Cat with fractured pelvis rescued by SPCA days after fall from Lower Delta Road flat, owner initially declined help
A cat with serious injuries was rescued by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) after falling from a sixth-floor flat.
Stomper Linda, a community cat feeder, told Stomp she was alerted on May 31 to a video of the injured cat, believed to have fallen from Block 48 Lower Delta Road.
In the clip, neighbours can be heard asking, "Whose cat is this, please?" while a child is seen handling a collar that had come off during the fall.
The cat was seen panting and bleeding from its mouth.
"I rushed down after receiving the video and was informed that the cat had been returned to its owner," said Linda.
"However, I was told by witnesses that an animal ambulance had initially been called but was turned away because the owner said they could not afford treatment."
Linda added that she and others continued offering help to take the cat to a vet, but their offers were declined.
Concerned that the cat had still not received veterinary care after the incident, Linda reported the case to both the SPCA and the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS).
She also highlighted potential high-rise safety risks in the household that she had observed when she went down.
"The kitchen windows are not meshed and are only covered by curtains," she said.
"The front doors are also not fully meshed.
"I saw other cats in the unit and I worry for their safety."
"I hope the injured cat is not returned to the owner, and that Cat Welfare Society and the authorities assess the home environment for the remaining cats."
In response to a Stomp query, Ms Aarthi Sankar, executive director of SPCA, said the organisation was alerted to the case on June 8.
"According to the feedback provider, the cat was first discovered by a neighbour on May 31 and was suspected to have fallen from a higher floor," Ms Sankar said.
"The cat was subsequently reunited with her owner. Due to concerns that the cat might not be receiving veterinary treatment, the feedback provider and neighbour reported the case to the SPCA, after having made several attempts to speak with the owner and check on the cat.
"Our SPCA inspectors made a home visit on June 9 and the owner agreed to handover their cat to the SPCA for treatment.
"Following physical examination by our vets, the cat was found to have a pelvic fracture, which rendered her hind legs immobile and interfered with her ability to urinate and defecate.
"Her bladder was so swollen from accumulated urine that it would have amounted to a life-threatening situation if she had not received medical attention when she did.
"During the home visit, the owner explained that their cat had fallen from height on an earlier occasion and recovered without treatment, hence their decision to not seek veterinary care in the recent incident.
"Our SPCA inspectors advised the owner on meshing up their home securely to prevent any more falls, and will follow up with them to ensure the meshing has been done."
SPCA said the case has been escalated to AVS for further action.
Ms Jessica Kwok, National Parks Board's (NParks) group director of enforcement and investigation, confirmed with Stomp that NParks was alerted by SPCA to the case and that investigations are ongoing.
"The cat is currently receiving treatment at SPCA," Ms Kwok said.
Linda, who hopes this serves as a reminder to other cat owners, urged: "Please mesh your windows and doors. One fall is all it takes. Every cat's life matters."
