S$10,310 pet food credits disbursed to 18 community cat feeders in Boon Lay & Jurong West

After witnessing a pregnant community cat searching for food in a rubbish bin in Boon Lay following the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak, a resident took on the responsibility of feeding the community cats in her neighbourhood in 2004.

Since then, the resident, surnamed Siau, now 45, cared for the community cats almost daily — often with her children in tow — while working full-time.

Siau also decided not to take overseas holidays for years so that she could spend her limited resources on food and sterilisation for the animals under her care.

In recent years, however, the rising cost of living and the increased number of cats being abandoned gradually put Siau's finances, time, and energy under strain.

After her story, along with those of other community cat feeders in the neighbourhood, was shared on fundraising platform Give.Asia, donations began flooding in.

Concurrently, in December 2024, Give.Asia also rolled out a pilot programme, titled "Empowering the Cat Heroes (West)", to formalise and support community cat feeders like Siau, including by disbursing food credits since February 2025.

Over the last two months, Mothership understands from Give.Asia that a total of S$10,310 worth of food credits were distributed to 18 community cat feeders, with more than 250 community cats expected to benefit from the pilot.

Details of programme

In a media release, Give.Asia said that Empowering the Cat Heroes (West) is "the first programme supporting community cat feeders regularly in Singapore".

The initiative, which is also supported by the Boon Lay Zone A, C, and D Residents' Network, has attracted 550 donors so far through an ongoing public fundraising campaign on Give.Asia and the Kindness Shop.

Under the programme, each participating community cat feeder will receive between S$250 and S$300 in pet food credits monthly, and Pet HQ Pte Ltd, a partner of Give.Asia, will deliver the food.

These feeders were identified based on "their long-standing commitment to community cat care within Boon Lay and Jurong West".

Besides disbursing food credits, Give.Asia has also placed posters around Boon Lay to raise awareness of the community cat feeding zones and proper caregiving practices.

Five public murals have also been painted at one of the key feeding areas.

Pilot may expand to other parts of Singapore

On Apr. 6, Give.Asia disbursed the latest tranche of food credit in person at a community cat feeder appreciation event held at the Boon Lay Zone C Residents' Network centre.

Scenes from the event were also posted by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee in an Apr. 22 Facebook post.

Moving forward, Give.Asia founder Yu Ming Pong shared that the platform is looking to extend support to 30 or more feeders and expand the pilot programme to other parts of Singapore.

Community cat feeders who are in need of support can reach out to Give.Asia via [email protected].

Members of the public can contribute to the programme here.

Top images via Siau Li Chao/Facebook & Give.Asia