TWO MORE CASES
Ms Kwok also gave updates on two other cats that were found dead in the past week, including a second one at Yishun Street 51 with its legs splayed.
She said there were no visible external injuries found, based on the preliminary physical examination, and a postmortem examination is being carried out.
In another incident, a feline was found dead at a void deck at Tampines Street 81 on May 24.
NParks established that Traffic Police officers had attended to a traffic incident involving a car and a community cat earlier that day.
“The (Traffic Police) officers moved the cat’s body to the void deck as it was likely to pose a safety hazard to other road users and to prevent other vehicles from running over the cat’s body,” said Ms Kwok.
A member of the public later came across the cat’s body and reported the case to NParks.
No further action will be taken as the car driver had reported the accident to the police within 24 hours.
ABUSE CASES REACH 12-YEAR HIGH
Speaking to reporters, Mr Teoh said that NParks has seen a “fairly consistent trend” in cases designated as animal abuse or cruelty over the years. Of these, no more than 6 per cent had evidence pointing to animal cruelty.
Among the rest, the majority were public disputes or disamenities caused by pet or community animals, and some of these may not be related to cruelty, Mr Teoh added.
Some animals may have underlying conditions and could have died due to natural causes.
In 2024, the number of cases involving animal cruelty and welfare in Singapore rose to a 12-year high of 961, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
A total of 2,190 animals were involved in the cases, with cats forming the majority (1,330).
The Animals and Birds Act is currently being reviewed to increase penalties – such as fines, jail terms an disqualification orders – to ensure “effective deterrence” against animal welfare offences.
“NParks will also continue to strengthen its processes for handling cases involving injured animals,” said Ms Kwok.
