Kept in cramped conditions in a two-room flat at Fernvale link, nearly 100 cats were saved from unsanitary conditions on Monday (June 26), due to the actions of an irresponsible breeder.

Some of the photos and videos featured in this article may be disconcerting — viewer's discretion is advised.

According to Facebook page Saving the Siameses, a backyard breeder originally kept these pedigree cats to sell them.

According to the volunteers behind the page, she had no job and no income and could no longer properly support the cats.

In a Channel NewsAsia report, Sengkang West SMC MP Lam Pin Min said the breeder has been referred to the Family Service Centre and Social Service Office for counselling and assistance, and grassroots organisations will be helping her clean up the flat.

She will be checked on by members of the Residents' Committee. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) is also investigating the alleged welfare issues, alongside HDB and the Cat Welfare Society.

The volunteers in this rescue mission are independent of the CWS, although they work closely with them.

Rescuing the cats

The volunteers had expected to find 56 cats within the cramped space, but they found a whopping 94 cats that needed rescuing when volunteers went inside the house, including kittens.

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They had also discovered a nursing mum that was urinating blood. She had with her two kittens of her own, as well as three from another mum who rejected hers. The kittens were then taken away to be fostered.

This little one, sadly, didn't make it.

Some were suffering from cat flu, their bodies are stained with urine and faeces stuck to their fur, caked on their bodies. Some had missing eyeballs, and many of them have infected wounds.

Currently, 15 cats are at the Mount Pleasant Vet Centre in Mandai for treatment.

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Thank you, @mountpleasantvetgroup, for accommodating our last-minute requests to send in more cats who need medical attention. @ling.m.choo and I would also like to express our gratitude to Mount Pleasant Mandai for waiving off certain aspects of their medical bills, and helping us raise funds by creating awareness about #SavingTheSiameses. A very heartfelt "Thank You!" to everybody who chipped in funds for this rescue operation. Both of us are very humbled and grateful. Thank you. #YouBreedForMoney #ButTheCatsAreInnocent #NowWeHaveToClearTheMessYouStarted . #AdoptionSavesLives #catwelfaresociety #sgcats #catsofsingapore #singaporecats #sgpets #catsg #cotwsg #catsofsg #clubpetsmag #petsmagazinesg #hdbcats #singaporepets #supportadoptionsg #catsofinstagram #TheDodo #diply #catloverssingapore #TheAnimalRescueSite #singapore_cats

A post shared by Fiona Loh (@fioloh) on Jun 26, 2017 at 11:27am PDT

Happier times

The volunteers now take care of 61 cats in three catteries — 18 of them are now with a boarding facility engaged by Cat Welfare Society.

Many of them are still unsure of their new environment but are slowly getting used to it.

How can I help?

The independent volunteer team behind Saving the Siameses are currently grateful and overwhelmed by the support of Singaporeans in this rescue mission.

Currently, none of the cats have been made open for adoption or visits yet because they need to be thoroughly cleaned, tested for diseases and vaccinated if their conditions permit, so they will not infect a human household or other cats. They also need time to settle down.

If you would like to see if you can help in any other way, or have any queries, you may send a private message to their Facebook page. You might have to be patient, though, as they have been receiving a lot of messages.

And this particular cutie.

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Top image adapted via Saving the Siameses' Facebook page

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