Are cats finally allowed in HDB now? Confused about the new scheme

Yes, the framework changed, cats are now allowed in HDB flats under a licensing scheme with a cap on the number per flat (there's a transition period for existing owners). You do need to license each cat, microchip them, and follow the responsible ownership conditions like keeping them indoors / mesh at windows. Steps: 1) go to the NParks/AVS pet licensing portal, 2) register and microchip each cat, 3) do it within the transition window so existing owners aren't penalised. Since you already have two, check the exact allowed number and the deadline for existing owners, this is the part that keeps getting updated so verify on the official NParks page directly.

Cat owner here, already did the licensing for mine once the scheme opened and it was straightforward online with Singpass, took maybe fifteen minutes per cat plus the microchip visit to the vet. The window-mesh requirement is the one people conveniently overlook, but high-rise cats do fall (high-rise syndrome is a real vet emergency here) so honestly you should mesh your windows and gril regardless of any rule. Get proper cat-safe mesh, not flimsy netting they can claw through. Two cats is within the typical cap from what I recall, but confirm the exact number yourself. Doing it properly also means if you ever kena a complaint, you're covered.

Please license both and mesh your windows, I'm saying this from a painful place. I lost a cat to a fall before the scheme even existed, the guilt still sits with me, one open window and a bird outside is all it takes. Whatever the paperwork requires, the actual point of the rules is responsible indoor ownership and safety, so treat the mesh as non-negotiable even more than the licence. Get the whole-window mesh installed by someone who does it properly for cats. Two cats keeping each other company indoors is a lovely setup, just make the home escape-proof first, then sort the licensing.

Don't rely on forum posts for the exact cap and deadline, it moved around a bit during the rollout and I don't want to quote you a wrong number. Check the NParks official page, they have the specific figures, the transition timeline for existing owners like you, and the fee. But to answer your main worry, yes, the era of cats being technically not allowed in HDB is over, so you're no longer in a grey zone, you just need to complete the registration within the window. Do it sooner rather than later so you're squared away and don't accidentally miss the existing-owner grace period.