SINGAPORE - The National Parks Board (NParks) is investigating the case of a pet cat that was stuck on the ledge of a 10th-floor HDB flat in Bukit Batok West for nearly 15 hours on Nov 18.

The cat was spotted at Block 465A Bukit Batok West Avenue 8 at about 1am by Ms Tabitha Thompson, who had heard distressed cries coming from the ledge.

It was only rescued slightly before 3.50pm the same day, and was returned to its owner.

In response to The Straits Times' queries, NParks' group director of enforcement and investigation Jessica Kwok said that arrangements were being made to safely rescue the cat by entering a resident's flat when a member of the public separately managed to retrieve the cat.

"NParks takes all cases related to animal welfare seriously and is investigating," she added.

Ms Thompson had alerted members of the Lost and found pets in Singapore Facebook group about the situation in a now-deleted post at about 11.30am.

She wrote: "I don't know who to contact. But there's been a cat (jumped from 11th floor to 10th) outside my neighbour's window. The homeowners aren't in either."

The cat's owners, who live on the 11th floor, had not been home for about two days, the 28-year-old told ST, adding that their windows were also observed to be slightly open and unmeshed.

Ms Thompson reached out to NParks and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and also turned to other Facebook users for help.

Ms Elizabeth Goh, who is an independent animal rescuer, saw Ms Thompson's Facebook post about an hour later and also contacted the Jurong-Clementi-Bukit Batok Town Council.

In response to ST's queries, SPCA said that it had contacted HDB for help to access the 10th floor unit so that it could determine whether the cat could be rescued safely.

Meanwhile, a crowd of concerned neighbours and another independent cat rescuer had gathered at the block to lay a mattress on the ground and on top of a rubbish bin in case the cat fell, Ms Goh said.

She told ST that a member of the public had climbed onto the ledge to save the cat, which has since been reunited with its owner.

According to her, the owner was caring for a relative when the incident happened.

In her statement, NParks' Ms Kwok reminded cat owners that they are required to take reasonable steps to protect their pets.

This includes ensuring that the cats are kept in a safe environment that minimises the risk of injury, preventing them from being exposed to the risk of falling from height, and ensuring they do not leave the premises unless under proper control.

Failure to comply with these requirements is an offence, she said.

ST has contacted the town council for more information.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction