SINGAPORE, May 7 — A man and a woman have been charged in Singapore after 71 cats were allegedly found neglected in a Bukit Panjang Housing Board flat, with authorities claiming the animals were left without proper care over an extended period.

According to Mothership, the pair — a 36-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman — are accused of failing to provide sufficient food and water to the cats, which were reportedly kept in poor conditions inside a unit at Block 469 Segar Road.

Court documents stated the cats, labelled “E1” to “E71”, were owned by the two accused and were mostly domestic shorthairs.

The alleged neglect is said to have taken place between April 2022 and February 20, 2024, during which the animals were left unattended in the vacant flat.

Nine of the cats, identified as “E63” to “E71”, were reported to have died as a result of the alleged mistreatment.

Each of the accused faces 71 charges under the Animals and Birds Act for allegedly causing unnecessary suffering to the animals and failing to provide adequate care.

Neither has indicated their plea, and the case has been adjourned to June.

If convicted, each charge carries a penalty of up to 18 months’ jail, a fine of up to S$15,000 (RM46,200), or both.

Under current rules effective from September 1, 2024, HDB households are allowed to keep a maximum of two cats per flat.