The Straits Times
June 14, 2009
More cats, birds die at condo
By Amanda Tan and Kimberly Spykerman
FOUR more sick cats were found at the Bayshore Park condominium over the weekend, bringing the total number of affected cats from the estate to 16 - about half the number of strays there.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had to put down two cats yesterday. One also died last Friday. SPCA executive director Deirdre Moss said the two cats put down were in bad shape, unresponsive to treatment and 'hardly had any pulse'.
Three birds were also found dead in the estate on Sunday.
Since Thursday, stray cats at the private estate have been found unconscious or disoriented. The police are investigating.
A can of cat food was found at a block in the estate and the SPCA is waiting for test results from the Health Sciences Authority on the food samples. It is also analysing blood samples from the dead cat. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority is also conducting a post-mortem on the cat.
Of the 13 cats still alive, one is still on a drip. The rest are alert, said Ms Moss.
The mystery of the sick animals has gripped the 1,093-unit estate and is now the talk of the town. Dog owners have stopped walking their pets while cat owners are keeping them indoors.
A notice by the condo's management said the cats were 'cruelly fed with poisoned food' and advised residents not to let their pets eat food lying around.
