AVA investigates cat cafe

[Jman888]

AVA investigates allegations of animal deaths at cat cafe

By Emilia Tan, TODAY

POSTED: 16 Dec 2014

TODAY reports: Former employees of Cuddles Cafe have alleged that as many as eight cats had died before the cafe opened for business in September.

SINGAPORE: Cat cafe Cuddles, which opened at *SCAPE in mid-September, is being investigated by the Agri-Food and 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.”

NO PROPER TRAINING, EX-EMPLOYEES CLAIM

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 on Wednesday (Dec 17) but he has not heard from the authorities about the licence renewal.

-TODAY/cy

 

 

 

 

[Celicar]

Keeping pussies in good health is very important.

[Gitanic]

the dead cats are going to haunt the owners.

[Icedbs]

What is a cat cafe?

 

A place to drink coffee or a place to buy cats?

 

or is it a place where you drink coffee with cats?

[Mockngbrd]

Pussy cafe.... ccb

[Jamesc]

I would never pay money to cuddle with aniamls.

 

I prefer humans especially lesbians.

 

Isn't cuddling animals beastiality?

 

[Camrysfa]

cats are hardy.

how else can so many strays wander around HDB blocks.

these accusations are personal or business problems?

[Jman888]

What is a cat cafe?

 

A place to drink coffee or a place to buy cats?

 

or is it a place where you drink coffee with cats?

 

I think there are more than one cat cafe in Singapore, you eat and drink in the cafe where the cats walk around, you are not suppose to carry them.

 

They dun all cats.

[Vinyl]

What is a cat cafe?

 

A place to drink coffee or a place to buy cats?

 

or is it a place where you drink coffee with cats?

 

It is a place where cats have their ice coffee while doing their homework with their MacBook Air.

[Icedbs]

I think there are more than one cat cafe in Singapore, you eat and drink in the cafe where the cats walk around, you are not suppose to carry them.

 

They dun all cats.

 

err..what is the draw to this? Just sit there and watch the cats walk around?

 

Then got dog cafe boh?

[Jman888]

 

err..what is the draw to this? Just sit there and watch the cats walk around?

 

Then got dog cafe boh?

 

Have but you have to BYO

[Camrysfa]

AVA would not be renewing CCC license.

Owner looking for someone to takeover.

 

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/animal-exhibition-license/1535156.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

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