Troubled cat cafe put up for sale

Cuddles Cat Cafe, which opened its doors in Orchard three months ago, is being investigated by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) over the deaths of the animals. -- PHOTO: BH
Cuddles Cat Cafe, which opened its doors in Orchard three months ago, is being investigated by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) over the deaths of the animals. -- PHOTO: BH

A cat cafe under investigation over the deaths of seven of its cats has not had its licence renewed and is being offered for sale by its owner.

Cuddles Cat Cafe, which opened its doors in Orchard three months ago, is being investigated by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) over the deaths of the animals.

Some of its former employees have alleged that its staff were not properly trained to handle cats.

An AVA spokesman said: "Cuddles Cat Cafe's animal exhibition licence will not be renewed as investigations are ongoing."

The cafe's licence expired on Wednesday.

In a lengthy post on the cafe's Facebook page on Wednesday, cafe owner Jonathan Tan expressed utmost "regret and remorse" over the deaths, and sought "forgiveness from the public".

"After thorough consideration, I believe that in the best interest of our cats, they should be kept together as a family under a new owner. Hence, Cuddles Cat Cafe will be offered up for a business takeover," he wrote.

The announcement comes a day after Mr Tan apologised on the Facebook page for causing animal lovers grief. He also gave a factual breakdown of the cause of death of the cats.

The post was criticised by netizens, some of whom felt it was not an apology and that he was being defensive.

In his latest post on Wednesday, Mr Tan said he regretted purchasing the cats instead of adopting, and that he was sad that the cats were infected with ringworm and irritable bowel syndrome.

He also admitted that there were lapses in standards "in the initial phase of the cafe".

AMIR HUSSAIN

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