Its director Dr Anun Man said the department would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, believed to have occurred in Dungun.

“We take acts of cruelty towards animals very seriously, and we will investigate this incident immediately.

“We urge members of the public who have any information related to the incident to come forward to assist with the investigation,” she said in a statement.

An 18-second video went viral earlier on social media showing the cat being abused by two children, sparking outrage among netizens.

The video showed one child pulling a rope tied around the cat’s neck, while the other child was seen kicking and hitting the cat’s head with a slipper.

The case is being investigated under the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772).