STRAY cats may not matter to most people, but one family in Aljunied is willing to pay $4,000 to catch those responsible for the abuse of three strays in Pasir Ris.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Cat Welfare Society have also offered $1,000 each for information that can lead to a prosecution in the case, bringing the total reward to $6,000.

Ms Deirdre Moss, executive officer for SPCA, said: 'We're very touched that the Aljunied family, which has requested anonymity, has come forward to top up the reward by $4,000.'

On 2 May, two bleeding kittens and a mother cat suffering from chemical burns were found at Block 253 Pasir Ris Street 21 by a resident.

Both the SPCA and the police were called in.

Mr Ananth Thirunauckarasu, 25, animal handling officer for SPCA, received the call at 9.20pm. When he arrived, he found the kittens dead, with blood coming out of their mouths.

He said: 'There were patches of blood on the floor. The mother cat was alive but struggling a lot.

'Its uncontrolled movement looked like it was having fits.'

Nearby was a broken brown glass bottle which was labelled 'thinner'. After quickly taking pictures, MrAnanth rushed the cat to a veterinarian.

MEWING IN PAIN

During the journey, the cat kept mewing in pain.

Mr Ananth, who has been with SPCA for more than two years, said: 'I felt sad to see the cat suffering like that.'

The vet's report stated that the adult cat, estimated to be about 2 years old, was 'rolling about in distress with laboured breathing'.

It is believed that the cat had probably been doused with paint thinner and had breathed in the fumes, affecting its lungs.

Its body had angry red patches where the chemical had burnt its skin.

The woman who found the cats declined to be interviewed by The New Paper.

She told SPCA that her husband had put the cat under running water to alleviate its suffering before the SPCA arrived.

He felt a burning sensation in his hands when he carried the cat to a tap. But his efforts were too late to save it.

The vet had to put the cat down because it was in 'extreme distress'.

A post-mortem on the kittens, which were about 6 months old, found that they had serious head injuries.

They could have been hit with the thinner bottle, Ms Moss said.

She said the case is one of the most extreme cases of suffering that she has seen in the 24 years that she has been with SPCA.

She said: 'There's no doubt that the two kittens died in a violent manner and the mother cat suffered beyond what can be imagined. It's horrific.

'It's a pity that no witnesses have come forward so far. It has been three months. The culprit or culprits deserve to be put behind bars.'

Cruelty to animals is punishable by imprisonment of up to 12 months and/or fine of up to $10,000.

Anyone with information can call the SPCA at 6287-5355.

PREVIOUS CASE

THE New Paper's report on a cat that was brutally kicked while the incident was filmed on a handphone - and SPCA's $1,000 reward for information - resulted in the culprits being caught.

In September 2006, we had received a video clip of a teenager pretending to befriend a stray cat before giving it a vicious kick that sent it flying a few metres in the air.

On the same day the report was published, SPCA received a call about two tertiary students who had made the video.

Following police investigations, the Attorney-General's Chambers recommended that the boys go through a six-month Guidance Programme conducted by the Ministry for Community Development, Youth and Sports.

The SPCA paid $1,000 to the informants, but does not want to release details about them.

This story was first published in The New Paper on 15 August 2008.