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[SINGAPORE] From young professionals working from home to retirees trying to kill time, home-based pet boarding is taking off, despite regulations against it.

This micro-industry has boomed, not just because of the growing number of pets, but also its lower prices, more personal care and flexibility.

Though home-based pet boarding has existed for years, observers pointed to the recent growth – or at least increased visibility – of such offerings. 

On Carousell, where rabbit owner Wei Jie – who doesn’t wish to disclose his full name – found his first pet boarder in 2019, there were only two to three listings, compared with 20 or 30 “easily” today, he says.

And on service-matching platform PetBacker, there are over 1,800 pet boarding services available as at Jul 23. A list of licensed pet boarders from the National Parks Board’s Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) only includes 76 facilities on commercial premises, and seven on farmland. None are in residential units.

“It is likely that a vast number of pet boarders are unlicensed, operating under the radar and escaping detection unless someone complains or whistle-blows,” says Walter Leong, executive director at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

More pets, more services

One simple explanation for the explosion in home-based pet boarding services is the growth in pet ownership.

Businesses in the pet space have grown in general, say Sam and Kel of pet care service Tails & Trails, pointing to the increasing number of pet-friendly offerings, such as malls and dining establishments.

As at end-June 2025, there were about 91,000 pet dogs licensed in Singapore, similar to 2024, according to AVS data. This was up from 90,000 in 2023; and 87,000 in 2022.

There has also been “a shift towards seeing pets as bona fide members of the family”, says SPCA’s Leong. “Many owners are willing to invest heavily in their pets’ care, which creates a profitable market for service providers.”

As home-based pet boarding operator Selena (not her real name) puts it: “They say pets are the new children, right?”

Clarissa Chang, who runs cat and small animal boarding business The Tiny Toots out of her condominium apartment, also notes that Singaporeans are travelling more, resulting in more demand for pet boarding services.

More pets, more services

But besides the overall industry boost, the low cost of setting up shop appeals to home-based pet boarding operators in particular.

“(They) avoid the financial drain that comes with rising commercial property rents,” says Leong.

Says dog owner and former home-based boarder Jordan Yap: “As a (young person), where do we get the amount of money, to go and rent even a small shop, to do all these things?”

Home-based boarders that The Business Times spoke to say set-up costs usually stay within a few hundred dollars.

Selena spent not more than S$200, mainly on security cameras, playpens and baby gates. Sam and Kel shelled out less than S$1,000 for beds, toys and crates. Cynthia – who wanted to be known only by her first name – bought grids to separate the guinea pigs, fleece blankets and hay for less than S$500.

Even Chang, who built in features such as a cubby hole and grilles when moving into her new home, spent only a few thousand dollars on the modifications. Do-it-yourself options for at-home catproofing can cost less than S$300, she adds.

Cash cow?

Of course, there’s money to be made too, although takings vary widely.

Home-boarding is seen as an “easy and profitable venture” especially amid high living costs, says Christine Bernadette, fund raising coordinator for animal welfare charity Causes For Animals (Singapore) (CAS).

For many, it combines their love for animals with extra spending money.

Tails & Trails began with Sam helping her family and friends with their dogs during a sabbatical, but has since turned into a “fulfilling” full-time endeavour.

Since its first paid boarding session in December last year, it has worked with 40 to 50 different dogs. Their takings have ranged from S$3,000 on slow months, to S$10,000 during the December peak, Sam says.

Chang, who started her services eight years ago as “a pretty fun way to earn extra money”, turned it into a full-time gig in July last year. The Tiny Toots has been home to more than 470 pets, with at least half coming in over the past year, she says.

While she earned a maximum of about S$1,000 each month in the past, this grew to at least S$5,000 since increasing capacity and raising her prices to do it full-time.

For Cynthia, who has boarded more than 20 different groups of guinea pigs since starting in November 2023, the business can bring in S$1,500 on a high month, and less than S$300 on a low one.

Hannah (not her real name), meanwhile, says she has only earned “pocket money” after paying commission to the platform she uses. Working from mid-May to June this year, she took in just S$635.

Top dog without top dollar

For customers, however, how do home-based players compare with licensed pet boarding facilities on commercial premises?

Home-boarders have the advantage in pricing, say players and pet-owners.

The rates of home-based players BT spoke to vary from low as S$33 to as high as S$110 for dogs; a minimum of S$45 for cats; and S$12 to S$35 for small animals – a fraction of those at licensed pet boarding houses, they point out.

Dog owner Kanya Cittasthira says that engaging her preferred licensed boarders for 10 or 15 days could cost more than S$1,000, while several home-based boarders fit her “go-to budget” of S$35 to S$66 per night.

“The pricing for (those in commercial premises) is a bit too absurd”, especially since the basic services of feeding and walking remain the same, says Jordan Yap, a dog owner and former home-based boarder.

These boarders can charge S$50 to S$100 more per dog per night – an exponential difference with multiple nights and more dogs, he says.

Peacocke, who wished to be known only by her last name, says that leaving her two cats with licensed boarder she likes could cost double the amount at her go-to home-based boarder.

Norliza Kamardin, who goes by Lizammie as a cat rescuer, says home-boarders’ lower prices make them a particularly viable option for rescued cats.

Close attention, tail-ored experience

Another benefit of home-boarding is that it allows pets to freely roam in homes, whereas they may be confined to a cubicle in commercial settings.

“She gets to free-roam at home,” says Toh – who wanted to be known by her last name only – of her Pomeranian-Japanese Spitz mix. “So I don’t see why we should confine her to a small space when we travel.”

Sam and Kel’s first boarding customer specifically looked for home boarders, because his dog was “a homebody”, they recounted. The boarders have converted their work room to a play area for the dogs, Kel says.

Other cats’ constant meowing and the comings and goings of people presented a stressful environment for her cats, says Peacocke. “They’re my babies. We don’t have children, so these are our children, and we want what’s best for them.”

Beyond the physical space, though, owners also look out for the amount of attention their pets receive.

Guinea pig boarder Cynthia provides constant updates to clients, providing service she thinks keeps them coming back: “It’s just like we’re friends.”

Many home-based boarders are pet owners themselves and will feel a personal responsibility over someone else’s pet, whereas a worker in a commercial facility may simply focus on getting through the work day, dog owner Yap says.

He and Kel note that in a commercial setup, it could be unclear which staff would be caring for your pet, whereas in a home-based setting, owners would be able to become familiar with their pets’ carer.

“Some (licensed boarders) don’t have staff overnight,” Sam adds. “For us, it’s very straightforward. It’s a co-living space with the dogs.” Chang agrees, saying: “I am sleeping here. If anything happens at night, I’m here.”

Admittedly, there can be issues with home boarders as well. Wei Jie, for instance, shares that his rabbit once stopped eating and fell sick at a larger-scale home-based facility, but the boarder was slow to react.

Still, home-based boarders remain well-suited for those who want personalised care.

Cittasthira’s “very selective” dog, for example, needs to be boarded alone or with compatible dogs – an option only possible, though still challenging, with home boarders. A flat-faced breed, it is also prone to respiratory issues and overheating, and carers must know how to prevent and respond to issues.

Chang offers flexible drop-off and pick-up timings as well as transport.

These businesses are thus less rigid compared with “by-the-book” licensed commercial facilities, home-based boarders and pet owners say.

Licensed boarders usually require pets to be up to date with their medical treatments, for example. 

The requirements at some of these places can be overkill, and the processes too stressful, says Peacocke. She recalls that some require de-worming procedures more regularly than vets say are necessary for indoor cats.

In more extreme cases, says Lizkammie, some owners may not want to vaccinate their cats at all, which means that they cannot board them at commercial facilities.

Sometimes, choices may also be limited. 

Peacocke recalls the struggle of booking a licensed boarder around Christmas: “Even five months ahead… they said: ‘We’re fully booked at this time.’” 

For small animal owners, there are little more than a handful of licensed options. Says Wei Jie: “If I don’t place my rabbits with (home-based boarders), I don’t really have a second option.”

Animal squatters

All commercial pet boarding facilities must be licensed by AVS. It is an offence to operate a commercial pet boarding facility without a valid licence, with those found guilty facing a fine up to S$10,000, jail up to 12 months, or both. 

On its website, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) expressly prohibits animal-related businesses in HDB flats, citing pet boarding as an example. 

Similarly, the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s website says that residential units in mixed commercial and residential developments cannot be used for pet boarding services, as this is not in line with the site’s designated purpose. The same rules apply for private residential properties, BT understands.

AVS group director Jessica Kwok says that small-scale, non-commercial boarding activities – such as infrequently taking care of a pet for a friend – “pose a lower risk to public and animal health and do not fall under the licensing regime”.

Boarders that advertise their services on platforms for commercial arrangements need to be licensed.

Home-based pet boarders operate in spite of these regulations. 

CAS’ Bernadette believes that active enforcement is lacking. She says that while many run home-based boarding businesses, laws “aren’t enforced until something horrendous happens”. 

Nevertheless, Kwok says that AVS reviews all feedback on unlicensed pet boarding facilities. It has investigated over 110 such cases in 2023 and 2024, following the implementation of the revised licensing conditions in 2022.

Many cases were reported due to disamenities from suspected illegal boarding, such as barking or smell, she adds.

AVS found that about 50 per cent of these cases were unsubstantiated, while taking enforcement action in about 20 per cent of cases. These involved 37 unlicensed operators found to have provided commercial boarding services – in commercial as well as residential premises.

SPCA’s Leong says the licensing regime “exists to ensure that pet boarders meet the minimum standards for animal welfare”, and advises owners to engage licensed boarders.

A lack of proper skills and knowledge may mean that pets face poor welfare conditions or safety risks, says Bernadette.

Some pet owners – or even boarders – may not realise that home-based boarders run afoul of the rules. Others argue that licensing alone may not be enough to ensure pet welfare, and that having a licence may not equate to being capable and trustworthy boarders.

Indeed, while the owners BT spoke to agree that knowing that a facility is licensed would bring “peace of mind” and provide them with some recourse should anything go wrong, most say their own assessment of boarders remains paramount.

Even with properly licensed commercial boarding facilities, there have been incidents where animal welfare has been threatened, points out Cittasthira.

Kel notes that in June, for instance, licensed pet hotel Hello Human Wellness East was accused of missing feedings and having an unclean environment. A whistleblower further alleged that owners of sick dogs were forced to take photos for social media, and that aggressive dogs were accepted without screening, causing injuries to others.

More oversight?

Players BT spoke to do not believe that a serious clampdown on this micro-industry would be productive.

A crackdown would disrupt the ecosystem and have a “huge impact because of how many are in the market”, says Cynthia, who believes that home-based boarding should be allowed “as long as they don’t go too far”.

Pet owner Toh questions why such operators are not allowed to be licensed, especially since the rules imposed by authorities can be strict, such as a limit on the number of pets boarded at a time.

Leong, however, maintains that considerations such as disamenities to neighbours due to noise and odours can make it challenging to license such services. 

“Until the licensing regime expands to include home-based facilities, pet owners should proceed with caution,” he warns. 

Still, some boarders welcome the opportunity to be licensed, or at least for more oversight.

Given the option to be licensed, Sam and Kel are “willing to put down the cost to go for certain training”, they said.

Soon after running The Tiny Toots full-time, Chang registered her business with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority with two purposes in mind: to protect her personal assets, and to serve as a first step towards applying for a pet boarding licence.

While her application was ultimately unsuccessful, Chang says she still hopes that AVS will be able to grant licences on a case-by-case basis.

Having a licence, she says, would be worth putting up with more inspections, rules about disamenities, or limits on the number of animals.