SPCA rescues emaciated cat with 'hardly any teeth' caged on Yishun flat balcony, cat later dies

A cat in Yishun has died after it was found caged in a first-floor balcony with matted fur and "hardly any teeth" on Sep. 21, 2024.

According to an Instagram post on Oct. 24, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said that they were alerted to the case by a member of the public who had passed by the location.

In response to Mothership's queries, SPCA's executive director Aarthi Sankar said that the cat was found along Yishun Ring Road and subsequently died on Oct. 4 due to pneumonia.

Owner worked long hours, cat left uncared for

In the post, the SPCA said that a "concerned passerby", who had suspected neglect, captured video evidence of the cat when one of the flat's windows was left open.

They subsequently informed the organisation.

Acting on the tip-off, an officer from the SPCA visited the address provided and found an abnormally thin and weak cat living in filthy conditions.

The cat had been uncared for as the owner had admitted to working long hours, SPCA said.

The SPCA officer advised the owner on responsible pet ownership, but the owner subsequently surrendered the cat to SPCA.

Cat passed away due to pneumonia

The cat was immediately brought over to a 24/7 veterinary clinic for emergency treatment before returning to the SPCA.

Further assessment by SPCA's vet revealed that the cat was a female senior cat who had "hardly any teeth left".

Due to her extremely matted fur, the vet had also shaved her down.

However, the cat passed away with "pneumonia as the suspected cause of death", SPCA told Mothership.

According to Sankar, the case has been escalated to the National Parks Board's Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS).

Spotting signs of pet neglect

On spotting pet neglect, the SPCA advises the public to look out for the signs below:

• Animals consistently kept in small spaces (e.g. cages) without room to move
• Poor living conditions like dirty, cluttered, or unhygienic environments
• Untended physical medical issues like wounds, matted fur, or extreme thinness
• Lack of access to food, water, or shelter

The public is also advised to avoid direct confrontation if they suspect neglect.

Those who come across such cases should let SPCA inspectors handle the case safely.

They should also capture as much evidence as possible, through photos or videos, and report the situation to the SPCA or relevant authorities via the hotlines below:

• SPCA: 6287 5355 (ext. 9)
• AVS: 1800 476 1600
• Police: 999

Owners advised to find ways to rehome pets responsibly

The SPCA has also urged pet owners to find alternatives to rehome their pets responsibly, should they exhaust all options in finding a solution to keep their pets as family.

One way to do so is for owners to submit a rehoming notice with the SPCA.

Notices will be posted on the SPCA's rehoming page for personal adoption.

Those interested to adopt will contact pet owners directly while the pets stay with their original owners in the meantime.

Owners may also contact other animal welfare groups to ask if they can accommodate their pets.

Lastly, pet owners may post pet adoption notices on social media and forums.

However, owners are encouraged to exercise caution when interviewing adopters as some may have less-than positive intentions.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by SPCA Singapore (@spcasingapore)

Top photos by Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)