Usah kejam pada kucing

http://cyberita.asia1.com.sg/mrencana/story/0,6879,191525,00.html

26 Jun 2011

EKSTRA!

Usah kejam pada kucing

Hingga 5,100 kucing terbiar dihapuskan syarikat pengawal haiwan perosak tahun lalu

PADA Ramadan lalu, presiden Persatuan Kebajikan Kucing (CWS), Cik Fareena Mehr Omar, menerima laporan mengenai sebuah keluarga Melayu/Islam yang melepaskan dua ekor kucing peliharaan mereka di Changi Village.

Apabila beliau membuat lawatan ke rumah mereka di kawasan Ubi, keluarga itu langsung tidak rasa bersalah dan mengatakan kucing-kucing mereka pasti selamat kerana 'di situ ada banyak makanan'.

Kira-kira sebulan kemudian, dua kucing itu tidak lagi ditemui setelah pihak berkuasa mengerahkan syarikat pengawal haiwan perosak menghapuskan kucing-kucing yang terbiar di situ.

Dalam satu lagi kes pula, sebuah keluarga Melayu di Tampines melepaskan tujuh ekor kucing dewasa yang dimasukkan ke dalam sebuah sangkar dan ditinggalkan di kolong blok, bersama beberapa barang perhiasan rumah yang dibuang.

Cik Fareena berkata kes-kes pemilik kucing melepaskan haiwan peliharaan mereka biasa ditangani persatuannya sepanjang tahun.

Namun, semasa Ramadan, apabila ramai keluarga Melayu/Islam mula mengemas rumah untuk menyambut Syawal, kejadian sedemikian meningkat lebih dua kali ganda.

Walaupun tiada data-data rasmi, Cik Fareena berkata sebahagian besarnya dilakukan pemilik Melayu/Islam, berdasarkan pemerhatian lebih 500 relawannya di serata pulau, yang menjadi 'mata dan telinga' persatuan itu dalam mengesan kes-kes sedemikian.

Para pencinta kucing juga sering memberi maklum balas kepada CWS, kadangkala lengkap dengan gambar dan rakaman video, mengenai perbuatan jiran mereka melepaskan kucing.

Menurut Cik Fareena, para relawannya dibahagikan kepada kelompok di kejiranan mereka, dengan setiap kelompok merangkumi lima hingga 15 blok flat.

Di kelompok masing-masing, para relawan itu memberi makan kepada kucing-kucing terbiar setiap hari.

Lantas, mereka dapat mengesan tiap kali terdapat 'muka-muka baru' yang dilepaskan.

Memberi contoh, pada Ramadan tahun lalu, para relawan CWS mengesan 27 ekor kucing yang dilepaskan di satu kelompok di Jurong West.

Di sebuah kelompok di Eunos pula, 45 ekor kucing dilepaskan manakala jumlah di Bedok dan Tampines mencecah 25 dan 17 ekor kucing.

Pada bulan-bulan biasa, secara purata, tiga hingga 10 ekor kucing dilepaskan di kejiranan-kejiranan tersebut.

Trend ini konsisten sejak beberapa tahun lalu.

LEPASKAN KUCING SAMA SEPERTI MEMBUNUHNYA

Menurut Cik Fareena, ada salah tanggapan bahawa kucing yang dilepaskan tetap dapat hidup di luar.

'Realitinya, apabila anda melepaskan kucing samalah seperti anda membunuhnya,' tegas beliau.

Ini kerana kucing yang terbiasa dengan kehidupan di rumah sukar menyesuaikan diri apabila dilepaskan. Ia terdedah kepada penganiayaan dan mudah ditangkap oleh pegawai penghapus haiwan perosak.

Malah, banyak juga yang 'membunuh diri' dengan bersembunyi di dalam longkang-longkang dan enggan bergerak kerana terlalu takut.

'Ada satu kes kucing yang dilepaskan di bawah pokok. Ia langsung tidak bergerak kerana terlalu takut, walaupun seluruh tubuhnya diselaputi semut,' keluh Cik Fareena.

Sejumlah 5,100 kucing terbiar dihapuskan syarikat pengawal haiwan perosak tahun lalu. Pada 2009, 5,400 ekor kucing dihapuskan manakala 6,800 ekor pula dihapuskan pada 2008.

Baru-baru ini, dalam tulisan blognya, Menteri Pembangunan Negara, Encik Khaw Boon Wan, mengarah Persatuan Pertanian-Makanan dan Ternakan (AVA) agar menyemak amalan menghapuskan kucing-kucing terbiar.

Menteri Negara (Pembangunan Negara merangkap Tenaga Manusia), Brigadier-Jeneral (Kerahan) Tan Chuan-Jin, juga ditugaskan bekerjasama dengan AVA, pertubuhan kebajikan haiwan dan penduduk bagi mengorak pendekatan lebih ihsan terhadap masalah kucing terbiar.

KEMBIRI KUCING HURAIAN JANGKA PANJANG

Minggu lalu, Majlis Bandaran Sembawang mengumumkan ia tidak akan lagi menghapuskan kucing-kucing terbiar di kejiranan Chong Pang, sebaliknya akan bekerjasama dengan pertubuhan pencinta kucing untuk mengembiri haiwan-haiwan tersebut.

Langkah sedemikian disambut baik oleh CWS.

Menurut relawan CWS, Cik Suzana Sainol, program pendekatan persatuan itu mendedahkan ramai pemilik Melayu/Islam yang enggan mengembiri kucing mereka.

'Ada yang mungkin bermula dengan niat yang baik, memelihara hanya dua atau tiga ekor kucing.

'Tapi apabila kucing-kucing mereka tidak dikembiri dan mula beranak, keadaan menjadi tidak terkawal dan mulalah sesetengah mereka melepaskan kucing-kucing ini,' ujar beliau.

Cik Suzana menerangkan antara sebab yang diberi ialah kos mengembiri, antara $80 dengan $230, bergantung kepada jantina dan klinik yang menawarkan khidmat tersebut.

Beliau menambah, kucing yang tidak dikembiri juga menimbulkan masalah lain, terutama semasa musim mengawan.

Lantas, bagi menggalak keluarga Melayu/Islam mengembiri kucing peliharaan mereka, CWS telah melancarkan program mengembiri pada kadar bersubsidi, antara $25 dengan $60.

Selain isu kos, Cik Fareena berkata ramai orang Melayu juga ragu-ragu mahu mengembiri kucing kerana menganggap ia salah dari sudut agama.

Ini walaupun fatwa Muis yang dikeluarkan pada 1994 memutuskan bahawa mengembiri kucing atas sebab-sebab maslahat adalah harus.

MEMBENARKAN KUCING

DI FLAT HDB

Kini, Lembaga Perumahan dan Pembangunan (HDB) tidak membenarkan pemilik flat memelihara kucing.

Antara lain, tabiat haiwan itu seperti menggugurkan bulunya, mengiau dengan kuat serta buang najis di tempat-tempat awam, mengganggu suasana kejiranan.

Namun, pertubuhan kebajikan haiwan seperti CWS berpendapat perubahan dasar itu mungkin dapat menjadi huraian jangka panjang kepada masalah kucing-kucing terbiar.

Pendekatan yang serupa seperti memelihara anjing boleh digunakan dengan mewajibkan orang ramai memohon lesen untuk memelihara kucing dan memasang cip komputer mikro pada kucing.

Bagaimanapun, Cik Fareena akur ini bukan satu langkah yang mudah.

'Sekarang ini pun, ada kelemahan dalam sistem pemeliharaan anjing dan untuk sistem ini dikuatkuasa bagi kucing, mungkin memakan masa.

'Namun, ulasan Encik Khaw yang mencerminkan pendekatan pemerintah yang terbuka untuk bekerjasama dengan pencinta kucing dan masyarakat secara umum memberi pertubuhan seperti kami harapan,' ujarnya.

It is a serious offence to abandon pets in Singapore, the offence carries a maximum fine of up to $10,000, up to 12 mth jail term or both. It is to be reminded that in 2010, a young man was successfully charged with cat abandonment.

Paralysed cat's moggy paddle

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3657310/Paralysed-cats-moggy-paddle.html

Hair Salon Cat called Lucy

The Fiesty Catwomen!

Firefighters free kitten trapped inside a pipe

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13922404

Rumah mesra kucing

http://cyberita.asia1.com.sg/mrencana/story/0,6879,191526,00.html

Rumah mesra kucing

SEBELUM membuat keputusan memelihara kucing, Cik Nor Melati Ja'afar gigih membuat kajian menerusi Internet dan buku-buku penjagaan kucing bagi memahami tuntutan serta cabaran menjaga haiwan itu.

Pada masa yang sama, beliau rajin bertanya kepada para pencinta kucing, termasuk badan-badan seperti Persatuan Kebajikan Kucing (CWS) dan Persatuan Cegah Kekejaman ke atas Binatang (SPCA).

Setelah benar-benar puas beliau dan keluarga bersedia menerima 'anggota' baru, barulah Cik Melati, 45 tahun, membuka pintunya kepada Ochen, kucing pertamanya yang baru berusia enam minggu, pada Mac tahun lepas.

Sejak itu, pegawai pentadbiran itu telah mengambil seekor lagi kucing. Kucing yang diberi nama Mim itu merupakan kucing terbiar di bawah jagaan CWS.

'Menjaga haiwan peliharaan perlukan komitmen jangka panjang. Ia bukan perkara main-main,' ujar Cik Melati yang tinggal di Woodlands.

Selain menyiapkan segala keperluan asas seperti tempat bagi pasir tandas kucing dan batang penggaru, ibu tiga anak itu juga memastikan tingkap dan jeriji pintunya dipasang dengan kasa dawai demi keselamatan kucing- kucingnya.

Kesemuanya, beliau membelanjakan sekitar $150 untuk menjadikan rumahnya mesra kucing.

Cik Melati menambah beliau sedih dengan sikap sesetengah orang yang kurang prihatin dengan aspek keselamatan kucing peliharaan mereka.

Menurutnya, beliau mengenali seorang pemilik kucing yang terus membeli kucing baru selepas kucingnya cedera dek terjatuh dari tingkap rumah.

'Mereka ibaratkan kucing ini seperti barang perhiasan pula,' katanya, sambil menggeleng-gelengkan kepala.

Di samping itu, kedua-dua kucing Cik Melati, yang seekor jantan dan seekor lagi betina, telah dikembiri.

Bagi beliau, mengembirikan kucing peliharaan adalah perkara bertanggungjawab yang harus dilakukan para pemilik kucing.

Cik Melati begitu prihatin mahu menjadi seorang pemilik kucing yang bertanggungjawab sekalipun pada mulanya beliau seorang yang 'takut kucing'.

Malah, suaminya, Encik Mohamed Kartimon, 49 tahun, seorang pengendali kren, juga sebelum ini terasa geli untuk memegang haiwan itu

Pasangan itu akhirnya memberanikan diri demi memenuhi permintaan anak bongsu mereka yang telah sekian lama merengek dibenarkan memelihara kucing.

Hanya lebih setahun menjaga Ochen dan Mim, Cik Melati dan suami tidak dapat membayangkan hidup tanpa dua ekor kucingnya itu.

'Menjaga kucing dengan sempurna adalah tanggungjawab yang penting. Kita mesti memastikan bahawa kita boleh memenuhi segala keperluannya - daripada tempat tinggal yang selesa kepada keperluan perubatan.

'Kalau kita rasa tidak sanggup atau tidak mampu, usahlah pelihara kucing,' katanya.

http://cyberita.asia1.com.sg/mrencana/story/0,6879,191529,00.html


26 Jun 2011

EKSTRA!

Pejuang kebajikan kucing

SEPANJANG dua tahun beliau aktif dalam Persatuan Kebajikan Kucing (CWS), Cik Fareena Mehr Omar tidak pernah berjumpa kes penganiayaan kucing yang begitu teruk seperti yang ditemuinya pada Julai tahun lalu.

Bayangkan bukan satu atau dua, tetapi sehingga 10 ekor kucing dihumban ke dalam tong sampah besar dalam keadaan yang cukup menyedihkan.

'Kucing-kucing yang dibuang itu kurus, cengkung dan tidak bermaya. Kasihan sungguh!' ujar Cik Fareena, presiden CWS, semasa menyingkap pengalaman tersebut.

Doktor haiwan yang merawat kucing-kucing itu mengesahkan bahawa kucing-kucing itu sudah lama tidak diberi makan.

Pihaknya, bagaimanapun, berjaya mengesan keluarga yang membuang kucing-kucing itu.

'Apabila kami ke rumah empat bilik keluarga itu di Tampines, kami terperanjat tuan rumah itu menyimpan sehingga 54 ekor kucing!

'Bau rumah itu juga amat busuk! Penghuni rumah itu seakan tidak mengendahkan keadaan rumahnya yang penuh dengan najis dan kencing kucing. Bayangkan mereka boleh potong sayur sebelah najis kucing!' jelasnya.

Keluarga Melayu terdiri daripada lima anggota itu datang daripada keluarga berpendapatan rendah dan tidak pernah mengembiri kucing-kucing peliharaan mereka.

Menurut Cik Fareena, masalah kewangan dikaitkan sebagai faktor utama mengapa kucing-kucing itu tidak dikembirikan.

Melihat keadaan kucing-kucing itu, pihak CWS dengan pantas mengembirikan kesemua kucing itu dan 'memindahkan' kucing-kucing itu kepada pemilik yang lebih bertanggungjawab.

'Inilah akibatnya kalau tidak dikembirikan. Kucing- kucing ini akan membiak dan sukar pemiliknya mengawal dan menjaganya dengan betul,' tegas Cik Fareena.

Hasil siasatan didapati seorang lelaki berusia 20-an tahun telah membuang kesemua 10 ekor kucing itu. Dia telah didapati bersalah dan dikenakan denda $1,000.

Di bawah undang-undang, pesalah boleh dikenakan denda $10,000 dan penjara 12 bulan.

Selain itu, persatuan ini juga giat melakukan kerja-kerja sebagai perantara dengan majlis bandaran.

Dalam sebulan, ia boleh menerima sehingga 200 kes aduan berkaitan dengan kucing daripada majlis bandaran.

'Antara aduan yang kami terima termasuk najis kucing peliharaan yang bersepahan di depan koridor jiran, kucing-kucing terbiar merayau-rayau di kolong blok dan ada pula yang menggaris kereta.

'Pihak kami kemudian akan hubungi individu yang membuat aduan itu dan cuba selesaikan masalah itu,' jelas pula Ketua Jawatankuasa Perantaraan CWS, Cik Suzana Sainol.

Pada masa yang sama, pihaknya juga akan mendidik individu yang membuat aduan tersebut dan memberitahunya apakah nasib yang akan dihadapi kucing-kucing itu jika ia ditangkap oleh majlis bandaran.

'Apabila kucing terbiar ini ditangkap, ia akan dibunuh.

'Jadi, seberapa boleh, kami akan cuba meningkatkan tahap toleransi penduduk yang kurang senang dengan kehadiran kucing-kucing terbiar ini,' ulas Cik Suzana.

Can they get along?

http://www.todayonline.com/Sunday/SundaySpecial/EDC110626-0000071/Can-they-get-along#.Tga2824aB2Y.facebook

The humans and cats of Chong Pang haven't always been on the best terms. Now, they will be test subjects in a humane experiment that hopes to resolve the question ...

by Teo Xuanwei

04:47 AM Jun 26, 2011

The first time she saw cat poo at her doorstep one morning five months ago, Mdm Tan C M thought she was just plain unlucky. But, two weeks later, it happened again.

And despite her deploying obscure "remedies" such as mothballs and vinegar outside her house as repellents, the feline rebel struck again two more times in the following three months. The culprit was never caught in the act but the 52-year-old housewife believes one cat among the handful of strays in the neighbourhood was responsible for causing the mess outside her Yishun Avenue 5 flat.

There's also the overpowering stench that wafts into her house, soiled shoes and the flies the poo attracts that she had to put up with, she said in exasperation. And as the Chong Pang estate she lives in becomes the first to commit to a no-culling approach to spayed strays, Mdm Tan is clutched up about when, rather than if, the problem will resurface again.

"You sterilise the cats; they still need to do their business, right?" she said. "If you remove them, you don't have to worry about it anymore."

Cat Welfare Society (CWS) vice-president Veron Lau and other cat lovers Today spoke to, however, believe that it is unlikely a homeless cat was responsible for Mdm Tan's predicament. More possibly, it was the work of a pet cat that was allowed to roam.

Said cat caregiver Joey Goh, 39: "A stray would not know how to go up a high-rise building by itself." Culling cats, therefore, cures the symptoms but not the problem, she adds.

The differing mindsets depicts the perennial divide between the pro- and anti-sterilisation camps in the cat management conundrum that has been reopened in Chong Pang.

Last Saturday, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency K Shanmugam, who is also Law and Foreign Affairs Minister, announced that his ward will embark on a more humane programme to manage the population of stray cats in the area. This means the grassroots organisations and government bodies will work with animal welfare groups and activists to sterilise cats and care for them in a responsible manner, such as cleaning up food scraps.

At stake, possibly, is which way the Ministry of National Development swings in deciding how to handle cat complaints across the island henceforth.

Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who first revisited this issue in a June 2 blog post, said killing cats is "not the best way to go" and that he has put weight on the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) to "seriously consider reviewing" its culling policy.

He added in the same post: "Where there are enough cat-lovers out there willing to own this problem, we can avoid culling in those estates."



A SECOND CHANCE

For animal lovers, it is clear this is their shot at a return to the Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme that was ditched in 2003 at the height of the severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis - after unsubstantiated reports linking house cats and ferrets to the virus.

They believe the trap-neuter-release-manage (TNRM) method will effectively and humanely solve the cat population issue in the long run. A cat feeder in Chong Pang, who declined to be named, put it thus: "It's a chance to prove to detractors that sterilisation works and that there are enough animal lovers in the community who are capable of taking ownership and resolving the various concerns some people may be facing."

Although animal welfare activists have repeatedly argued that culling is but a band-aid fix - they reason that other homeless cats will quickly stream in to stake claim on vacated territories and the same nuisances will resurface - winning over those who have been left hapless by oft-voiced cat-related woes could be a tall order.

This group views cat-culling through clinical lenses, as simply a necessary evil that's their best shot at eradicating their woes for good.

Banker Kevin Lee, 30, who lives in Yishun Avenue 2, is one who has also been scarred by cat issues. Having spent S$1,800 on paint jobs on his car after it was purportedly scratched by homeless cats four times, he is looking at Chong Pang's new policy with trepidation.

"After you sterilise a cat, it doesn't make it not want to sleep on warm bonnets. If (culling) is something that has to be done to prevent the same problems from happening to me and other car owners, then no choice, you still have to do it," he said.

But Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals executive officer Deirdre Moss asked: "Other than some fur and some paw prints on the car, is there photographic evidence of a cat actively scratching a car? It takes quite a lot to be able to scratch a car's paint off. If it's true, there are solutions to be considered, such as devices that repel cats."

Even if one assumes this improbability, cat caregiver Ms Goh said: "It's about being reasonable. You park under a tree and your car gets stained by bird droppings, do you remove the bird? You suck up a lot of other things, why go out of the way to persecute cats?"

But Mr Lee had this counterpoint: "You cull crows too because they are a nuisance but nobody says anything. Do you think culling crows is humane? It's just a matter of how people view a particular animal."



QUICK FIX THAT'S NOT

The truth is some cat-related nuisances, such as the caterwauling racket in the dead of the night or unpleasant living spaces caused by irresponsible feeders who do not clean up food scraps, may persist.

What's needed is some tolerance and a little bit of time to educate people, said Ms Lau from the CWS. She said: "It's those who indiscriminately feed cats but do not clear up, or ignorant owners who allow their pets to roam or breed and then abandon the kittens that is the hurdle."

She noted that 70 per cent of complaints the CWS handles involve house cats or abandoned pets. "We're not saying everyone should be so tolerant and love cats too, but if people learn to be responsible, many of these problems can be managed."

Ms Moss also said: "Most people in general won't be against sterilisation in principle, it's just that they want a quick-fix solution to the issues they face. For them, here today-gone tomorrow is the best way, but it's not."

In fact, it could lead to other problems. For instance, the rat population could go up, as evidenced by the rat extermination drive that had to be launched in estates along Hume Avenue and Taman Jurong after the AVA returned to culling cats in 2003.

For some time now, the CWS has been working informally with the AVA and some town councils on resolving cat management issues through the sterilisation approach; Ms Lau also revealed that the CWS is in talks with other MPs - all favourable signs that more constituencies could follow Chong Pang's lead.

Mr Shanmugam, however, sought to rein in expectations a little. Responding to Today's queries, he said it was "premature to say how the Chong Pang cat management programme will affect the re-implementation of an islandwide sterilisation programme".

What he is hoping to do is simply to "put together a model which others could look at".

Indeed, much of how this test case plays out eventually still hinges on whether the wider community cares enough to do their bit for animal welfare.

When Today visited the bustling town last week, a shop attendant was cooing at and stroking a stray cat. Asked how he felt about cats roaming around, he said: "They are cute what, they come around so I play with it. Anyway I don't have to take care of it."

But does he think non-culling of cats is the way to go? The 30-something, who declined to be named, said wryly: "As long as they don't cause me problems."

Trap, neuter, release - but can it be managed?

by Teo Xuanwei

The trap-neuter-release-manage (TNRM) approach involves bringing a cat caught by professional trappers for sterilisation and returning it to its territory. Then the crucial next step is to foster responsible cat caregiving and ownership by engaging the community.

This multi-pronged approach is favoured by animal welfare activists because it addresses the root of most cat-related complaints.

Sterilised cats, identified by their clipped left ears, feel no need to mate. What this means is an end to cats roaming large tracts of the estate and marking territories with pee, catfights over mates and caterwauling.

Releasing the cats back to their communities stops new strays from moving in to fill the vacuum and keeps the cat population - as well as rat and cockroach numbers - in check, studies in other countries have shown.

The "manage" aspect of the approach though, could be its Achilles heel because it involves sustained education efforts. Littering issues, for instance, would be resolved if cat lovers just bothered to clear up after leaving out food scraps for strays. Then there is pet abandonment by owners who are uneducated, can't afford to sterilise their cats or don't know how to care for them.

A review of the ban on cat ownership in HDB estates would greatly boost efforts to educate owners and nip abandonment in the bud, said Cat Welfare Society vice-president Veron Lau.

"Because (ownership) is outlawed, cat owners will not come forward to ask for advice or help. We are not able to reach out to them." Teo Xuanwei

'We will work hard to make sure it's sustainable'

In the past week, Mr K Shanmugam says, he has gotten "an overwhelming number of emails, posts on my Facebook Wall and letters of support" from animal lovers and "residents who support the spirit of civic engagement that is going into this project".

But there are also some who have expressed reservations over whether efforts to promote responsible cat ownership can be successful. The MP for Nee Soon GRC said, in response to Today's queries: "They are valid concerns, and we will have to work hard to make sure that the programme is sustainable."

On why Chong Pang is serving as the first test case for reviving the sterilisation-not-culling approach, Mr Shanmugam said he was approached by the Cat Welfare Society a few weeks ago through the Animal Concerns Research & Education Society, which he has helped for some years. They agreed on a pilot programme with the support of volunteers.

He revealed that there are those who want to extend the programme to managing stray dogs. "I think this is encouraging. We need to, however, make sure that we can deliver before expanding further."

Stop Pet Abandonment

Stop Pet Abandonment

June 25, 2011 at 9:18 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Last week, we picked up a really injured and old black Persian cat from the Pipit Road area. The wounds are serious and very infected. The feeder thought it was animal abuse inflicted by human as there’s an elderly lady in the area who always beat the cats with stick to the point of fracturing their limbs. After examining the wounds, it looked more like abuse inflicted by other community cats.

According to the feeder, this cat “Panda”, an abandon case, has been injured at least 2 – 3 times in the short period that he’s lived in the neighborhood. We realized that Panda has no temperament, despite being in so much pain when we were draining the pus from the abscess all over its face, chest and shoulder areas.

Unlike the myth that cats are feral nomadic creatures that can easily adapt to the environment, I want to STOP this myth. Abandoned house pets CANNOT survive outside and most have lost their instincts to fight for food and survival.

Panda is old, has flu, very thin and has wounds all over. And he was never sterilised by the previous owner! So irresponsible!

He is now on antibiotics to treat the infection and flu. I hope to appeal for any kind soul who can give Panda a home to live out his life. He’s not young, maybe around 10ish but he’s a beautiful black persian and will definitely look handsome with a good groom. Panda definitely cannot go back to the streets.

If you would like to help, please email Lynn at crystal.chakra@gmail.com

Panda with a Swollen Face

Pus oozing out of the infected wounds

Panda’s Album

Panda

Jun 25, 2011

Animal issues symptomatic of people problems

NATIONAL Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan's recent announcement of a review of policies towards the humane treatment of cats is a welcome one ('Culling stray cats not the way: Khaw'; June 4). As we fully engage on this issue as a society, we must recognise that animal issues are symptomatic of larger community and people-related issues.

Cat Welfare Society is a volunteer- run charity that believes in resolving issues in our community through the active participation of volunteers from the community.

Volunteers were there when a low-income family reached breaking point when they let three cats breed to 40 in their flat. They did not know how to ask for help for fear of being evicted or having their cats taken to be culled. Volunteers not only helped them sterilise and rehome their cats, but they also helped the family to seek financial and other assistance from social welfare.

Volunteers were there when there were complaints of cats defecating in corridors. They tracked down and counselled the cat owner who was not aware his cat was causing a nuisance in his block.

Volunteers were also there when an elderly man who lived alone had to be rushed to hospital leaving two cats at home. They allayed his worries about his cats until he could be reunited with them.

If animal issues could be resolved by simply removing the animals, we would not continue to face the same issues time and again. What does work is when there are active members in the community who work in tandem with town councils, even social services, to address the underlying community- and people-related issues manifesting in animal-related inconveniences.

On June 16, volunteers attended to an issue of chronic cat abandonment at a block of three-room flats in Eunos. In the course of their investigation, they encountered a mentally challenged middle-aged couple and an elderly cat feeder burdened by the abandonment.

There are those of us who feel that by paying taxes or donating to a charity, someone else will look into the social issues in our community. For the social workers and volunteers dealing head on with these issues, the burden is tremendous.

At some point, it is up to each and every one of us to do something for the people in our community with a need and make a difference.

Veron Lau (Ms)

Vice-President

Cat Welfare Society

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_683518.html

Jun 25, 2011

Animal abuse - the critical connection

THE animal welfare forum held over last weekend was a good first step towards raising awareness of animal cruelty and welfare issues in Singapore.

While focusing on animal welfare issues in isolation, the forum may have overlooked a pertinent yet critical point - the strong association between animal cruelty and human violence. This has serious implications for the effective development of animal welfare policies and practices going forward.

Over the past 40 years, there have been numerous research studies showing the connection between animal abuse and human violence. This connection was first documented in the 1970s when the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation found that many serial killers had tortured or killed animals when they were children.

A 1997 study by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University quantified that animal abusers were five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people than those without a history of animal abuse.

In fact, the American Psychiatric Association lists animal cruelty as a symptom of a serious psychological condition.

According to Dr Randall Lockwood of Washington University, it has become widely accepted that the mistreatment of animals can be an indicator of many other forms of family violence and ongoing abuse and neglect, including child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence and mistreatment of the disabled.

Dr Lockwood points out that a child's cruelty to animals can also indicate that he is at high risk of becoming a perpetrator of violence in society later, perpetuating the cruelties that he has experienced.

Therefore, we need to be especially attentive when a child tortures an animal or complains of his father mistreating his pet. These incidents can signal a higher risk of violence - within the child's household currently, and/or by the child when he becomes an adult.

Clearly, there are significant benefits to be reaped from early identification and intervention. Another positive is that animal abusers can be rehabilitated.

In line with this, Singaporean authorities urgently need to develop policies and practices that are collaborative and multi-disciplinary. Critical are cross-reporting and the attendant cooperation between a range of professionals, such as the police, child protection agencies, animal welfare agencies and veterinarians.

Equally, the police, the judiciary, the Government and schools need to regularly send out strong messages that the abuse of animals or humans will not be tolerated because any abuse endangers society as a whole.

Daisy Chee (Ms)

http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/do-cats-mourn/3328

Do Cats Mourn?

Jun 28th, 2009

by Pamela.

Do cats mourn their cat companions when they die? Do cats miss people who go away?

Definitely.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

After all, we have no doubt that cats can love us, and each other. With love, there is also the recognition of loss.

It was a long time ago now, when I picked up a cat magazine and read a letter from a woman who was confused and troubled. She had taken in her daughter’s pet cat after the daughter’s death. She asked about care; she had never had a cat before.

But in her questions about taking proper care of the cat was a bigger one; why did the cat hang around the boxes of her daughter’s things that she had stacked in her child’s old room, as yet unable to do anything about them?

When, moved by her loss, she had laid out her daughter’s favorite skirt on the bed; the cat had claimed it and spent a lot of time lying on it.

The magazine counseled sensible cat care tips; and suggested that the cat associated the familiar smells of the daughter’s things with comforting memories of their former home. Just as unspoken was what both the letter writer and the letter answerer knew was true; yet hesitated to put into words.

That the cat missed the daughter profoundly, and longed to be with her again. Very much as the mother did.

As someone with both academic training in psychology, and long experience observing cats, I understand when I make myself vulnerable to criticism for too much anthropomorphism. This is the practice of attributing human characteristics to animals; and is severely frowned upon by science.

It is true that this outlook can lead us down the wrong path; we can hesitate to alter our cats, decide to let them roam unsupervised, and be reluctant to interfere in how our cats shape their relationships with each other. All from a misplaced sense of how we would feel about having our reproductive, recreational, and relationship activities curtailed in such a way.

This is the wrong side of anthropomorphism; as wrong as wanting our cats to wear clothes or drive cars. Cats handled their own affairs in the wild. But they are not in the wild now. When they live with us, they are both happier and better cared for when we remove their hormonal influences, take steps to safeguard them in a World They Did Not Make, and monitor their cat companionship options for maximum harmony.

It might not be how the cat would decide in a theoretical perfect world. But in our present, imperfect world, these steps balance our cat’s autonomy with their happiness. As we all do.

So when I describe a cat’s actions as stemming from insecurity or grief, this is a simple observation that is just as supported as describing a cat’s actions from fear or panic; emotions scientists will attribute to animals without feeling that they are anthropromorphizing. They feel scientific about fear in animals because it is observable and the animal’s actions conform to a fear reaction.

So when I say cats feel grief, I’m doing the same thing. Cats seek out shared objects or experiences that remind them of the lost individual, they show signs of unhappiness after a loss, and they display distress when the passed on being’s name is mentioned.

Just as we do.

Cats don’t drive cars to find prey, or get upset about losing equipment they are not aware they have; such concerns are outside of the cat’s conceptual experience. While such speculations are funny in cat cartoons, it is because it is not normal for cats to think such things. It is a juxtaposition that is funny because it is absurd.

But some situations and feelings are shared by both cats and humans. Love, and loss, are two sides of the same coin. My concept of proper cat care is based on such “shared emotional money.”

Respect, consideration, empathy, intelligence, and how cause and effect work; these might be expressed differently by cats and humans, but they are concepts that are also shared by cats and humans.

So when we lose someone from the household, we should recognize that cats also feel it. Searching for the gone one when their name is mentioned, having digestive upsets, pacing and wailing, and lying around in a depressed funk are all ways cats express their grief.

We should discuss the situation with the cat as we would with a small child; simple expressions of how much we also miss the gone one, how circumstances made them unable to remain in the body we knew them in, and explaining how they might continue on in whatever way we believe to be so. We can tell our grieving cat that we love them and that we, and they, are not going to go away because of it.

Just as with a child, they might not understand everything we are saying. But they feel comforted by the effort we make towards reassurance.

Because it is reassurance, and grief is easier when it is shared. We don’t need to worry about whether they “understand.”

Because, after all, how well do we understand it, ourselves?

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more ways to understand our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on WHY CATS DO THAT.

Thanks for stopping by! Find me on Facebook. Sign up here and get the FREE eBook, Ten Cat Tricks (Every Human Should Know.)

6 Amazing Stories of Fatherly Cats

http://lovemeow.com/2011/06/6-amazing-stories-of-fatherly-cats/

Happy Father’s Day! These kitties have become wonderful cat “fathers” to many rescue and foster kittens. They took them under their wing and nurtured them like a father and a mother. Many of these surrogate cat fathers are rescues themselves. Caring for another animal in need is a way for them to give what they didn’t have as a kitten. These stories will surely give you fuzzies.

Dying Man's Final Wish to be Reunited With Dog

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Dying-Mans-Final-Wish-to-be-Reunited-With-Dog-124040304.html

Cat gets caught barking by a human and resumes meowing

Important to channel energy of animal lovers constructively

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1135879/1/.html
SINGAPORE: Mr K Shanmugam, Law and Foreign Affairs Minister and MP for Nee Soon GRC, has said it is important to channel the energy of animal lovers towards constructive and feasible solutions to resolve concerns over the treatment of animals.

He was speaking at a public forum on animal welfare policies, the first such forum in Singapore.

More than 400 animal lovers turned up at the event at Chong Pang on Saturday.

They suggested the setting up of Miami-styled "Animal Police", micro-chipping for both cats and dogs and mandatory caning for animal abusers.

Mr Shanmugam said education for the young and public engagement is "the way to go" for a successful animal welfare programme in Singapore.

Could this forum signal a sea change in animal welfare actions in Singapore?

"Something like this would have been unthinkable five years ago, but the fact that we have a forum, a full house, all the animal lovers are here, yes, it is a huge step forward," said a participant.

"I was told that Singaporeans (have) no compassion, no feelings, very materialistic, so I hope after this, more people will come forward..." said another.

Saturday's event also saw the launch of the Chong Pang Animal Welfare Programme to mark the end of cat culling in the constituency.

Apart from sterilising strays, local animal welfare group ACRES says it will be engaging residents. It will also work with schools to reach the youth.

ACRES director Louis Ng said: "We're going house to house, to all the residents here, explain to them the policy, explain to them why we're doing this, and hopefully they will support it."

Organisers - ACRES and the Cat Welfare Society - said Saturday's forum will not be a one-off event. They hope to replicate it at other constituencies.

- CNA/ir

No more culling of cats in Chong Pang

Daisy Chee writes on confronting animal cruelty

Hair Salon Community Cat

Human "wilful" nuisance

Spit in the lift.

Why cats should be allowed in HDB flats

A wonderfully-written commentary by Judith Tan on why cats should be allowed in HDB flats. Source: ST Interactive.

Imagine being pregnant your whole life.....

stop cruelty in puppy mills
adopt
don't buy

sgpuppies.com

Garpy, a handsome cat with a tipped ear

Christmas Laser Beam Cats

My Paper: News on Community Cats

http://www.mypaper.sg/

Living with pets may protect infants from allergies

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/13/pets.infants.allergies/index.html?&hpt=hp_c2

The Beautiful and The Vanishing

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102442416516097

Time	02 July · 13:00 - 17:00
Location	52 & 53 Duxton Road, The Pigeonhole
Created by:	Ave Chan
More info	On Saturday, 2 July 2011, The Pigeonhole (52 & 53 Duxton Road) will host The Beautiful and The Vanishing, the official launch of Our Kuching : the Vanishing Street Cats of Singapore by Jon Boon and Teoh Swee Leng and endorsed by the Cat Welfare Society (“CWS”). The event starts at 1.00 pm and will feature a catless adoption drive and talks by the CWS and Furry Photos. ================ The brainchild of graphic designer Jon Boon, the 128-page book is a labour of love in celebration of the beauty and resilience of the Singapore street cat. Jon Boon shot the images and spearheaded the layout and design, while editor Swee Leng helped to refine the concept of the book, wrote the captions, and helped put the publication together. The Beautiful and The Vanishing will feature a catless adoption drive, with images of cats up for adoption under the aegis of the CWS. It is hoped that, besides introducing Our Kuching to the public, the launch will also raise awareness of cat-related issues, and hopefully even serve as a bridge between the gentle, beautiful strays of our Singapore streets and families that have room for a loving feline companion. Through Our Kuching, the duo hopes to improve popular perceptions of the common street cats. “I hope this book will go some way in debunking negative stereotypes about cats, because they are misunderstood on so many levels. Hopefully, greater exposure to street cats, even in pictorial form, will start the process for greater acceptance and understanding,” says Swee Leng. According to Jon Boon, “When people start to realise how beautiful our cats are, and as a result, give them a chance to live and roam free with us, I think the book would have done its part.” Jon Boon and Swee Leng are ex-colleagues and fellow cat lovers – Swee Leng has 3 cats, all rescues (Nims, 7 years, Guy, 3 years and Oreo, 9 months), while Jon Boon’s adoption efforts with CWS are still in progress. A portion of the proceeds of all books sold at the launch will be donated to CWS. The Pigeonhole boasts a diverse variety of old, second-hand and rare books on topics ranging from religion to popular culture to botany to politics. Apart from an eclectic array of exciting arts programmes devoted to local independent art and music, the Pigeonhole also serves aromatic espresso, delectable desserts and a globetrotting range of whiskies, wines, ciders and lagers. The Pigeonhole is proud and honoured to support the good work of local homegrown NGOs and non-profit organizations. For more information: Jon Boon secondmousebooks@gmail.com Teoh Swee Leng messagemake@yahoo.com Our Kuching (on Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Our-Kuching-the-Vanishing-Street-Cats-of-Singapore/128585003869080 Cat Welfare Society http://www.catwelfare.org/ Furry Photos http://furry-photos.com/

Professional cat trappers

Thoughts on the HDB rule

http://catsandstuff.blogspot.com/2011/06/thoughts-on-hdb-rule.html

Finally after all these years, there's a chance that the HDB rule banning cats in flats may be overturned. That and the fact that the SCRS may be brought back is certainly cause for celebration.

I've heard from some people that they are concerned that a change in the rule might not help community cats - that in fact, people might run out and buy more pedigree cats and that more breeders will come in and fill that demand. I don't believe that this will happen. Will some people go and buy cats? Undoubtedly. Will some breeders and pet shop owners try and sell more cats? Again, this will certainly happen. However I don't believe this is going to be a big issue.

The thing is - most people aren't really aware of the ruling at all. I still hear from many people that they are shocked to learn that living with a cat (or cats) in HDB flats is illegal. They were never aware of this to begin with. I doubt that a change in the rule will therefore lead to an exodus of people rushing out to buy pedigrees.

What does a change in the ruling actually mean then? Two very important things. One, that if you are a responsible pet owner that you no longer have to live in fear. You will not need to worry that you could be fined or worse, to lose your flat.

Two, that the Town Councils will now have a real weapon in their arsenal to deal with irresponsible cat owners. We all know that irresponsible owners exist - it's just that for years there has been no way to effectively deal with them. A change in the rule will allow for this. As we all know, an irresponsible pet owner has LESS chance of being caught under the rule because they can always allow the cat to wander and claim it is not their cat. Responsible cats owners on the other hand, who keep their cats indoors at all times, are more likely to fall afoul of the rule. A change in the rule will mean that caregivers, TCs and the HDB can work together and focus their attention on those people who are irresponsible instead of penalising anyone who owns a cat, no matter how responsible they are.

After all these years and after all the work of SPCA and CWS (and having met four different Ministers and writing three different proposals on this issue), one has to wonder if all it took was the right person in the right position. It makes me a little sad to think that this possible change in the rules may have had nothing to do with the merit of the arguments. If so, this discriminatory rule would have been overturned years ago.

On the other hand, it's quite possible that the recent general elections have played a huge part in this change. It seems that the authorities are really listening to what people are saying.

So if this rule does change (and I am really hopeful that it will), the people who deserve a huge pat on the backs are all of you. All the caregivers who went out and sterilised, managed and mediated tirelessly are the ones who made a huge difference. I notice that more and more cats now are already sterilised and without dedicated caregivers, this would never have happened. I am sure that it has not gone unnoticed how caregivers are giving back to their estates.

There are another group of people who have been instrumental in bringing about change - all of you, who wrote to your MPs, who went to Meet the Peoples Sessions, who called, turned up and made the point that you are responsible Singaporeans whose cats are part of your lives. You let your MPs know that you are prepared to stand up and be counted and to give back to the community. It is YOUR voices that have been heard - or how else would the Ministers have realised that this was something that many Singaporeans care about? No society or welfare group can bring about a sea change without the support and voices of people - and you deserve a huge round of applause for getting all of us to this stage.

Now let's work together to make sure that this rule is changed. Please write to your MPs and the Ministers in charge at khawbw@mnd.gov.sg and tanchuanjin@mnd.gov.sg (or post on their facebook pages here and here) and let them know that it's important to change this rule and relegate it to the history books!

Posted by Dawn at 9:55 PM

No culling of stray cats for Chong Pang

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_676769.html

Why Cats, Dogs and the Environment Matter...

https://www.facebook.com/notes/tan-chuan-jin/why-cats-dogs-and-the-environment-matter/203483016361148

Why Cats, Dogs and the Environment Matter...

by Tan Chuan-Jin on Sunday, 05 June 2011 at 13:12

Some have asked me why are we taking this up when there are so many other things to sort out.

Its not about the animals. Nor is it just about the environment (which is something I am also looking at). It is about the society we want to build. Some of you have shared -

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." --Ghandi.

Does this mean we stop worrying about other issues? Addressing these doesn't mean the rest of the work isn't done. Far from it.

My colleagues and I are fully aware of the many needs we need to cater to and indeed, the many things to be addressed. We discuss this weekly at Cabinet and within our Ministries. Things that we are able to move quickly we do. In other areas, we need to spend more time because there are different ramifications. The issues are seldom purely black and white. I realise that the expectations are there but as I have said before, things take time and we want to do it right.

FTs and FWs is one such topic. In fact, as I read your various posts and listen to my residents, I see a few key themes:

- Living space: too many too quickly, over-representation in particular areas

- Fairness and opportunity for our own Singaporeans at the workplace (including discrimination against our own), housing, schools

- Are we bringing in the right types of FTs and FWs

- Better information to be made available

- Local and small SMEs are finding it difficult as we have tightened up foreign supply

etc

Housing:

- Prices, availability of both normal flats and rentals

- Eligibility...young couples, singles, divorcees, low income groups, elderly

- Design considerations

etc

'Singaporeans First' is another key theme that surfaces.

As I have explained. We are looking at these issues. There are also many many ongoing matters that continue to be done because we need to keep our country going. They may not be on the radar screen but doesn't mean they are not important. Many many things work here. Not always perfectly but it helps provide us a good and stable environment for us and our families. We cannot slacken in these areas.

Which brings me to our cats, dogs and environment.

When we begin to care for different aspects in society, we will begin to grow as a people. What distinguishes us as humans is our capacity to love, care and respect. Which is why such avenues, be it with animals, our environment, and indeed with fellow humans...caring for the less privileged in society, respecting elders and being there for them in their twilight years...the spirit of volunteerism and to be involved... are critical in the building of our nation, and the forging of our heart and soul.

Not everything is an economic digit. Some of the most important things in life cannot be quantified.

At the end of it all, it is about us and the society we want to build for our children.

Facebook: "I am an HDB Cat Owner."

https://www.facebook.com/hdbcatowner

About	We are responsible cat owners and proud of it!

Description

Minister Khaw Boon Wan has expressed his stand that culling cats is not the way to go. He believes a more humane approach is possible if responsible owners spay their cats. (The Straits Times, June 4 2011) He has sought Minister of State Tan Chuan-Jin to work out a compassionate and mature approach towards the stray cats problem. This includes the related issue of the current HDB regulations forbidding the keeping of cats. This is welcomed news. So cat owners, there is no more reason to hide. It is time to show HDB what it means to be a responsible cat owner. A responsible HDB cat owner 1) sterilises their pet cats 2) keeps pet cats indoors 3) takes effective measures to secure the safety of cats in high-rise flats If you own cats and aren't doing the above, what are you waiting for? The well-being of cats in Singapore now depends on you. (read less)

Website	http://www.catwelfare.org

#GingerFury Kitty Kung Fu

Cat in a Basket