SINGAPORE - A dead cat was found in the grass at the foot of a HDB block in Yishun on Wednesday (Jan 27).
Local cat interest group Yishun 326 Tabby cat, which has volunteers patrolling the estate, said in a Facebook post that the dead cat was found at Block 162, Yishun Street 11, at around 4.30pm.
"We appeal urgently for information and for witnesses to come forward," the post added.
This was the 21st cat death reported in Yishun since September last year, and the third in slightly over a week.
Meanwhile, another cat was found dead in Bishan Street 12 this week, said a Facebook post on Tuesday (Jan 26).
Facebook user Tra Cy posted graphic photos of a dead cat, and warned that there could be a possible cat killer in the area.
She wrote: "The neighbors were congregating while waiting for the arrival of the police, and some of them mentioned that there was a dead kitten found near the same area last Friday too."
When contacted, a spokesman from the Cat Welfare Society said that "random and serial killings have been happening in various estates for years".
"In such suspicious deaths, it would be important to have full details of timings and locations so a targeted appeal for information can be made," said Ms Veron Lau, a committee member of the Cat Welfare Society.
Last Tuesday, the body of a bloodied cat was discovered in a drain near Block 361, Yishun Ring Road.
Just two days later, another dead cat was found on a walkway next to a petrol kiosk near Block 732, Yishun Avenue 5.
Two men have since been arrested in relation to cat abuse cases in Yishun.
On Dec 29 last year, 40-year-old Lee Wai Leong was charged with one count of animal cruelty after allegedly throwing an adult male Mackerel Tabby domestic shorthair cat from the 13th floor of Block 115B Yishun Ring Road.
He was subsequently remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric assessment and is currently out on bail.
Last Saturday, the police arrested a 51-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of cat abuse in Yishun.
Investigations are also ongoing to establish if he is involved in other cases, police and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) had said in a statement.
However, they noted that in some cases, preliminary investigations have shown that the cause of death may not be due to animal cruelty.
Under the Animals and Birds Act, anyone found guilty of cruelty to animals can be jailed up to 18 months, fined up to $15,000 or both.
Members of the public with any information about the cat abuse cases may call the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore on 1800-476-1600, e-mail ava_arc@ava.gov.sg or call the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' 24-hour hotline on 6287-5355, ext 9.
