A Singapore man has been sentenced to 16 weeks in jail after 71 cats were left without proper care in a Bukit Panjang flat for nearly two years. Nine cats died. Authorities found dozens of survivors in filthy conditions, many thin or dehydrated, after neighbours raised the alarm in February 2024.
Key takeaways
The case highlights the consequences of leaving a growing group of cats without adequate food, water, shelter or supervision. The man was also barred from owning animals for 12 months.
- Muhammad Khairul Naim Zainol, 37, pleaded guilty to 24 animal-welfare charges; 47 more were considered during sentencing.
- Officials found 61 live cats inside the flat, alongside three carcasses, six skulls and remains of at least six other cats. A distressed cat had been rescued from an air-conditioning ledge.
- His former wife, also charged in the case, is due in court on Oct. 6.
How the cats were left behind
Khairul and his then-wife bought the Housing Board flat in 2018 and began acquiring cats the following year. Because the animals were not sterilised, their numbers grew. The couple moved out around April 2022 to stay with his parents, leaving the cats in the flat. Electricity and water were later disconnected over unpaid bills.
Khairul said he initially returned daily with dry food and water, but eventually left supplies outside the flat. He stopped entering it after December 2023. Investigators found the cats had been left without proper care for about 22 months, until authorities inspected the unit on Feb. 20, 2024.
Conditions inside the flat
Neighbours contacted authorities after a skinny, distressed cat was spotted on an air-conditioning ledge and a smell was reported from the unit. Inside, investigators found floors and furniture coated in dirt and excrement, poor ventilation, flies and cockroaches, and a strong ammonia odour. A cat was seen drinking from a toilet bowl containing dirty water.
Veterinary assessments found that all 61 cats examined had suffered pain and distress. Forty-four were thin or very thin, nine were severely emaciated, and almost all were dehydrated. Many also had hair loss associated with parasites, ear mites or respiratory problems. The report said food and water were inadequate for the number of animals, forcing them to compete for limited resources.
What responsible care requires
The National Parks Board says pet ownership involves providing appropriate care throughout an animal’s life. When a household cannot manage its cats, seeking suitable new homes or help from an animal-welfare group is safer than leaving them unattended. Sterilisation and early planning can also help prevent an unmanageable increase in the number of cats.
Stress can affect feline behaviour and wellbeing, particularly in crowded or changing environments. PAWSONA’s cat-care approach emphasizes addressing those underlying conditions: calming products may support cats through ordinary transitions, but they cannot replace reliable food, clean water, veterinary care and daily supervision.
Sources
- Man jailed for abandoning 71 cats in flat for two years, The Straits Times.
- Man who abandoned 71 cats in Bukit Panjang flat given 16 weeks' jail, CNA.
- S'pore man, 37, abandons 71 cats in flat for nearly 2 years, leading to 9 deaths - Mothership.SG, Mothership.
- Man jailed after nine cats die, 71 left without proper care in Singapore HDB flat, Malay Mail.
- Singapore man jailed 16 weeks for neglecting 71 cats, UA.NEWS.