S'pore influencer Mangobossku's cat grooming service probed after 'rough' handling claims, denies wrongdoing

Singapore influencer Mangobossku's new cat grooming venture is under investigation after viewers of a TikTok livestream accused him of handling a cat "roughly" during a session.

Mangobossku, whose real name is Mohamad Hussin Said, has denied any intention to hurt or abuse the cat, telling Mothership that the clip circulating online only showed "a short portion" of a longer livestream.

What sparked the backlash

The controversy began after clips from a livestreamed grooming session showed Hussin handling a cat in a manner that some viewers found troubling.

On Threads, cat owners and self-described cat lovers weighed in, with some saying they would think twice about sending their pets to Hussin's premises after watching the video.

One user urged business owners to educate themselves before entering the pet industry, and pet owners to do their due diligence before engaging one.

She added:

"Simply taking them out of their familiar environment is already stressful enough, let alone having them aggressively restrained and literally hung while being groomed by someone who was even VAPING."

Another user said she had raised concerns with Hussin directly and claimed she had been blocked as a result.

Others raised questions about Hussin's qualifications.

One user pointed out that cat groomers typically spend years training in salons and sitting for courses before being certified, and asked whether Hussin's certificate was authentic or simply "AI-verified" — noting that his grooming premises reportedly shared an address with his car wash business.

Separately, another user raised concerns after coming across footage of Hussin grooming two cats with what appeared to be skin conditions, including redness around the neck and tail that she worried could be ringworm.

She noted he had not worn gloves while handling either cat, and questioned whether tools and surfaces had been disinfected between sessions to prevent cross-contamination.

Authorities confirm investigations are underway

The SPCA confirmed to Mothership that it was aware of the case and had escalated it to other authorities.

"The SPCA is aware of the case, and our Inspectors have escalated it to the authorities at NParks/AVS for further investigation and any enforcement action. If called upon to assist in investigations, we will do our best to support every effort."

NParks similarly confirmed that the matter was being looked into.

"The National Parks Board (NParks) is aware of the alleged mishandling of a cat that happened during a livestreamed grooming session. Investigations are ongoing."

Mangobossku says handling was for the cat's safety

Responding to queries from Mothership, Hussin said the clips circulating online did not tell the full story.

"We are aware of the clips circulating from our TikTok livestream. We understand the concern from viewers who only saw a short portion of the video," he said.

He explained that the cat had been placed in a grooming hammock, a method he described as industry-recognised, to keep it secure during the session.

He added: "The handling seen was to ensure the cat's safety. The full livestream shows the full context.”

He struck a similar tone in an Instagram post on Jul. 11, defending his approach publicly for the first time since the backlash began.

"Whatever people want to say, let them. What matters is we know what we're doing isn't to hurt the cat or abuse the cat, we do all this for the cat's own good and cleanliness. "

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A post shared by Mangobossku (@the_godfather_mangobossku)

Hussin also told Mothership that NParks had since visited his premises to review his procedures, adding that the welfare of the cats in his care remains his top priority.

He has expanded to offer both in-house and home grooming services as well, so paw parents can be present from start to finish.

"This makes the process more transparent and less stressful for the cats. We remain committed to providing safe, low-stress grooming for all pets in our care."

Planning to upskill

Despite the ongoing scrutiny, Hussin has continued to advertise his grooming services on social media, including offering fur-styling options such as the Lion Cut and Bear Cut.

Hussin is reportedly planning to enrol in the Universal Cat Association (UCA) Cat Grooming Programme, an internationally recognised certification course, according to Berita Harian.

Investigations into the case remain ongoing.