SINGAPORE: A cat with cable ties wound tightly around its legs was freed by two good Samaritans on Thursday (Nov 23) after they spotted it yowling in distress at Jurong West Blossom.

Primary school teacher Salbiah Ishak, 30 - accompanied by her friend Rashal Sabeh, 27, also a primary school teacher - was on her way home at about 6pm when they heard a cat "crying in distress".



"We heard a cat crying in distress and thought that it was finding a mate," Ms Salbiah told Channel NewsAsia.

"But it sounded a little different from the normal mating (sounds), so we decided to search for the cat and found it in distress at the void deck. It was hiding behind a wall," she added.

The pair then spotted two cable ties tied tightly around two of its legs.

"I ran up to get scissors as I live nearby," said Ms Salbiah. "Later on, a male passerby came to help my friend, who was trying to calm the cat down."



"We then managed to free the cat and check on its legs before letting him go."

Ms Salbiah also shared the story in a Facebook post with accompanying photos and video, and asked others to share her post to "create awareness and teach others not to harm the neighbourhood animals".

"Hopefully we can work together to catch the culprits of animal abuse," she wrote.

The cat was seen with ties around its limbs. (Photo: Salbiah Ishak)

It was found at Jurong West Blossom. (Photo: Salbiah Ishak)

A video of the incident showed what looked like a black and grey tabby cat on its side, yowling in distress as the cable ties were cut off.

Netizens praised the duo for their action.

"Thank you for helping the cat in distress! The cat was lucky to have met you both," wrote Zenith Ang. "If not the outcome would have been unimaginable."

Others slammed the cat's abuser.

"I hope the idiots would get caught for causing distressed to animals. It's very cruel," wrote Siti Bamadhaj.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) told Channel NewsAsia that it is investigating the incident. Members of the public who have information on the case can contact AVA on its 24-hour hotline 1800 476 1600.