The furore over a suspected cat killer lurking on a campus in Kuala Lumpur intensified on Friday after the discovery of another “extensively mutilated” feline enraged animal lovers who have already rescued dozens of cats.
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In the latest incident, the Universiti Malaya Student Union (UMSU) said a cat was found on Thursday outside the medicine faculty with its internal organs exposed.
Malaysia is a cat-loving nation where pet ownership has soared since the pandemic, largely influenced by its Muslim majority, who generally favour cats over dogs due to cultural and religious beliefs, including the Prophet Muhammad’s reputed fondness for the felines.
Animal rights activists and members of the public descended upon the campus on December 22 and rescued 22 cats, fearing they could be targeted next. Their intervention came after social media users shared disturbing images of the dead cats, some severely mutilated and with missing limbs.
UMSU faculty representative Jelyn Lyn said an orange-furred cat had an open wound with its intestines and right hind limb missing when it was found in a secluded corner outside the faculty.
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The Royal Malaysian Police and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) have blamed the incidents on wild dogs but many Malaysians have doubts about the authorities’ assessment.
The surgical cuts seen on the cats, some of which had their whole legs cut off, have left animal defenders angry at the lack of action against a suspected cat killer stalking the capital’s largest campus.