Community cat found dead in Tampines West, residents appeal for witnesses

A beloved community cat in Tampines West, affectionately known as Sunshine, was found dead at the void deck of Block 897, Tampines Street 81.

Sunshine's body was discovered by a resident at 7am on the morning of May 24. The cat was found haphazardly wrapped in brochures and flyers within multiple layers of plastic packaging typically used for toilet paper.

A white latex glove was also found among the mess.

Photos shared by Facebook user Victoria Lim, one of Sunshine's long-time feeders and a local resident, showed the carcass was still bleeding.

Although there was blood on Sunshine's paws and inside the plastic wrap, no blood stains were found on the ground or in the nearby multi-storey car park, raising questions about the location and cause of death.

Sunshine was taken to a veterinarian, who confirmed the cat had died from blunt force trauma to the face or head, which resulted in internal bleeding and a dislocated lower jaw.

Photos Ms Lim shared also showed Sunshine's mouth filled with blood.

The vet could not conclusively determine whether the injuries were caused by an accident - such as a vehicle hit or a fall - or were a result of deliberate abuse. Notably, no other major external injuries or bone fractures were found.

A friendly and mild-natured presence in the community for about 10 years, Sunshine's sudden passing left Ms Lim and fellow feeders shocked and heartbroken.

Sunshine was last fed at 9pm the night before.

Additionally, feeder Jeffy Soh reported in a Facebook post that two cats Sunshine used to play with were later found "shivering and afraid" after the incident.

He questioned whether Sunshine's death was an accident or "murder," since the cat was found next to a rubbish bin without any blood stains in the surrounding area.

Feeders are now appealing for witnesses and have requested help to review CCTV footage in the area.

Ms Lim also said that they plan to report the incident to the National Parks Board (NParks) once they receive all medical reports from the vet, as well as file a police report.