SINGAPORE: A case of suspected cruelty towards a stray cat in Punggol is being investigated by the National Parks Board (NParks), following the violent death of another feline last week.
NParks confirmed on May 13 that it was alerted to an injured cat found in a carpark near Block 326B Sumang Walk in Punggol and is looking into the matter.
Earlier in the day, animal welfare group Luni Singapore posted a public appeal on its Facebook page, detailing what it called one of the most brutal cases it has encountered.
“We are heartbroken to share that a friendly male tabby cat named Shere Khan, also fondly known as Papa Cat, was found severely injured near Block 326B Sumang Walk, likely on 11 or 12 May,” the group wrote.
“Despite receiving immediate veterinary care, Shere Khan did not survive. The nature of his injuries points strongly to deliberate abuse, potentially involving strangulation or blunt force trauma.”
The group said Shere Khan was a gentle and well-loved community cat, known for his trusting nature. It has since appealed for witnesses, dashcam footage, or CCTV recordings from the area and time period in question.
A spokesperson for Luni Singapore told The Straits Times that the cat had been cared for by local feeders and that it was found severely injured by an individual not known to them.
As the cat was microchipped and registered under Luni Singapore, the Animal and Veterinary Service contacted the group on May 12 after the case was brought to its attention.
“Tragically, the injuries were so severe that Shere Khan did not survive,” said the spokesperson.
The veterinary report detailed disturbing injuries: bilateral proptosis – both eye globes protruding significantly from their sockets – with blood clotting and conjunctival swelling; swelling and lacerations of the tongue; superficial bruising on the right side of the face; a small lesion on top of the head; and frayed nails on all four paws.
The cat was also hypothermic and dehydrated upon arrival at the clinic.
“These injuries are consistent with strangulation or blunt force trauma,” said the group. “Due to the nature and extent of the injuries, we suspect this could be a case of deliberate abuse.”
Emergency medical costs amounted to about $260, which Luni Singapore said it covered with support from community donations.
“We are heartbroken by this senseless act of cruelty and are assisting the authorities in their investigation,” the spokesperson added. “We sincerely urge anyone with information to come forward so justice can be served for this innocent cat.”
This case comes on the heels of another horrific cat death reported in Yishun just days earlier – one that drew a livid response from Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam on social media.
The cat in Yishun was found disembowelled and with its eyes gouged out on the morning of May 9. It died from the injuries sustained.
In a Facebook post that day, Shanmugam, who is also an MP for Nee Soon GRC where the incident occurred, wrote: “What kind of person will do this? This is not who we are as a people.”
According to statistics from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 220 out of 453 reported animal abuse cases in 2024 involved cats – making them the most frequently abused animal species in Singapore.
The types of abuse reported include physical harm, inhumane trapping, hit-and-run incidents, intentional injury or killing, the use of aversive training methods, and abandonment. - The Straits Times/ANN
