SINGAPORE - The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has received 26 reports of cat deaths in Yishun since last September, but only two have so far been linked to animal cruelty.

It said on Friday that witness and owner accounts showed that seven had been non-abuse cases - three falls from height, three road traffic accidents and one natural death. Two are likely abuse cases, while the other 17 remain open as more evidence is needed.

In the latest case, on Wednesday, a black and white cat was found dead on a grass patch at the foot of Block 162, Yishun Street 11. The AVA believes it fell from a height.

The AVA received 91 reports of alleged cat cruelty in 2015.

Post-mortem investigations revealed that 12 cats had died after being hit by a blunt force.

The AVA said these cases can be linked to abuse, falling from height, or road traffic accidents.

Two suspects have been arrested for alleged involvement in the cat abuses in Yishun.

The first man was charged with animal cruelty on Dec 29, and was remanded at the Institute of Mental Health on Jan 12. He was granted bail of $10,000 on Jan 19.

The second man, aged 51, was arrested on Jan 23.