevent roaming and falls. The duty is to manage the actual hazards in your home, not to buy one named product. Our HDB cat-proofing guide covers practical window, gate and balcony options.

From 1 September 2026, keeping an unlicensed pet cat is an offence. NParks states that owners who breach the cat-keeping rules and licence conditions can be liable on conviction to a fine of up to S$5,000. This is a statutory maximum, not an automatic fixed penalty for every case.

HDB also has separate rules about keeping animals in flats. For a housing-limit or neighbour-dispute case, contact HDB and AVS for guidance specific to your circumstances; do not assume that a licence or a previous warning resolves the housing issue.

Frequently asked questions

Is cat licensing still free in Singapore?

No, not for an ordinary new application from 1 September 2026. Current AVS fees now apply. A valid free one-time licence issued to a sterilised cat during the transition remains valid and does not become chargeable merely because the transition ended.

What should I do if my cat is still unlicensed after 31 August 2026?

Check that the cat is allowed at your address, arrange a microchip if needed, complete the Pet Ownership Course if this is your first cat or dog licence application, prepare the supporting documents and apply on PALS as soon as possible. If you are over the housing limit, contact AVS and HDB where applicable instead of assuming a paid application solves the limit issue.

Do I need to pay again for a free one-time licence?

No, provided the one-time licence remains active. It is valid for the life of the sterilised cat unless cancelled or revoked. Check PALS rather than submitting a duplicate application.

Does a kitten need a licence?

AVS says all pet cats must be licensed and publishes a one-year S$15 tier for cats below five months. Ask your vet when the kitten can be microchipped, then follow the current PALS requirements.

Do I have to sterilise my cat?

No. AVS strongly encourages sterilisation but does not make it a condition for licensing an ordinary pet cat. An unsterilised cat uses a periodic licence and attracts higher fees. Discuss the health decision and timing with your vet.

Do community cats need pet licences?

No. Community cats are managed separately, and caregivers are encouraged to register them with AVS for traceability. A cat kept as a pet in your home does require a pet licence.

How do I transfer a cat licence to another owner?

The current licensee initiates the transfer in PALS using the new keeper's name, mobile number and email address. The new keeper must accept the transfer before it is completed.

What to do now

The most useful first step is to open PALS and check the exact record. An active one-time licence may need no action beyond keeping details current. A periodic licence needs attention before its displayed expiry. An unlicensed cat needs the microchip, course and application steps now.

For household-limit, fosterer or unusual licence cases, use AVS's current guidance or contact AVS directly. For the wider budget beyond licensing, see our honest breakdown of the cost of owning a cat in Singapore.