SINGAPORE: A well-loved community cat, affectionately known as Sunshine, was found dead under disturbing circumstances on the morning of 24 May 2025 in Tampines West.
Sunshine’s body was discovered wrapped in plastic packaging and placed beside a green rubbish bin at the void deck of Block 897, Tampines Street 81, between 7am and 8am.
The cat was found lying among a stack of brochure papers and toilet paper packaging, with a white latex glove nearby.
Sunshine, known for his friendly and mild-natured nature, had been a familiar and beloved presence in the neighbourhood for the past decade.
Victoria Lim, one of Sunshine’s feeders and a resident of the area, shared the heartbreaking news on the Sayang Our Singapore’s Community Cats Facebook group.
“Our community cat, Sunshine, who has been living within our community for the past 10 years, has been found dead at the void deck,” she wrote.
Victoria explained to Mothership that one of her neighbours discovered Sunshine’s body, which was still bleeding.
However, there were no blood stains in the surrounding area.
Sunshine’s body was taken to a veterinarian, who concluded that the cat had suffered blunt force trauma to the right side of his head.
The vet also found that his lower jaw was dislocated and estimated that Sunshine had likely died just a few hours before his body was discovered.
While there were no other obvious fractures or injuries, the vet did not rule out the possibility of abuse.
The injuries could have been caused by a vehicle collision, a forceful hit to the head, or a fall from height.
Appeal for Witnesses
The community is now appealing for any witnesses who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the area.
Sunshine was last fed around 9pm the night before.
“Feeders are shocked as Sunshine has been a lovable community cat,” Victoria shared. “We are seeking witnesses to help us get closure on what happened to him.”
Feeders are also requesting help to review CCTV footage from three cameras in the area to see if anything suspicious was captured.
Victoria added that they plan to report the incident to the National Parks Board (NParks) once they receive the full medical report from the vet and intend to file a police report.
“We sincerely appeal for witnesses to reach out and let us know if you have heard or seen anything that may be related to Sunshine’s death,” she wrote.
Similar Cases Reported in May
Sunshine’s death follows two other alarming incidents involving community cats earlier in May.
On 13 May, the cat welfare group LUNI Singapore issued an urgent appeal for witnesses after a male tabby cat, known as Shere Khan or Papa Cat, was found severely injured near Block 326B Sumang Walk in Punggol.
The injuries occurred between 11 and 12 May.
Despite immediate veterinary treatment, the cat succumbed to his injuries.
LUNI founder Nina Astolfi said the vet’s report indicated signs of possible abuse, including bulging eyes, facial bruising, a lesion on the head, lacerations on the tongue, frayed nails, and signs of dehydration and hypothermia.
However, NParks later stated that its investigation, including the vet’s assessment, found no conclusive evidence of cruelty.
Jessica Kwok, group director of enforcement and investigation at NParks, suggested that the injuries were likely caused by blunt force trauma, possibly from a traffic accident.
CCTV footage from the car park area was reviewed, and the cat’s caregiver was contacted through microchip identification.
Due to the severity of his injuries, the cat was euthanised on welfare grounds and subsequently cremated.
Another troubling case emerged in Yishun on 9 May, where a community cat named King Kong was found dead at Yishun Street 51 with apparent signs of torture.
According to residents, the cat was discovered with its eyes gouged out and its body dismembered.
NParks is still investigating the Yishun case. “We urge the public not to speculate and to rely on verified sources,” said Kwok.
She emphasised that NParks takes all reports of alleged animal cruelty seriously and conducts thorough investigations.
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