Michelle Nelly Simon, 26, said three of her cats – Chicki, Jimmy, and Remote – died in the flames while a fourth, Snow, succumbed to smoke inhalation.

“I don’t understand how anyone could commit such a cruel and inhumane act against animals,” she was quoted by The Borneo Post as saying.

Michelle said she and her family members were preparing for bed after a gathering at home on Sunday when she smelled smoke at around 1.20am.

She said she thought that her neighbours were still barbecuing but was caught by surprise when she saw her kitchen filled with smoke.

Michelle said she saw flames engulfing the cages where her cats were kept at the back of the house. They immediately tried to put out the fire.

“I have 13 cats in total – some were given to me, and others were strays I took in,” she said, adding that five were kept in front of the house with eight in four separate cages at the back during the incident.

Miri deputy police chief Nurasyikin Abdullah confirmed a team from the criminal investigation department had visited the scene.