Uncle Ong, 71, thanks donors for paying for cat food to feed 30 cats a day over last 2 years

Uncle Ong, the bus driver who feeds about 30 cats a day in Kallang and Hougang industrial areas, first entered the Singapore public's consciousness in March 2023 when his story was shared online.

In short, the 71-year-old has spent the past 18 years feeding community cats daily by himself, rain or shine.

Public stepped in to help buy cat food

It was only about two years ago, after his story was made known, that the public started making donations to help pay for the cat food on his behalf to shoulder the financial responsibility.

Before that, the elderly man would fork out more than S$400 or more a month from his own pocket, derived from his S$1,000-plus monthly salary, to buy cat food, which comprises wet food and dry kibbles.

As part of accountability and transparency, regular updates about Uncle Ong have been provided to show that the community's funds are put to good use.

For our latest check-in during the post-Chinese New Year period, Uncle Ong said again that he is grateful to all those who have stepped up to make donations, and that he takes it as encouragement for continuing to do what he does.

This means the cats still wait patiently for his bus to pull up daily.

However, over the last two years, the cost of cat food has risen due to global inflation.

It takes about S$500 each month now to feed the cats.

Continued feeding during monsoon rain season

Uncle Ong said he stuck to his cat-feeding routine during the recent monsoon rain season, which began in the middle of January 2025 and lasted a few weeks.

Asked how he managed when torrential downpour saw a record amount of rain dumped on Singapore day and night for weeks, he quipped: "I prayed for it to stop, and the rain stopped."

But he was quick to reveal his modus operandi during foul weather in the evenings.

He said, while laughing: "The cats will wait for me under the heavy vehicles where it is dry. I feed them under the lorries. They are very smart, they know how to hide. I just wear a cap."

The bus driver will make the rounds in the two industrial estates, where the cats will faithfully wait for his arrival, even when he is late sometimes, he added.

Another man helped to cremate cat that died

While feeding cats bring Uncle Ong joy, he has gone through more than his fair share of having to bid farewell to the felines that have died due to natural causes or accidents.

"I still cry whenever a cat dies," he said in Hokkien as his voice broke.

While he still personally brings cats to a vet in Toa Payoh, which has also chipped in to help Uncle Ong, some in the community have personally stepped up as well.

One man, in particular, who has been helping with some of the costs of vet fees, also saw to the cremation of a deceased cat.

This was after one of the cats Uncle Ong had been feeding in Kallang apparently died of old age in December 2024.

To give Uncle Ong closure, the man also provided photos of the cat's cremation in Mandai.

Uncle Ong's show of gratitude

For almost two years now, I have been sharing regular updates on Uncle Ong and his mission to ensure the cats under his watch do not go hungry for more than a day.

As a token of his appreciation, he gave me a red packet with S$10 inside.

The money will be donated back to buy cat food for him.

How to donate

Those who wish to help Uncle Ong can purchase cat food for him via this link.

The products are labelled "Cats of Kallang".

The pet shop overseeing the donations will allocate the cat food that the public has purchased for Uncle Ong to pick up.

Donors who are keen to help by contributing smaller sums can contact S&S Pet's Shop at [email protected].

All media via Mothership