S'pore man, 37, abandons 71 cats in flat for nearly 2 years, leading to 9 deaths
He was sentenced to four months' jail.
In March 2018, a Singaporean man named Muhammad Khairul Naim bin Zainol, then 37, and his ex-wife purchased a flat in Bukit Panjang. They proceeded to acquire several cats, which they did not sterilize, leading to an uncontrollable population growth. Around April 2022, the couple moved out and left the cats in the unit, which was in a severely neglected state due to the lack of proper care and supervision.
By February 2024, the police and the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) were alerted to the deteriorating conditions of the unit. Upon inspection, they found over 60 cats suffering from severe neglect, dehydration, hair loss, and various diseases. Nine cats tragically died during this period. Khairul, who was aware of the unsanitary conditions, claimed he visited the unit daily to provide food and water, but this was insufficient for the number of cats present.
He pleaded guilty to 24 charges for allowing the unnecessary suffering of 24 cats and faced a four-month jail sentence and a ban from owning animals for 12 months. The unit was found to be in a state of severe deterioration, with decomposing carcasses, pests, and poor ventilation, making it an unsuitable environment for the cats.
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