A Singaporean pet owner is devastated after her cat, Brownie, died following a routine grooming session at a pet grooming salon in Pasir Panjang.
She has since accused the groomers of negligence and mishandling, claiming they failed to recognize the cat’s distress and did not act swiftly during the emergency.
The incident, which occurred on 18 February, is now under investigation by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Grooming Session Turns Tragic
According to MustShareNews, Brownie’s owner, Ms. Audrey, shared that she had been bringing Brownie and her other cat, Bunnie, to the same salon for over two years without any issues.
On that particular morning, she dropped off both cats as usual before leaving.
At 12:14 PM, CCTV footage showed the groomers bringing the cats into the grooming room. Two groomers, identified by Ms. Audrey as “Groomer A” and “Groomer B”, attended to the cats, with Groomer A handling Brownie.
The trouble started during Brownie’s bath; groomer A allegedly scruffed the cat, gripping the loose skin at the back of his neck, a controversial technique that can cause fear, pain, and distress in adult cats.
Brownie, a three-year-old, five-kilogram Persian mix, was seen standing on his hind legs, gasping for air as he was bathed in a small tub.
Afterward, he was placed in a drying box alongside Bunnie, but soon began panting heavily with his tongue out in a clear sign of distress. But the groomers did not stop the session or contact Ms. Audrey immediately.
Brownie Goes Limp, Groomers Allegedly Unprepared for Emergency
At 12:38 PM, Ms. Audrey returned to the salon and saw Brownie in distress inside the drying box. She immediately asked for him to be removed, only to find him foaming at the mouth and struggling to breathe once placed on the grooming table.
The situation quickly escalated; when Groomer A tried placing Brownie into his carrier, the panicked cat thrashed violently, unable to breathe properly before collapsing.
Despite the emergency, the groomers were allegedly unprepared, with neither of them knowing how to perform CPR on the cat.
Desperate Rush to Vet Ends in Heartbreak
At 12:46 PM, Ms. Audrey took a Grab ride to Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital, arriving at 1:03 PM. Vets administered CPR and adrenaline shots, desperately trying to revive Brownie.
But at 1:45 PM, the vet confirmed that Brownie could not be saved. Tests revealed fluid in his lungs, ruling out a heart attack or stroke. The vet suggested that strangulation or electric shock may have contributed to his death.
Suspicious Footage & Allegations of Cover-Up
Hoping to understand what happened, Ms. Audrey requested CCTV footage from the salon’s owner, who later arrived at the hospital with his wife, Groomer B. However, she was only shown an edited version of the footage on an iPad, with an altered timestamp.
While reviewing the video, the emergency vet questioned whether scruffing Brownie was necessary, noting that the cat never displayed aggression or resistance. Groomer B defended their actions, claiming Brownie was a nervous cat.
After being told that the post-mortem might not provide conclusive results due to damage sustained during CPR, Ms. Audrey opted for cremation instead.
Calls for Accountability & Investigation Underway
Determined to seek justice, Ms. Audrey lodged official reports with AVS on 19 February, and SPCA & Police on 20 February.
She mentioned that she typically stayed to observe and record the grooming sessions. Over the past two years, the groomers had always handled her cat gently, and there had been no indication that their approach would change in her absence.
Following the incident, she left an honest review on Google regarding the incident, warning pet owners to supervise grooming sessions from start to finish.
Groomer Allegedly Still Working, Salon Responds
The grooming salon has yet to publicly acknowledge responsibility. An Instagram post on Feb 21 stated that they were “following up with NParks regarding an incident” and were adjusting operations and staffing.
However, Ms. Audrey revealed that the groomer responsible for Brownie’s session is still working at the salon.
Viewer Reactions
Ms. Audrey also shared her story on Instagram on March 2, sparking outrage among pet owners.
Condolences flowed in from pet owners and Ms. Audrey’s supporters.
Some users shared similar experiences at the same salon.
Yet, one comment left an unsympathetic tone, prompting the grieving pet-owner to leave a response.
Investigations Underway
SPCA confirmed to MustShareNews that AVS is conducting investigations, adding that their inspectors will be closely following the case.
For now, Brownie’s death has left unanswered questions—and a heartbroken owner demanding justice.
Read Ms. Audrey’s Instagram post here.
Hi everyone, just wanted to share an update about my precious baby Brownie.
On 18 February Brownie died at his usual groomer, Good Life Cat. I have made the necessary reports with the relevant authorities – the police, AVS, and SPCA are looking into this matter.
It has been a very difficult time dealing with the pain of his sudden death and yet still having to handle the administrative aspects of reviewing CCTV footage, lodging reports and so on.
– He has no prior health conditions
– This was not his first time at Good Life CatPlease do not ask me any questions at this time as I’m currently still deeply affected by this incident and would appreciate the privacy. Thank you for your love towards Brownie 🤍
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