Starving cats abandoned in rubbish-filled flat in Bedok
Close to 20 cats were discovered abandoned in a rubbish-filled flat at Block 147, Bedok Reservoir Road. Some of the cats were found starved, while others sustained injuries or died after jumping from the flat’s windows.
The shocking discovery was brought to light on Monday (16 Dec) when a resident stumbled upon a dead kitten at the foot of the block.
Later that evening, another resident, Ms Deng (name transliterated from Chinese), spotted an injured grey kitten curled up behind a pillar.
Injured kitten prompts residents to investigate
The injured kitten was taken to a veterinarian, who diagnosed it with High-Rise Syndrome, a condition caused by falling from height.
This prompted residents to search for the source of the incidents. As Ms Deng tended to the kitten at the vet, others inspected the block and identified the likely flat where the cats had fallen from.
On 11 Dec, another dead cat was found, prompting Ms Deng to alert the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
“While waiting for officials to arrive and collect the body for investigation, another cat fell in front of me, bleeding from its mouth,” she said in a Shin Min Daily News report.
Looking up, she noticed two more cats perched on the unit’s window ledge.
Efforts to contact the homeowner or their relatives were unsuccessful, which meant the authorities had to step in.
Source: Google Maps
NParks discovers flat filled with rubbish, rescues 12 cats
NParks officers, assisted by a locksmith, entered the flat and discovered a distressing scene. The unit was filled with garbage, excrement, and other unsanitary conditions, with cats roaming through the debris, reported Shin Min Daily News.
A total of 12 cats were rescued, while three were found dead from suspected starvation. Four other cats were confirmed to have jumped from the high-floor unit, leaving injuries or fatalities.
This brings the total number of cats in the flat to an estimated 19.
Source: Shin Min Daily News
Ms Deng shared photos of the flat, showing piles of waste scattered across the living room and cats wandering amid the clutter.
Residents expressed their horror over the situation, calling for stricter penalties for such neglect.
Investigations into the case are ongoing. This incident follows another case where a man was sentenced to 20 days in jail for abandoning 43 cats in an Ang Mo Kio flat.
Also read: Man who abandoned 43 cats in Ang Mo Kio flat sentenced to 20 days’ jail
Man who abandoned 43 cats in Ang Mo Kio flat sentenced to 20 days’ jail
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Featured image adapted from Shin Min Daily News and Google Maps.
