Same poison found in autopsy of cat; culprit remains unknown
Kimberly Spykerman, Straits Times 30 Jun 09;
LABORATORY tests have pinpointed what has been plaguing the stray cats at Bayshore Park condominium - a chemical used to immobilise mice and bird pests.
However, the mystery remains as to who is behind the deliberate poisoning.
Traces of alpha-chloralose, a coma-inducing drug, were detected in samples of food planted all over the estate. The chemical was also found in the liver and kidney of one of the cats, during an autopsy by the Health Sciences Authority's Toxicology Department.
On June11, the nine cats- all mysteriously disoriented or unconscious - were discovered around the East Coast estate. Over the next few days, more cats, and even some birds, fell sick.
In all, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) took in 21 stray cats from the estate, which accounted for more than half of the total number of strays at the condominium.
Five of them died or had to be put down as they were not responding to treatment by staff at the SPCA.
Fifteen other cats have since been sterilised and released back into the estate, while a kitten remains in the society's care, awaiting adoption.
Alpha-chloralose is a potentially lethal drug that acts as a soporific, and causes seizures and muscle tremors among other symptoms. A 2005 Israeli study on the effects of the drug on cats and dogs found that cats were more likely to fall into a coma after ingesting it.
In Singapore, alpha-chloralose is classified as a poison and can be sold only with a licence under the Poisons Act. However, the HSA said that the Act applies only to medication consumed by humans. One vet The Straits Times spoke to said that the drug is not commonly used by vets in Singapore, even as a sedative, as there are other options which are 'safer and better'.
SPCA executive officer Deirdre Moss said that the intention to harm the cats was obvious.
The revelation is cold comfort to Bayshore residents, who are saddened by the proof that someone is indeed out to poison the animals. 'We were very alarmed but we are still maintaining vigilance, especially now that the cats are back. If it happened once, it can happen again,' said one long-time resident - a housewife in her 50s - who has fed the cats in the estate since 1994.
Cat Welfare Society president Ang Li Tin said: 'If food is put in a familiar place and stray cats are comfortable in the environment, they might not immediately detect a foreign substance in their food.'
Cat lovers in the estate had earlier banded together to carry out pre-dawn patrols to try and catch the culprit. They also conducted a sweep of the basement carparks at the Aquamarine and Ruby blocks - where many of the cats were found - to make sure all clumps of food had been removed. Patrols have since lessened as no more afflicted cats have been found in the estate since June16.
Both SPCA and the residents are assisting the police in their investigations.
Throw the book at cruel animal abusers
Straits Times Forum 3 Jul 09;
I REFER to Tuesday's report, 'Coma-inducing drug found in planted food'.
I am saddened to read that somewhere out there, in the midst of Bayshore Park condominium, lurks a prowler. That individual obviously dislikes cats for one reason or another. To poison the innocent creatures is cruel and inhumane.
The substance alpha-chloralose found in the bodies of the cats is classified as a poison which can be sold only with a licence under the Poisons Act. The Act, which covers only medication for human consumption, should be extended in the light of this mass poisoning of animals.
Bennie Cheok
