Recognise Changi Village As Singapore's Official Cat Village

Since time immemorial, Changi Village has been the natural home to Singapore's largest population of stray cats. Both locals and tourists are fond of the Changi Village cats and have fascinating stories to tell of their playfulness and affectionate nature.

It is time for the authorities in Singapore to recognise Changi Village as Singapore's official cat village. The recognition would not only help ensure the health and safety of the Changi Village community cats, but would also help boost volunteers' outreach efforts, which include the "Trap, Neuter and Sterilisation" programme, programme to rehabilitate sick and frail community cats, and public education on responsible pet ownership and responsible feeding practices.

Recognising Changi Village as Singapore's official cat village would also help generate tourism revenue through the sale of eco-friendly cat-themed merchandise as well as literature aimed at raising a generation of socially conscious children with a love and respect for Singapore's community animals. A similar model exists in Taiwan - the Houtong cat village.

The administrator of the "Four Paws at Changi Village" Facebook page proposes to collaborate with the relevant authorities on the following areas:

- Education on responsible pet ownership and responsible feeding practices. Currently our volunteers have distributed makeshift signs in Singapore's official languages throughout Changi Village. We recommend that permanent signs be erected to educate on responsible pet ownership (sterilisation, no abandonment, and no breeding) and responsible feeding practices. Four Paws can crowdfund for the cost of the permanent signs. We need the relevant authorities' approval for the erection of the signs in Changi Village

- Training and coaching a new generation of volunteers responsible for feeding the community cats and educating the public. Four Paws can provide the trainers and the relevant authorities can support and provide venue sponsorship

- Administration of a public fund to support the feeding, sterilisation, medical expenses and rehabilitation of community cats. The relevant authorities could administer the fund on Four Paws' behalf and use public donations / revenue from the sale of cat-themed merchandise to fund the expenses. Four Paws could also explore setting up a company to administer the day-to-day accounts

These are a few crucial areas we urgently need support for. Recognising Changi Village as Singapore's official cat village would be a crucial first step in our long term plans for the Changi Village community cats.

We look forward to having a meaningful, mutually respectful dialogue with the relevant authorities on our petition.

We hope you can recognise our multi-racial community effort to build a Singapore that is respectful and loving towards our community cats.