Kitten reportedly put in container in Tuas now adopted, NParks ‘investigating incident thoroughly'
The incident took place in a workers' canteen at Tech Park Crescent in Tuas on the night of March 26, between 9.45pm and 10.30pm. PHOTO: SPCA SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE - A kitten that was allegedly stuffed into a plastic container and rolled around in Tuas has been adopted, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on June 27.
In an updated statement, the board said it is 'investigating the incident thoroughly, and appropriate action will be taken if any wrongdoing is established'.
'We have visited the premises and are in contact with the relevant persons. We were informed that the cat has since been adopted, and we will be checking on its well-being,' said NParks' group director for enforcement and investigation Jessica Kwok in a statement.
'We thank SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Singapore for alerting us to this case.'
The incident
The incident took place in a workers' canteen at Tech Park Crescent in Tuas on the night of March 26, between 9.45pm and 10.30pm, the SPCA said in a June 23 Facebook post on the incident.
An informant, a colleague of the suspected abuser, told the SPCA that the kitten had been placed inside a plastic container and rolled around repeatedly.
SPCA's inspectors conducted an unannounced inspection on April 1, during which they were told that the cat had since been released as it was a community animal, the organisation added in the Facebook post.
SPCA was also told that the worker involved was given a stern warning.
However, a manager there declined to show any CCTV footage or facilitate further investigation, said SPCA, prompting it to refer the matter to the Animal and Veterinary Service – a cluster within NParks.
In a statement on June 26, NParks said it had been alerted to the incident and is looking into the matter.
Cat abuses
According to SPCA's statistics, 220 of 453 reported animal abuse cases in 2024 involved cats, making them the most frequently abused animal species in Singapore.
The types of abuse include physical harm, inhumane trapping, hit-and-run incidents, intentional injury or killing, the use of aversive training methods and abandonment.
Under Singapore's Animals and Birds Act, first-time offenders found guilty of animal cruelty can be jailed for up to 18 months, fined up to $15,000, or both. Repeat offenders may be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $30,000, or both.
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