Latest news with #JANETCHIN
New Paper
22-05-2025
- General
- New Paper
Stylish cat 'cottages' a labour of love for Chong Pang resident
Whenever heavy rains lash across the island, a handful of stray cats in Yishun are able to stay warm, cosy and safe from the deluge. But you won't find them in somebody's home at such times. Instead, they can be found in charming, handcrafted shelters with sturdy legs, dotted around parts of the estate. The shelters or "cat cottages" are the handiwork of Chong Pang resident Janet Chin, 54. For the last three years, she has been blending her love for animals with arts and crafts, by transforming scrapped cardboard boxes into whimsical homes. The idea, she said, came to her one rainy day, when she began thinking about how stray cats that lacked proper shelter often sought refuge in precarious locations - under parked cars and other such spots - to escape the elements. "That was when I started to think of doing a cat house." The first ones she made were crafted out of plain cardboard boxes covered with a dry towel - a set-up that, she admits, was "ugly". The round legs add some elevation to the cottages, helping to prevent them from getting wet on rainy days. PHOTO: JANET CHIN She then set out to "beautify" the make-shift cottages, beginning with the addition of water-resistant wallpaper, taken from her personal stash of crafting materials - leftovers from a home decor project for her living room. She sources for leftover cardboard from grocers or supermarkets, or opts for recycled materials, including the plastic containers used for cat treats. Eventually, she cut out windows in the boxes and added planters and other fixtures like chimneys - a cottage in miniature. She cut out windows in the boxes and added planters and other fixtures. PHOTO: JANET CHIN "It became a little addictive. The more I made, the more fulfilling it felt," said Ms Chin, a sales consultant in the bedding industry. Soon, her hobby started eating into her lunch breaks and days off work. In three years, she has built close to 100 cat cottages, she said. Whether embellished with cut-outs or framed by cobblestone walls, each shelter has its own distinct character, sometimes decorated to reflect the spirit of seasonal festivities. For instance, a cottage could be festooned with snowflakes and cutouts of a Christmas tree during the holiday season, or adorned with spring festival couplets and Chinese knots for Lunar New Year celebrations. Each shelter has its own distinct character, sometimes decorated to reflect the spirit of seasonal festivities. PHOTO: JANET CHIN Eventually, Ms Chin began putting up photos of her cottages on the Facebook group Sayang Our Singapore's Community Cats. One such post drew over 200 reactions, with netizens thanking her for her "lovely gestures" and "kindness". She then started getting requests from cat lovers keen on helping stray cats get their own shelters, marking her foray into the cat cottage "build-to-order" market. Often, the requests are for replicas of cottages she has built before. "I want the KFC house," one cat lover said to Ms Chin. The KFC house, modelled after a popular chain selling fried chicken, is part of a series of cat cottages she built that are modelled after fast-food eateries. Her most recent request came from a resident in Braddell, who wanted six houses. The KFC house, modelled after a popular chain selling fried chicken, is part of a series of cat cottages she built that are modelled after fast-food eateries. PHOTO: JANET CHIN Caregivers reminded to maintain hygiene standards When asked if she gets paid for her work, she said she does not charge for her work but sometimes asks for a small donation. Ms Chin said what she is doing is not a commercial venture. Donations she gets are used to cover veterinary and cremation fees for neighbourhood strays. Often, the people who cough up money for these expenses are seniors in the neighbourhood - cat lovers who also help feed the strays. All that she asks is that the people who buy a cat cottage take responsibility for maintaining the shelters they leave out for the cats. She said: "I don't want people to just ask for one cat house and leave it there. They are not the caregivers for the cats, so they just leave the cat house along the public spaces without maintaining its cleanliness." In response to queries, Ms Li Jiehui, senior community engagement manager at the Cat Welfare Society, said that while the shelters "are a welcome respite for some of our community cats", residents should also "display (their) care in a responsible fashion". These shelters should be placed away from human traffic areas and hygiene standards should be maintained, she said. Ms Chin said she takes pride in designing cat cottages designed to suit the occupant's personalities and needs. Sociable felines may receive larger homes - up to 1m long - to accommodate room-mates, while more reserved ones get smaller, cosier versions. Sociable felines may get to share their larger homes measuring up to 1m long. PHOTO: JANET CHIN Each shelter is equipped with at least two access points, allowing the cats to flee if the need arises. Perhaps the most thoughtful touch - fresh, dry towels, which Ms Chin replaces when she gets the time. Ms Chin, who is married with no children, said she believes the homes add colour and vibrancy to the neighbourhood. They are also help spark conversations among residents, and help them see stray cats in a more positive light, she added. Said Ms Chin: "They are a part of our community, they have a house, they have a caregiver. They are taken care of. They are not simply dirty cats."
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Stylish cat ‘cottages' a labour of love for Chong Pang resident
For the last three years, Janet Chin has been transforming scrapped cardboard boxes into whimsical homes for stray cats in Yishun. PHOTOS: JANET CHIN SINGAPORE - Whenever heavy rains lash across the island, a handful of stray cats in Yishun are able to stay warm, cosy and safe from the deluge. But you won't find them in somebody's home at such times. Instead, they can be found in charming, handcrafted shelters with sturdy legs, dotted around parts of the estate. The shelters or 'cat cottages' are the handiwork of Chong Pang resident Janet Chin , 54. For the last three years , she has been blending her love for animals with arts and crafts, by transforming scrapped cardboard boxes into whimsical homes. The idea, she said, came to her one rainy day, when she began thinking about how stray cats that lacked proper shelter often sought refuge in precarious locations - under parked cars and other such spots - to escape the elements. 'That was when I started to think of doing a cat house.' The first ones she made were crafted out of plain cardboard boxes covered with a dry towel - a set-up that, she admits, was 'ugly'. The round legs add some elevation to the cottages, helping to prevent them from getting wet on rainy days. PHOTO: JANET CHIN She then set out to 'beautify' the make-shift cottages, beginning with the addition of water-resistant wallpaper, taken from her personal stash of crafting materials - leftovers from a home decor project for her living room. She sources for leftover cardboard from grocers or supermarkets, or opts for recycled materials, including the plastic containers used for cat treats. Eventually, she cut out windows in the boxes and added planters and other fixtures like chimneys - a cottage in miniature. She cut out windows in the boxes and added planters and other fixtures. PHOTO: JANET CHIN 'It became a little addictive. The more I made , the more fulfilling it felt,' said Ms Chin, a sales consultant in the bedding industry. Soon, her hobby started eating into her lunch breaks and days off work. In three years, she has built close to 100 cat cottages, she said. Whether embellished with cut-outs or framed by cobblestone walls, each shelter has its own distinct character, sometimes decorated to reflect the spirit of seasonal festivities. For instance, a cottage could be festooned with snowflakes and cutouts of a Christmas tree during the holiday season, or adorned with spring festival couplets and Chinese knots for Lunar New Year celebrations. Each shelter has its own distinct character, sometimes decorated to reflect the spirit of seasonal festivities. PHOTO: JANET CHIN Eventually, Ms Chin began putting up photos of her cottages on the Facebook group Sayang Our Singapore's Community Cats. One such post drew over 200 reactions, with netizens thanking her for her 'lovely gestures' and 'kindness'. She then started getting requests from cat lovers keen on helping stray cats get their own shelters, marking her foray into the cat cottage 'build-to-order' market. Often, the requests are for replicas of cottages she has built before. 'I want the KFC house,' one cat lover said to Ms Chin. The KFC house, modelled after a popular chain selling fried chicken, is part of a series of cat cottages she built that are modelled after fast-food eateries. Her most recent request came from a resident in Braddell, who wanted six houses. The KFC house, modelled after a popular chain selling fried chicken, is part of a series of cat cottages she built that are modelled after fast-food eateries. PHOTO: JANET CHIN Caregivers reminded to maintain hygiene standards When asked if she gets paid for her work, she said she does not charge for her work but sometimes asks for a small donation. Ms Chin said what she is doing is not a commercial venture. Donations she gets are used to cover veterinary and cremation fees for neighbourhood strays. Often, the people who cough up money for these expenses are seniors in the neighbourhood - cat lovers who also help feed the strays. All that she asks is that the people who buy a cat cottage take responsibility for maintaining the shelters they leave out for the cats. She said: 'I don't want people to just ask for one cat house and leave it there. They are not the caregivers for the cats, so they just leave the cat house along the public spaces without maintaining its cleanliness.' In response to queries, Ms Li Jiehui, senior community engagement manager at the Cat Welfare Society, said that while the shelters 'are a welcome respite for some of our community cats', residents should also 'display (their) care in a responsible fashion'. These shelters should be placed away from human traffic areas and hygiene standards should be maintained, she said. Ms Chin said she takes pride in designing cat cottages designed to suit the occupant's personalities and needs. Sociable felines may receive larger homes - up to 1m long - to accommodate room-mates, while more reserved ones get smaller, cosier versions. Sociable felines may get to share their larger homes measuring up to 1m long. PHOTO: JANET CHIN Each shelter is equipped with at least two access points, allowing the cats to flee if the need arises. Perhaps the most thoughtful touch - fresh, dry towels, which Ms Chin replaces when she gets the time. Ms Chin, who is married with no children, said she believes the homes add colour and vibrancy to the neighbourhood. They are also help spark conversations among residents, and help them see stray cats in a more positive light, she added. Said Ms Chin: 'They are a part of our community, they have a house, they have a caregiver. They are taken care of. They are not simply dirty cats.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Why we should be concerned when animals are abused
A community cat feeder at a makeshift memorial for King Kong the cat, who was brutally killed earlier in May. PHOTOS: JANET CHIN Why we should be concerned when animals are abused SINGAPORE - In the wake of the brutal killings of two community cats in May, some members of the public are echoing a question posed by Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam after the first incident: What kind of person would do this? In a January report, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said there were 961 confirmed reports of animal abuse involving some 2,190 animals in 2024. The figure is a 12-year high and means an average of six animals were subjected to suffering or death each day in Singapore last year. SPCA's first full report on the state of animal cruelty and welfare in Singapore also revealed that more than half of these cases involved cats, with 1,330 cases, or 60.7 per cent. The numbers have some mental health experts concerned. Dr Annabelle Chow, principal clinical psychologist at Annabelle Psychology , said: 'At a moral level, these acts are appalling and reflective of a disregard for the suffering of sentient beings. They suggest that animals are perceived to be less worthy of compassion or protection. Helplines Mental well-being Institute of Mental Health's Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp) Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 Women's Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) Counselling Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366 We Care Community Services: 3165-8017 Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990 Online resources (for those aged 13 to 25) (for those aged 12 to 25) 'Beyond morality, there are serious psychological and societal implications.' Dr Lim Boon Leng, a private psychiatrist from Dr BL Lim Centre for Psychological Wellness said that such cases of animal abuse and cruelty are a 'worrying red flag'. 'We should be very concerned, especially when the acts go beyond mere neglect or impulsive aggression and take on a calculated, brutal nature,' said Dr Lim. 'The sheer level of cruelty inflicted - mutilation, repeated injuries, or killing with intent - often correlates with deeper psychological disturbance. 'Such behaviour isn't just anti-social; it may reflect entrenched callousness, sadism, or a lack of empathy so profound that it borders on psychopathy.' Animal cruelty at a young age is a warning sign for future interpersonal violence, both Dr Chow and Dr Lim said, citing the Violence Graduation Hypothesis , which assumes a direct causal link between animal cruelty and interpersonal aggression. Youth who abuse animals are also at an increased risk of harming peers, family members, and others later in life, Dr Chow said. For them, such behaviours may be driven by curiosity, a desire to gain peer approval, or even a desire to attract attention. If left unaddressed, these behaviours may escalate and contribute to wider societal harm. In clinical terms, the severity of violence is often a more telling indicator of risk than frequency alone, Dr Lim added - someone who goes out of their way to inflict prolonged suffering on an animal is far more likely to escalate, or already be engaging in, other harmful behaviours such as emotional abuse, coercive control, or violence toward vulnerable individuals. 'In Singapore's context, societal constraints (legal, cultural, and communal) may inhibit escalation to violence against people. But inhibition isn't rehabilitation,' said Dr Lim. 'The underlying pathology may fester and be expressed in less visible but still damaging forms: emotional abuse, coercive control in relationships, or domestic violence.' The internet normalising disturbing content may also feed such behaviour. Both Dr Lim and Dr Chow agreed that the shock value of such brutal killings attract attention and increasingly desensitise viewers to such violence over time. This creates a 'distorted feedback loop', says Dr Chow: The more shocking the act, the more engagement it garners on social media through likes, shares, and comments, and as conversational topics. For some perpetrators, this visibility can feel like validation or recognition, negatively reinforcing the continuation of such behaviour. What should I do if I think someone I know is an animal abuser? 'Firstly, if there is an immediate danger to an animal, we should take steps to protect it,' said Dr Lim. 'We must never minimise it or rationalise animal abuse away. It is never 'just a phase', a joke or a way to vent anger. The potential of an underlying psychiatric disorder and escalation of interpersonal violence is real.' Not all perpetrators will become violent offenders, he said. But when one sees a level of cruelty that involves planning, enjoyment, or symbolic intent, such as targeting specific animals or repeating the act, it is often a red flag of a much more disturbed inner world. 'These are not simply 'troubled youths' or 'people having a bad day',' said Dr Lim. He added that parents who observe their children mistreating animals should be concerned, as it may be indicative of underlying emotional distress and may be a reflection of the child's difficult or even abusive environment. 'When such behaviour is noticed, it's vital to approach the individual with compassion, seeking to understand the motivation rather than reacting with anger,' he said, suggesting beneficial steps such as fostering open dialogue and taking the individual to counselling or therapy. While animal cruelty must be taken seriously, responses should balance accountability with understanding, said Dr Chow, adding that in such cases, it is never just about the act itself, but about what lies underneath: a breakdown in empathy, in self-regulation, sometimes in human connection. To effectively mitigate the issue of animal abuse, Dr Chow said that addressing root causes is essential in preventing recurrence and creating meaningful change in the lives of perpetrators, as well as society. She also believes that the wider community's response to both incidents reflects something hopeful. 'These incidents show us where those breakdowns exist,' she said. 'But they also show us what we still hold on to. When people speak up, when communities organise, when strangers come together around a shared cause, that's not just a reaction. It's a reflection of who we are.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
