Terengganu veterinary services department (DVS) director Dr Anun Man said the results of laboratory tests conducted by her department and the chemistry department found no trace of poison in the samples of the animal carcasses.

“The tests did not detect the presence of any suspected toxin. However, the cats were confirmed positive for parvovirus infection, which can spread quickly.

“The cats were infected as they had not been vaccinated. Apart from cats, this virus can also infect dogs,” she said when met by reporters at the state DVS Hari Raya celebration here today.

She did not rule out the possibility that the cats were discarded by someone after discovering that the animals were infected with the disease and could no longer be saved.

“However, there is no evidence to link this irresponsible act to any party. Perhaps the owner was worried that the disease would spread to other pets, so the person decided to discard the cats,” Anun said.

A video clip of 20 dead cats on Pantai Bukit Keluang had gone viral on social media as soon as it was uploaded by a staff member of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin on the morning of the incident.

Netizens reacted with anger and sadness over the incident. Some also believed that the cats had been poisoned.