Man jailed for 16 weeks after abandoning 71 cats in Bukit Panjang

Muhammad Khairul Naim Zainol has been sentenced to 16 weeks in jail for abandoning 71 cats in a Bukit Panjang HDB flat. He pleaded guilty to 24 charges of permitting unnecessary pain and suffering to the animals under the Animals and Birds Act, with an additional 47 charges taken into consideration. He was also disqualified from owning animals for 12 months.

The neglect occurred over nearly two years after Khairul and his then-wife moved out of the residence in April 2022. During this time, the flat's electricity and water were disconnected due to unpaid bills. While Khairul claimed he returned to provide food and water, he eventually stopped entering the unit.

The situation was discovered in February 2024 after a distressed, underweight cat was found on an air-conditioning ledge. Upon investigation by the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) and police, authorities found 61 live cats and the remains of nine deceased cats inside the severely unhygienic unit. A total of 62 surviving cats were recovered.