SINGAPORE: A total of 14 cats were abandoned around Blocks 35 and 36 Lorong Toa Payoh between 8 and 22 September.
The case was highlighted on 25 September in a post on the Facebook group Sayang Our Singapore’s Community Cats by member Connie Chan, who is also part of local cat shelter Pat-A-Cat (PAC).
According to the post, most of the cats were first spotted by Uncle Hai, a long-time caregiver who feeds community cats in the area.
Of the 14 cats, 12 have been rescued — three have been adopted into new homes, while the remaining nine are now under PAC’s care.
However, two cats are still missing, and rescuers continue to search for them daily.
Suspicion of Illegal Breeding
The Facebook post noted that the cats appear to be from the same family, raising suspicions that an illegal backyard breeder may be responsible.
During the same period, two large cages were found discarded at the void decks of the blocks, which may be linked to the abandonment.
“All of these cats were unsterilised, not microchipped, and abandoned like trash,” the post stated.
Alerts of Abandoned Cats
In a 12 September Facebook post, rescuers said they had been informed by a contact that several cats had been abandoned in Toa Payoh over the past week.
Two of the cats were immediately reported, and updates later confirmed that they had been rehomed through a local feeder.
The same evening, rescuers were notified of another cat in the area that looked very similar to the previous ones.
Securing this cat was more challenging, as it had been outdoors for three days and was particularly evasive.
The caregiver successfully secured the cat late on 8 September, and it is now under PAC’s care.
By 11 September, the contact informed the rescuers that the caregiver had found another two abandoned cats in the same area.
On 14 September, rescuers reported finding two large cages discarded at the void deck of Block 35, the same location where many of the cats had been abandoned.
The team suspected the cages belonged to the person responsible for the abandonments.
Initially, rescuers hoped this discovery might signal an end to the incidents.
However, new reports continued to emerge until 22 September.
Fortunately, no further cases have been reported since then.
Poor Conditions and Trauma
Speaking to Mothership, Ashleen, one of the rescuers, described the cats as being in poor condition and neglected.
Many had matted fur and overgrown nails, while some were underweight.
One cat was found with a red leash dangerously wrapped around its body, while others were so frightened that they hid inside drains.
Ashleen explained that it is typical for abandoned cats to hide in drains, as they often become terrified when placed in an unfamiliar environment.
She added that the search for the two missing cats is ongoing, with the local community cat feeder looking for them daily without success.
Rescue operations during the two-week period were intensive.
Ashleen explained that the team was alerted to one or two cats being abandoned almost every other day, requiring frequent coordination with PAC to transport the rescued animals to the shelter.
She expressed gratitude towards local community members who stepped in to help, many of whom are cat lovers living in the area.
Follow-Up and Investigations
The rescuers have filed a police report, and the National Parks Board (NParks) is investigating the case by reviewing CCTV footage.
Officers have taken witness statements from Ashleen, PAC’s owner, and the local community cat feeder who first discovered most of the cats.
So far, all nine cats under PAC’s care have undergone veterinary checks, with eight of them sterilised and microchipped.
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