Whampoa residents send off deceased community cat, set up memorial tablet for her

On Oct. 16, 2024, residents of Whampoa Dew gathered at a nondescript seating area underneath a block of flats.

It had been the favourite haunt of recently-deceased community cat, Field Field, when she was alive.

The body of the orange feline was discovered on Oct. 7 in 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.

In memory

The death of the beloved community cat spurred residents to set up a temporary memorial area as a tribute.

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

The prayer and send-off session was held next to the memorial area.

Field Field had used to lounge on the seats where the residents now gathered to pay their last respects.

Her main feeder, who goes by Auntie April, posted on Facebook on Oct. 15, inviting those acquainted with the feline to come down.

Users posted their condolences in the comments section.

"Those seats look so empty without you," one wrote.

"You deserve to be carefree and happy over the rainbow and we will miss you, Field Field!"

Auntie April told Mothership that she had arranged for a 49-day tablet to be set up at a Tibetan temple at 2 Beatty Lane: Thekchen Choling Singapore.

Following her cremation, her ashes will also be placed in a pet columbarium near Yio Chu Kang MRT station.

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

Background

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