Firemen had pulled the cat out from the mounds of earth and rocks from Friday’s landslide and its miraculous survival had brought some cheer to the rescuers and animal lovers.

A veterinary surgeon had earlier said the cat was likely to survive despite its crushed hind legs but the injuries it sustained proved too much and the cat died at 9.15am today.

Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society, which helped rescue workers bring the cat to a veterinary surgeon, said it appeared to be in good spirits yesterday and was able to stand on its front legs.

“We were prepared to spend whatever money to nurse it back to health. We also wanted to put it in a cat’s home for rehabilitation,” the society’s Penang commissioner Khoo Boo Leong said.

He said the vet had wanted to amputate the cat’s hind legs this morning.

Khoo said the vet’s initial findings showed that the cat died due to a crushed stomach.

Earlier, the fire and rescue department also found the remains of two other cats at the site.

Society keeps spirits up with food and care

The Tzu Chi society, besides providing aid to the cat, has also helped provide some 150 firemen with hot meals and water over the past three days.

It also set up two large tents, complete with chairs and tables, for members of the media.

The Tzu Chi members also provide breakfast, lunch and snacks at the site.

Khoo said the society wanted to do its bit to help search and rescue personnel and also members of the media reporting on the landslide.

Khoo said the society would continue to offer food until the search and recovery process is over.

Thirteen victims were buried in the Bukit Kukus landslide. Eight bodies have been recovered from the site so far.