Update on Mar. 3, 2019: In response to Mothership's queries, AVA confirms that the 16 cats are healthy and under their care. The authority will also work on rehoming the cats.

Additionally, members of the public can contact AVA at 1800-476-1600 if they have any information on the case.

Here is their statement in full:

"AVA received feedback about 16 cats left in cages beside Blk 222A Sumang Lane, Punggol. Investigations are ongoing. Members of the public who have information on this (e.g. photographic or video evidence, witnesses, etc) can contact AVA at 1800-476-1600. All information provided will be kept in strict confidence.

The cats are healthy and are now under the care of AVA. We will work on rehoming the cats."

On March 1, 2019, 16 cats were found caged and abandoned in Sumang, Punggol.

Fives cages around a multi-storey carpark

The case was made public by Facebook page Sayang Our Singapore's Community Cats (SOSCC), although the cats appear to be first discovered by Zuhairi Asy-Syahid Marican.

There were five cages in total, found at different spots around a multi-storey carpark.

Some of them were just kittens.

Cats are with AVA

Although Zuhairi did not alert the authorities, it seems like another resident reported the incident to AVA, who subsequently came to collect the cats.

[video width="320" height="576" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2019/03/cat-video.mp4"][/video]

According to SOSCC, the cats are currently under AVA's care.

However, fosterers and adopters are urgently needed before a SOSCC volunteer can bail the felines out.

Otherwise, SOSCC claims, AVA will be putting the cats down.

Mothership has reached out to AVA and will update this article if they reply.

Backyard breeding?

Carpurrdiem, a non-profit cat rehoming organisation, speculates that the abandoned cats were used for backyard breeding.

A backyard breeder is "amateur animal breeder whose breeding is considered substandard", and the breeding is usually done on a smaller scale, usually at home.

Top image via SOSCC