A 37-year-old man named Muhammad Khairul Naim Zainol was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison on September 23, 2026, after abandoning dozens of cats in a Housing Board flat for nearly two years. The National Parks Board confirmed that the court also issued an order disqualifying him from owning any animals for a period of 12 months. The accused pleaded guilty to 24 charges of permitting unnecessary pain and suffering to the cats under the Animals and Birds Act, while an additional 47 charges were taken into consideration during the sentencing process. Legal proceedings for his co-accused and former wife, Nurul Nadiah Noor Mohamed, remain pending and are scheduled to be heard in court on October 6, 2026.
The situation originated in March 2018 when the couple purchased a Housing Board flat located at Block 469 along Segar Road in Bukit Panjang. At the time of moving in, they did not own any pets. However, beginning in early 2019, the pair acquired several cats. Because the animals were left unsterilised, they began to breed uncontrollably inside the residential unit. Despite attempts by the couple to rehome some of the offspring, the feline population within the flat continued to increase rapidly.
Around April 2022, the couple moved out of the Bukit Panjang unit to reside with the man's parents. Although intended as a temporary living arrangement, it became long-term. A few months following their departure, the electricity and water utilities to the flat were disconnected due to unpaid bills. The accused claimed he initially returned to the flat daily to leave dry food and water. However, as gaining access to the interior became increasingly difficult, he resorted to leaving supplies at the doorstep. He last entered the interior of the flat in December 2023, though he returned to place food outside the door on February 20, 2024.
On the morning of February 20, 2024, the Animal and Veterinary Service received a report concerning a distressed and malnourished cat spotted on the unit's exterior air-conditioning ledge. Neighbours living on the floor below rescued the animal before it was brought to a veterinary clinic. Later that afternoon, Animal and Veterinary Service officers and police officers conducted a joint inspection of the unit after receiving reports regarding a strong foul odor emanating from the flat.
Upon entering, officers uncovered a severely unsanitary and uninhabitable environment. The floors and furniture were heavily caked in excrement and dirt, while decomposing carcasses, cobwebs, cockroaches, and flies were present throughout the unit. A strong ammonia odor filled the flat due to the accumulation of organic waste. Officers discovered 61 live cats inside the unit alongside three cat carcasses, six skulls, and a bag containing the skeletal remains of at least six cats. Including the cat rescued from the air-conditioning ledge, a total of 62 live cats were recovered. Nine of the cats ultimately died as a result of the prolonged neglect.
An official veterinary report by the National Parks Board revealed that all 61 surviving cats experienced substantial physical distress and suffering. Most were thin or emaciated, severely dehydrated, skittish, and suffering from generalised hair loss due to parasitic infestations. Due to the complete absence of a clean water supply inside the flat, officers observed cats drinking contaminated water from a toilet bowl. The report noted that forced over-concentration in a confined space deprived the animals of adequate food and water while causing chronic stress. Under the Animals and Birds Act, causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal carries a maximum penalty of up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine of up to 15,000 dollars, or both per charge.
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