The owner of a hotpot restaurant in China who rushed a cat to the vet after it fell into a pot of boiling oil, then promised to “hire” the feline as a “security guard”, is in mourning after the animal succumbed to its injuries.
On May 2, a white-and-yellow cat slipped from a ledge and fell into a pot at an outdoor restaurant in Chongqing, southwest China, splashing hot oil and injuring several diners.
A video circulating online shows hot oil splashing onto nine people as dishes toppled over in the chaos.
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The restaurant owner, surnamed Zhong, told the mainland media outlet Jimu News that he rushed the injured diners to hospital and paid their medical bills, totalling about 10,000 yuan (US$1,400).
He also waived or discounted the bills of other diners who were in the restaurant that evening.
Zhong also paid a total of 13,000 yuan in compensation for emotional and other damage.
Tongtong, the co-owner of the restaurant added that the incident also led to the damaging of two mobile phones and a pair of glasses, which they replaced at a cost of more than 15,000 yuan (US$2,000).
The cat was subsequently found curled up near the restaurant, soaked in hotpot oil.
Tongtong took it to a vet, where it was treated for burns on all four limbs, minor fractures, and a fever.
Tongtong said the initial treatment cost 3,000 yuan, with daily expenses of 1,000 yuan.
“The cat was injured at our restaurant. We had a responsibility to save it. It is a life,” Zhong added.
Zhong and Tongtong decided to adopt the cat and name it Wuyi, after the Labour Day holiday.
If Wuyi had recovered, they planned to bring it back to the restaurant and “hire” it as a security guard to “repay” its debt.
The incident made headlines on mainland social media, with related topics racking up over 30 million views.
Many netizens praised the restaurant owners for their compassion.
“Respect to the owners for comforting the diners and saving an innocent cat,” said one person.
“I wish the diners and the cat a speedy recovery, and booming business for the hotpot shop,” wrote another.
On May 4, the restaurant installed a canopy over its outdoor dining area to prevent similar accidents.
Staff said business has picked up since the feline incident.
On May 6, vets said Wuyi’s condition had taken a sudden turn for the worse and, despite more than two hours of emergency care, it could not be saved.
“This is heartbreaking,” one netizen said, adding: “I never expected this ending. I hope Wuyi is happy in heaven.”
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