AVA investigates allegations of animal deaths at cat cafe

EMILIA TAN Today Online 16 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE — Cat cafe Cuddles, which opened at *SCAPE in mid-September, is being investigated by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) over some cat deaths and complaints about its training for staff, among other things.

The allegations are made by some ex-employees of the cafe, who said as many as eight cats have died.

Mr Jonathan Tan, who owns the cafe, confirmed the cat deaths but declined to say how many of the 30 he had bought for the business had died. He left 10 of these cats in his home after the authorities capped the number of cats he could have at the shop at 20.

Mr Tan said the cats died after undergoing sterilisation or had feline infectious peritonitis — a disease caused by a coronavirus that attacks the cells of the intestinal wall and is fatal in more than 95 per cent of cases, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

When contacted, the AVA would only say it is “investigating the various allegations against Cuddles Cafe”.

Dr Jeremy Lee, a veterinary surgeon interviewed by TODAY, said cat deaths arising from sterilisations are quite rare “although we do see complications such as infections of surgical wounds caused by animals licking its wounds”. He said: “The risk of complications also depends on the health status of the cat at the time of the operation — healthy cats are at lower risks of complications.”

Dr Lee added that feline infectious peritonitis is “not as common now as compared to the early days of vet medicine”, noting that he sees an average of one case every three months. “It’s not an infectious disease but it’s fatal most of the time.”

The former staff of Cuddles Cafe also claimed that there was no proper training provided to staff on handling and taking care of cats — something that Mr Tan refuted. One of the ex-employees, who only wanted to be known as KJ, said: “The owner of Cuddles Cafe would just show us YouTube videos of how to shower cats.”

Mr Tan, however, said that his staff are taught how to handle cats, including checking for cats’ comfort level, grooming, showering, cleaning them, as well as how to disinfect their food and water sources, and litter boxes.

The ex-employees also expressed concern over the health of the cats in the cafe as they had had contact with the cats that died before the cafe opened for business.

In response, Mr Tan said that although the cats “lived together at some point before the cafe opened”, the cats in the cafe are all healthy.

“We constantly monitor the cats’ health and their general well-being, and bring them for veterinary attention should they be sick,” he added.

Mr Tan also told TODAY that the interim licence the AVA issued to it for the display of cats expires tomorrow but he has not heard from the authorities about the licence renewal.

Cuddles Cat Cafe owner refutes ex-employee's allegations
Channel NewsAsia 16 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE: The owner of Cuddles Cat Cafe, which is currently facing allegations of multiple cat deaths and complaints about how its staff was trained, has come out to say that the current allegations against his shop are untrue.

The cafe at *SCAPE, which houses a total of 18 felines, is the largest of its kind in Singapore, spanning across 2,500 square metres.

Owner Mr Jonathan Tan said: "We are in the midst of obtaining evidence regarding this situation. We will like to emphasise that the current allegations are not true.

"Ever since we opened the doors for operation, none of the cats have passed away and all the cafe cats are completely healthy. We have started acquiring cats for this business since January this year. The moment we detect that any cat requires medical attention, we will bring them straight to the vet for veterinary attention."

He added that staff are provided training before they join on how to look out for signs and symptoms of medical or behavioural problems in the cats.

Mr Tan said this in response to queries, after Facebook user Emily posted further allegations online in response to a report that said that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) was investigating the cafe. It was reported that Cuddles was being investigated for the deaths of several cats and complaints about its training for staff, following allegations by former cafe staff.

In her post, Ms Emily - who said that she had worked with Cuddles "short of a month" - alleged that Mr Tan was negligent in his decision making. She added that he had brought kittens to be sterilised before they were sufficiently mature, and reiterated the accusations that no training was given to staff, who were chosen based on their looks over their experience.

"Guys, I'm prepared to give up my life for the cats at the cafe should that happen," wrote Ms Emily. "Even though I've only been with them short of a month, I genuinely love them (the cats) all ... no matter what souvenir claw or bite marks they give."

"Honestly, the staff are the only ones giving these poor kitties love, and I believe they deserve better," she added.

However, Mr Tan disputed Ms Emily's account, issuing a follow-up Facebook post detailing the deaths of seven cats, which died during the span of January to September, before the cafe opened.

On the point that cats were brought for sterilisation before time, he said the three kittens that died during the course of the sterilisation had all been "certified completely healthy for sterilisation in accordance to a vet" and had "no pre-existing medical conditions". The kittens were between four and nine months old.

Dr Christopher Tham, head veterinarian at Jerih Veterinary Clinic, said: "In most cases, the acceptable age still varies, there is still some debate over that. Most of the time, the acceptable age is about four months old.

"They can go through anaesthetics and minor surgical procedure. Weight wise, we want to make sure they are heavy enough, big enough. If they are four months old and they look scrawny and skinny and thin, we will say let's wait a couple of months later before we proceed with any surgery."

As for the other four cats that contracted Feline Infectious Peritonitises (FIP), Mr Tan said it is a "fatal, incurable disease that affects cats". Peak ages for FIP are from six months to two years old, he added, and the four fell in this age range.


While Mr Tan gave his assurance that his cafe adopts the best practices for both his cats and customers, many animal lovers have expressed their anger on the net.

The cafe was closed on Tuesday (Dec 16), a day before his current three-month interim licence expires.

TAKING ALLEGATIONS 'SERIOUSLY': CAT WELFARE SOCIETY

The Cat Welfare Society (CWS) also said it is taking all allegations against Cuddles Cat Cafe and its owner "seriously".

"We have taken these allegations seriously and provided all feedback received to AVA to aid in the investigation," said CWS. "We also hope that AVA investigates the supplier of bred cats to the cafe for its condition, care and sale protocols, which may have contributed to the FIP condition and compromised health."

CWS CEO Ms Joanne Ng said Mr Tan had previously interacted with the society before he opened his store in September.

"We spoke before at a very initial stage and encouraged them to adopt cats. They came to one of our adoption drive and that's it," said Ms Ng. "Thereafter, the public alerted us they listed CWS as partners on their website and we instructed them to remove it. And they did take it down."

CWS has also said that in the event that the cat cafe is closed down, “CWS will offer to help AVA with sterilisation of the cats and help re-home the cats”.

- CNA/av/ek

Cat cafe under AVA investigation confirms seven cat deaths
XUE JIANYUE Today Online 17 Dec 14;

TODAY earlier reported that the cafe, which opened at *SCAPE in mid-September, is being investigated by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) over several cat deaths and complaints about its training for staff, among other things. The allegations were made by some ex-employees of the cafe. Cafe owner Jonathan Tan had earlier confirmed the cat deaths — which occurred after sterilisation or due to feline infectious peritonitis — but declined to say how many had died.

Today, the cafe posted detailed accounts of the seven deaths.

A nine-month old male cat by the name of Cookies, for example, developed a anaphylactic reaction – a serious and rapid allergic reaction that may cause death – to sedation administered before the sterilisation. This was despite the cat being certified completely healthy for sterilisation by a vet, and having no pre-existing medical conditions, said the cafe.

With regards to the FIP infection, the cafe said the infection is a mutation of Feline Enteric Coronavirus (FECV). FECV itself is “very common” especially in places where large groups of cats are kept together, such as animal shelters, the cafe said.

Exposure to FECV often produces no clinical signs and carriers of this virus may pass the infection to another cat. In cats with weak immune systems, such as very young and very old cats, the chances of mutation to FIP – which is fatal and incurable – increases, they said.

Adding that they hope members of public will now be able to evaluate the deaths as fairly as possible, the cafe said: “We love our cats a lot, and we want the best for them. None of us here at Cuddles would want any of our cats to pass away. We have consulted with experienced vets on the topics of sterilisation and Feline Infectious Peritonitises.”

They added: “Nonetheless, we apologise to the public for any upset caused. We understand that there are more publications and rumours being spread. We will do our best to answer each and everyone of these allegations in due time.” 
Investigations are currently underway by the AVA.

Facebook comments made in reaction to the cafe’s statement were largely negative and cafe staff were seen engaging the commenters.

A Facebook user by the name of Zuraidah Banafee was not persuaded by the cafe’s explanation. “We have a number of other cat cafes here, many have been around longer and some new. The fact that Cuddles has been the ONLY one in the news for all the wrong reasons to no end, speaks for itself,” she said.

Another user, Weixing Changprom, criticised the environment the cats were immersed in.

“The cats are just like your little chess pieces to manipulate your business, in all honesty from my experience of 15 years of keeping cats, cats don’t need to be around an environment where tons of strangers come touching them, screaming and laughing at volume detrimental to a cat’s hearing,” he said.

Some users expressed appreciation for the cafe’s detailed explanation. Ms Danella Lim, who described herself as a regular visitor at the cafe, said the cafe had always briefed visitors on how to handle the cats.

“I’m sure no one wants to see another living being die without cause or at least without attempting some form of medical intervention,” she wrote. “Cuddles Cat Cafe has attempted to provide a very detailed explanation as to the reasons why these unfortunate events have occurred yet it is not sufficient for many.”

Animal exhibition license for Cuddles Cat Cafe will not be renewed: AVA
Channel NewsAsia 17 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE: In response to media queries, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said on Wednesday (Dec 17) that it would not be renewing Cuddles Cat Cafe's animal exhibition license, as it is still "investigating the various allegations" against the establishment.

Cafe owner Jonathan Tan, who is the subject of scrutiny for allegations of multiple cat deaths and complaints about staff training, had said earlier that he was putting the business up for sale.

In a Facebook post, Mr Tan said: "After thorough considerations, I believe that in the best interest of our cats, they should be kept together as a family under a new owner. Hence, Cuddles Cat Cafe will be offered up for a business takeover."

He invited interested parties to drop him a message, and thanked everyone who supported and believed in the cafe. "I would have hoped for an opportunity to improve, but circumstances would not allow it. I am truly sorry about everything," he said.

Mr Tan added that he will be "screening the new owners very thoroughly".

In the post, Mr Tan also apologised for the deaths of the seven cats. "Under my care, seven cats died in a one-year time-period – accidents from sterilisation surgery, as well as the fatal FIP disease. My inexperience resulted to these issues. I am very sorry towards Cookies, Puffy, Earl Grey, Munchy, Pumpkin, Foxy and Cream."

- CNA/dl

Owner of cat cafe under AVA investigation writes lengthy apology to public
EMILIA TAN KENING Today Online 17 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE — Cuddles Cat Café owner Jonathan Tan today (Dec 17) publicly addressed the death of seven cats at his establishment and said he is looking for interested parties to do a business takeover.

Mr Tan wrote a lengthy apology on Facebook, “seeking forgiveness from the public, and to express my upmost regret and remorse on the current situation”.

“Under my care, seven cats died in a one year time-period.... My inexperience resulted to these issues,” he admitted.

Mr Tan also addressed other allegations against his business like the health statuses of his 30 cats and the lack of proper training provided to his staff.

“I have been on a learning journey since the opening of the café, and I regretfully admit that there were lapses in the standards in the initial phase of the café,” he said.

He also admitted that some of his cats were sick with Ringworm and Irritable Bowel Syndrome and some ex-employees and other cats had contracted Ringworm as a result.

Although he said he would have liked for an opportunity to improve, “circumstances would not allow it”.

The 30-year-old called for interested parties to do a business takeover, with a wish to keep the remaining cats together as a family under a new owner instead of rehoming them. Mr Tan said he would screening prospective owners “very thoroughly”.

“As a closing note, Cuddles Cat Café hopes that the premises would continue to improve to provide the best possible loving environment for our cats to live and thrive in,” Mr Tan wrote.

Two other posts put up on the café’s Facebook page earlier were harshly rebutted by angry netizens. One commented that Mr Tan was “only interested in the dollars and cents,” more than the welfare of the cats, while others suggested that he should have adopted instead of buying cats for his café.

The café’s license to display animals expires today (Dec 17). Cuddles café’s animal exhibition licence will not be renewed as investigations are still ongoing.

Cuddles Cat Cafe closes but staff volunteer to care for cats
EMILIA TAN Today Online 18 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE — Operations at Cuddles Cat Cafe ceased today (Dec 18) and its staff were told they would no longer be employed there, after the authorities did not renew the cafe’s licence to display animals while they investigated the seven deaths of cats under the owner’s care.

However, even after they were informed by owner Jonathan Tan that the four-month-old cafe was closed, more than 10 employees offered to lend a helping hand and return to the cafe to continue grooming, feeding and taking care of the remaining cats, without expecting to be paid.

Responding to TODAY’s queries about the immediate plans for the cats, an employee who declined to be named said: “People are asking us a lot of questions that we have no answers or control over. We just hope that the cats will not be separated. As staff, we can see the special bonds that the cats have with each other.”

He added: “We are also not worried about our pay because he’s (Jonathan) our boss and I trust him. We’ve been getting our pay very promptly at the end of every month, so I believe that it would be as usual this month.”

Others who worked at the cafe took to social media to express their sadness over the closure.

Ms Claris Pang posted her thoughts on her Twitter account @Thewayiluv: “Even though I’ve been there for a month only, I’ve really enjoyed working there, with my Cuddles family and my babies furballs.”

Ms Hannah Lim tweeted on her account @Lhyhx: “No place can ever replace cuddles. I’ll never feel as happy anywhere else.”

While Mr Tan had previously announced through a Facebook post that he was putting up his business for sale, it is not yet known if the cats would be rehomed or continue living at the cafe under a new owner.

Cat Welfare Society chief executive officer Joanne Ng said in a statement: “We have offered our assistance to Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (in rehoming and sterilisation) and also urge that they ensure that provisions are made for the cats at the cafe and owner’s home under experienced personnel.”