Toa Payoh cat killer, 27, given 2 years & 7 months’ jail for ‘depraved acts’ against 6 community cats

A Singaporean man who began experiencing relationship issues with his then-girlfriend sought companionship from cats.

But when they ignored him, he took out his anger on them through a series of "depraved acts".

He killed a beloved Toa Payoh community cat, named Field Field, and tortured at least five others, according to previous charge sheets.

On Apr. 10, Ryan Tan Yi Bin pleaded guilty to three counts of animal abuse, with three other charges taken into consideration.

He was sentenced to two years and seven months’ jail.

The 27-year-old man will also be disqualified from owning any animals for the maximum period of 12 months upon his release.

In a media statement on Apr. 10, Jessica Kwok, group director of enforcement and investigation at the National Parks Board (NParks) said:

"This is the highest sentencing to date for a case involving animal cruelty."

Researched methods to torture cats

Tan, who was a food delivery rider, started experiencing relationship issues sometime in July or August 2024.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Lynda Lee said he would cycle around to look for cats to play with.

But not all cats were receptive to his attention.

Angered, he decided to teach those cats a lesson.

From Sep. 16 to 20, 2024, Tan conducted internet searches on how to torture cats.

He also researched on how to to stab a cat to inflict enough injury to "teach it a lesson", but not kill it.

Stabbing spree

On Sep. 20, 2024, Tan received a foldable knife with a 10cm blade he had bought online.

A day later, he used it to stab a ginger-and-white domestic shorthair in Toa Payoh.

This was his first victim.

Two days later, he went on a series of attacks across Toa Payoh.

He stabbed multiple cats at Block 36 Lorong 5 and Block 200 Toa Payoh North.

In one incident, he stabbed a white cat, chased it, and stabbed it again about six minutes later.

He only stopped after he began to target another cat at Block 12 Lorong 7 Toa Payoh, a ginger, and a a man shouted at him before he could stab it.

He cycled away and disposed of the knife, stated court documents.

White cat's wound was 6.5cm deep

The white cat was found by a member of the public who regularly fed it and was sent to a veterinary clinic.

On Sep. 24, 2024, the white cat was brought to the community clinic run by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

An examination revealed two stab wounds, one of which was 6.5cm deep.

On Sep. 25, 2024, Tan searched online for cases involving cat abuse and the sentences imposed, to assess the punishment he might face if caught.

He'd also earlier searched on the likely penalties for killing a cat.

Threw cat from 34th floor

At this point, Tan had stabbed four cats,

But he continued to be unhappy with cats that ignored him.

On Oct. 6, 2024, Tan was making food deliveries in Whampoa and noticed an orange domestic shorthair at Block 78 Lorong Limau.

The shorthair was known in the community as "Field Field."

He returned a day later, sometime at around 2am, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a mask to avoid being recognised.

At around 3:48am on Oct. 7, he picked the cat up and brought it into the lift, planning to torture it.

In the lift, Tan picked up the cat, holding it high above his head before slamming it down hard.

According to court documents, the cat ran around in circles inside the lift, unable to escape Tan's blows.

For more than a minute, Tan kicked and stomped on the cat until it lay on the floor motionless but alive.

When the lift stopped at the 34th floor, Tan picked the cat up by its tail and threw it over the parapet.

It plummeted to the ground floor and was later found dead.

At about 1:30pm the same day, Tan was arrested.

Injured another cat on bail

Tan was released on bail on Oct. 30, 2024.

On Mar. 13, 2025, Tan spotted a black and orange cat near Block 15 Toa Payoh Lorong 7.

He approached the cat with the intention to play with it, but the cat hissed at him and hid under a shelf.

Enraged, he dragged and picked the cat by its tail, before slamming its head against the wall multiple times with increasing force.

He then left it on the floor and cycled away.

The cat was severely injured and had to be euthanised.

It had presented with "signs of severe distress" prior to its death, according to a vet.

Sentencing

In court documents seen by Mothership, the prosecution said Tan "wilfully inflicted extreme violence of the worst kind against defenceless creatures".

"The accused in this case stabbed the hapless cats and even threw one off the high floor of a block of flats.

His premeditated and depraved acts are deserving of the strongest disapprobation."

She also noted that his cruelty was more severe than that of Ang Mo Kio cat killer Barrie Lin Pengli.

Furthermore, his victims were not random, but deliberately targeted for their perceived attitude towards him, she said.

After stabbing, he would also check online for news of his escapades.

NParks conducted autopsies

In her statement, Kwok said that NParks worked with the Singapore Police Force (SPF), and animal welfare groups to investigate the case.

This included reviewing CCTV footage, interviewing eyewitnesses, and examining veterinary reports.

NParks also conducted post-mortem examinations on two of the cats involved.

The authorities will not hesitate to take stern enforcement action against animal cruelty, she added.

Where to report animal cruelty

Kwok noted: "The timely information and evidence provided by members of the public was key in supporting our investigations for this case."

Members of the public can prevent animal cruelty by reporting suspected cases of animal cruelty or providing potential evidence to NParks' website or by calling their Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.

NParks added that all forms of evidence are crucial to the process, and photographs or videos provided will help support investigations.

Top photo from Noreen Loh Hui Miun/Facebook & Toa Payoh North Cats/Instagram