Whampoa community cat's body put in coffin with orange stuffed toy, about 20 people sent her off

About 20 people turned up on Oct. 16 afternoon to send off Field Field, the community cat in Whampoa that was suspected to have been violently abused to death by a person.

Residents of Whampoa Dew gathered at a nondescript seating area underneath a block of flats where the cat used to hang out for a prayer and send-off session.

Days before, residents had set up a memorial in the same area as a tribute to the harmless animal.

A photo board was installed with photos of the orange cat, flowers, cat food, and even an orange stuffed toy.

The stuffed toy, flowers, and Field Field's body, wrapped in plastic, were put together in a coffin for her final journey.

People came from as far as Yishun

Despite the last rites taking place on a weekday afternoon, 20 or so people sent Field Field off, a sign of how much the community cared for her.

Those who showed up included members of the public who had travelled all the way from Yishun and Hougang, Auntie April, Field Field's 73-year-old feeder, told Mothership.

Subsequently, bundles of flowers were placed in front of a small altar, with framed photos of the feline, candles, and other pieces of decor to remember Field Field by.

Auntie April and five friends were present to witness the cremation.

She also arranged for a 49-day tablet to be set up at Thekchen Choling Singapore, a Tibetan temple at 2 Beatty Lane.

Field Field's ashes are now in an urn at the temple, and will be later transferred to a pet columbarium near Yio Chu Kang MRT station on Nov. 24.

Auntie April is seeking permission from the town council for a Tibetan sangha (Buddhist monastic order) to conduct a chanting session where the cat's body was found on Oct. 24.

Members of the public are welcome to pay their respects at the temple, she added.

Background

The body of the orange feline was discovered on Oct. 7 on a grass patch.

The ground beneath her was sunken in, as though she'd fallen from height.

She had allegedly been brutally killed by a person.

On Oct. 7, a 25-year-old man was charged for allegedly throwing a cat off a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat at Block 78 Lorong Limau.

He was alleged to have kicked a cat and stepped on its head multiple times inside a HDB lift, before throwing it down from the 38th floor of the block.

Mothership understands that he was arrested amid investigations into an earlier case of four community cats in Toa Payoh being allegedly slashed between Sep. 20 and Sep. 23.

However, it was not mentioned in court what his involvement was.

The National Parks Board (NParks) is investigating.

Top image from Auntie April