Monday, December 29, 2008

Do Singaporeans have the same respect for our strays?

Read Victim’s family call for shark to be spared

A few months ago, the Senior Property Officer (SPO) of the Town Council informed me that a father has called to complain that a cat has attacked his child. He was able to identify the cat.

This cat was named Tuxedo by a resident who lives in the same block. She is one of two cats that belong to a Malay family living on the second storey. In March last year, the family needed some persuasion by two fellow residents involved in TnRM of the neighbourhood, to have the two cats sterilised (at caregivers' expense). After the cats were returned to them with advice to keep them indoor, these two cats continue to be “free roaming”. This has resulted in a complaint by another Malay family that said the cats jumped into their flat from the parapet frightening a daughter and recently this “cat attacked child” complaint. If only there are regulations to fine such irresponsible cat owners! Such irresponsible cat owners also jeopardise the lives of downstairs community cats as they could be rounded up by pest controllers in response to complaints to the town council.


These two cats were brought to the vet on 27-03-2007 and they were mother and daughter. The caregivers wondered how many litters been abandoned before they were sterilised as the vet called up later to say that both these two cats were found to be pregnant during the surgery.
Fortunately the SPO was diligent and he spoke to residents from the block. A few of them said that they were aware of the presence of Tuxedo and said that she has not been known to attack anyone. The father didn’t pursue the matter further and the cats are still safe at that block.
Often it is a child who provokes a cat either intentinally or unintentionally, resulting in a cat’s adverse reaction. A child so hurt, will not admit his or her fault when the parents come to know about the injuries.
Some angry parents will demand a vindictive response from the Town Council.
How many cats have been “culled” because there are no caregivers to speak out for them?