61 cases of cats & dogs in S'pore allegedly falling from height since Sep. 2024, NParks took action against 21 owners

There have been 61 reports of alleged fall-from-height cases for cats and dogs, since the implementation of the Animals and Birds (Licensing and Control of Cats and Dogs) Rules 2024, the National Parks Board (NParks) revealed in a media briefing on Oct. 15, 2025.

The update comes one year after the introduction of the new licensing rules on Sep. 1, 2024, aimed at safeguarding pet cats' and dogs' welfare.

The rules stipulate that owners of cats or dogs must take reasonable steps to protect their pets by preventing them from being in any place which exposes them to the risk of falling from height.

Since the rules came into effect, NParks said it had received reports involving 55 cats and six dogs allegedly falling from height.

21 cases of pet cats or dogs falling from height

Investigations later confirmed 21 cases of 19 cats and two dogs falling from height. NParks has taken enforcement action against the pet owners in all these cases.

The range of enforcement actions taken may include letters of advisory, letters of warning, composition offer or prosecution.

No offence was found for around half the 61 alleged cases as they involved community animals, animals whose injuries were not caused by falls, or cases where there was insufficient evidence to establish ownership.

Another 11 cases are still undergoing investigation, NParks said.

NParks also clarified that they look at "culpability" when investigating such cases.

So far, no one has been prosecuted or charged in court among the 21 cases.

In most cases, the falls were attributed to "oversight" rather than intentional or malicious acts.

As such, the most severe action taken so far has been the issuance of letters of warning. Some owners also received letters of advisory.

Risk of falling from height for cats and dogs

NParks also went into detail on the risks of falling from height for cats and dogs.

They explained that high-rise syndrome in cats refers to the phenomenon where cats fall from height, and can result in serious injuries such as broken bones and internal injuries.

This is more commonplace among community cats as they live in the open and move about freely, and their living conditions are not optimal compared to pet cats, NParks said.

However, NParks cautioned that dogs can also be at risk of falling from height if they are kept in premises that are not properly secured.

They pointed to an example of the recent case of a dog being confined to a service balcony of a 35th floor HDB unit in Toa Payoh.

NParks said they seized the dog and took it under their care given the unsafe housing conditions and concerns over the dog's welfare.

The dog has since been put up for fostering and investigations into the case are ongoing.

Other case studies

In one case in April 2025, an injured pet cat was found at a void deck at Yishun Street 11.

It was taken to a veterinary clinic and later died from its injuries.

NParks' investigation later found that the cat had likely fallen from a seventh-floor residential unit.

While the cat's owner had installed mesh on some of the living room windows, the kitchen windows were unmeshed.

Hence, NParks concluded that the cat had likely fallen out of one of the unprotected openings in the unit.

In another case involving a pet dog in June 2025, the dog was found dead at the ground level of a residential apartment in Marine Parade.

NParks' investigation found that the dog had likely fallen from a third-floor unit, after its owner had left it alone with the living room window open.

Based on the findings, NParks concluded that the dog had likely stepped onto a couch next to the open window and fallen out.

NParks took enforcement action and issued letters of warning against both the pet owners in the two cases.

Responsible pet ownership

"Being a pet owner is a lifelong commitment, and pet owners must be responsible and provide appropriate care throughout their pet's lifetime," group director of NParks, Jessica Kwok, said in a press release.

Pet owners can refer to the Code of Animal Welfare for Pet Owners to learn more about the minimum standards expected for animal housing, management and care.

Under the Animal & Veterinary Service's (AVS) Cat Management Framework, cat owners must license their pet cats by Aug. 31, 2026, and comply with pet cat licensing rules.

This includes ensuring that their cats are kept in a safe environment and taking reasonable steps to protect their cats from hazards, including but not limited to installing mesh, grilles, screens or other barriers to prevent their cats from roaming or falling from height.

Supporting NParks' investigations by reporting suspected cases

Safeguarding animal welfare is also a "shared social responsibility," Kwok said.

Members of the public are reminded to promptly report suspected animal welfare cases, such as animal cruelty or neglect, or cats or dogs falling from height, to NParks' online feedback form, or call their 24-hour Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.

NParks said they take all feedback received from the public seriously, and investigate them thoroughly if there is substantive information provided.

"As with all investigations, all forms of evidence are crucial, and photographic and/or videographic evidence provided by the public will help," she said.

Top images from Chained Dog Awareness in Singapore's Facebook page and NParks