It is rare, in my experience of reading about cat hoarders, for a cat hoarder to seek help. In order to seek help you need to be able to observe and assess your behaviour objectively. Cat hoarders tend to find this difficult perhaps because they are so totally wrapped up in their behaviour that they find it impossible to step back and observe what they’re doing. Or perhaps they are able to see what they’re doing but through guilt and shame are unable to seek help because that would be an admission of their failure and poor behaviour.
This Singapore resident (named as “Tldr”) overcame those barriers and sought help. Through a lack of experience and sensible management she ended up with 40 cats in what appears to be a fairly normal residence judging by the photograph on this page. It is a quietly shocking photograph.
Normally, cat hoarding homes are a complete mess. They are diabolical but in this instance we see what would otherwise be a fairly normal kitchen littered with domestic cats and some of them don’t look that well.
In fact, I’m sure that some of them are not well at all because they were breeding in an uncontrolled way and the kittens being created were dying and then being eaten by the adult cats. That is how it is reported. Clearly the lady did not consider spaying and neutering which is how the problem rapidly deteriorates and things get out of control.
It’s interesting to note that she appears to have been the sole family provider because her husband is visually impaired. Her daughter is at primary school and the coronavirus pandemic caused her to lose her job. Perhaps it was the loss of her job which was the final straw; the point at which she decided to seek help. She simply couldn’t make ends meet and providing for 40 cats is expensive. No doubt she was unable to provide for them adequately which is the reason why some became unhealthy. The report says that she first approached a “community feeder”. I’m going to presume that this means a person involved in TNR of feral cats which includes feeding them. That person appears to have contacted a local animal rescue organisation who have an Instagram page where the picture on this page is posted (I enhanced it a little).
The rescue group say that they have to take the cats to their rescue centres or foster carers in batches because of the high number and process them in that way. It means spaying and neutering plus dealing with their medical problems. The sterilisation will be carried out by Cat Welfare Society who will provide a free service. They couldn’t cope with all the cats and therefore referred some of them onto another organisation called Animal & Veterinary Service.
The cat rescue organisation claims that there has been media interference which has made matters worse. I’m not sure what that means – possibly trolling on social media. They are seeking donations. I believe that their Instagram page is called Cats of Anchor Vale – catsofanchorvale. If by chance somebody from Singapore reads this and wants to help, please contact them via their Instagram homepage from which they can go to a donations page.
Instagram post
Note: I can’t guarantee that this will be here for the long term future because the rescue group may close eventually and close their Instagram account as well.
This is so sad, especially the trolling part. It’s wonderful that she sought help, but wonder how many of these cats can be saved. Singapore is not known for cat welfare. So glad there are at least a couple organizations that are willing to step up. 40 cats? Bless this woman for trying to help, but here’s the perfect example of why spay/neuter is so important. Wishing everyone the best in this scenario.