Yishun community concerned by recent spate of cat deaths
Reports of cat abuse across the island have risen.
In Yishun, there has been a particular spike in reports over the last few months with 13 cat deaths — all believed to be linked to abuse — since September.
The reports make for disturbing reading.
In September, there were five cat deaths in Yishun. These include two cats who died from injuries after being beaten and kicked.
In October, four more cats that were found dead in the neighbourhood.
One cat had allegedly been thrown from high up a HDB block.
There were three cat deaths linked to abuse in November.
On Nov 28, a black cat was found dead near a rubbish chute at Block 317B at Yishun Avenue 9. It appeared to have been strangled by a thin, blue cord.
Two days later, on Nov 30, a cat was found alive with a curtain hook embedded in its skin. It was bleeding profusely from its mouth and later died from its injuries.
December has already seen an addition to the dark tally.
On Tuesday (Dec 1), yet another cat was found dead and according to the SPCA, it had allegedly been abused.
The spate of these abuse cases has worried the residents.
Mr Heng Wen Jie, who lives in Yishun Greenwalk, is concerned about the well-being of the cats in his neighbourhood.
He said: "I've noticed fewer cats around my estate and it is very worrying".
Mr Heng has since written to his MP Louis Ng to appeal for help in taking more action in apprehending whoever is responsible for these abuse cases.
"There is nothing much we can do anyway," said Mr Heng.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said that they have received four cases of alleged cat abuse in the Yishun area since October 2015.
It added that 26 cat deaths have been reported islandwide in the period of January to October 2015.
Meanwhile, there have been 135 cases of alleged cat abuse (domesticated and community cats) in the same time period.
Last year, there were 134 cases of cat abuse. In 2013, there were 148.
Ms Selina Sebastian, Deputy Executive Director of SPCA said: "The number of cats that have been found dead, allegedly killed, in the Yishun area since September this year is unusual and worrying. We are concerned, and will continue to work with community feeders and other rescue groups in monitoring our community cats."
Some residents in Yishun have taken it upon themselves to protect these cats from harm.
A resident at Yishun Greenwalk has taken in one of the community cats to "keep him out of harm's way".
She said in a Facebook post was afraid that the cat (below) would be harmed after the increase abuse cases in the area.
Comments on the post showed how relieved residents felt. Some residents commented that they had assumed the cat had been a victim of the abuser after not seeing him around the estate.
One of them, Peiqin Tian, said: "My hubby and I have been looking for her too! So relieved to know that she's all well".
Other comments echoed Ms Tian's sentiments.
There have also been other posts by other residents concerned about other cats in the area.
In November, a resident posted a photo of two cats and asked the community if other neighbours had spotted the cats because he hadn't seen them in a while.
The Facebook user, Wan Rock, said: "My wife very worried about them as there's a lot of cats that have died in Yishun already".
In light of the YIshun abuse case, Ms Sebastian has advice for cat owners.
"We'd like to advise pet owners against letting their cats roam freely in public without supervision," she said
Under the Animals and Birds Act, anyone who is found guilty of cruelty to animals, including abandonment of any animal, can be jailed for up to 18 months, fined up to $15,000, or both.
Anyone with information in relation to the cat deaths
SPCA’s 24-hour hotline: 62875355 ext 9
E-mail: inspector@spca.org.sg.
AVA hotline: 1800 476 1600
https://www.ifaq.gov.sg/AVA/apps/feedback.aspx.
Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
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