Cat falls into China restaurant hotpot, eatery owner pays for treatment, feline dies
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.
Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.
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.'
More from South China Morning Post:
For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Male grooming gets a makeover
FOR Zhang Junhao, the disappointment that was written large on his father's face after each post-dye haircut is still fresh in his memory. 'He would spend 400 yuan (US$55.60) at the salon, only for the grey to show afresh at the roots within weeks of a trim,' he recalls. Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/month RM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters. Free Trial For new subscribers only
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
‘Man mums' in China sell five-minute hugs for US$7, gain popularity among lonely women
A growing number of young women in China are shelling out 50 yuan (US$7) for five-minute stress-relieving hugs from 'man mums'. The so-called man mums are a trending group on mainland social media. The term originally described muscular gym-goers but it now refers to men who combine physical strength with traditionally feminine traits like gentleness and patience. A stressed-out student recently posted online that she wanted to pay for a hug from a kind, fit 'man mum' to cope with thesis pressure. 'I was hugged once in secondary school and felt safe. We can just hug for five minutes at an underground station,' she wrote. The post went viral, racking up more than 100,000 comments. A search of man mum on social media brings up more posts from women in major cities looking to pay for hugs. They choose such men based on manners, patience, body type, and appearance, often chatting privately before meeting. Some tall, athletic women are also considered. Most hugs happen in public places like underground stations or shopping centres and cost between 20 to 50 yuan (US$3 to U$7). One woman said that after three hours of overtime, she found a man mum who hugged her for three minutes, gently patting her shoulder as she vented about her boss. Another, surnamed Chen, said she was feeling low after a failed diet and ended up hugging a postgraduate student from a nearby university. An online user called Fox met her man mum, bought him a coffee and a book, and after a brief hug, they chatted about exams and hobbies. 'What made me happier than the hug was the warmth from a stranger,' said Fox. A man who has offered hugs on three occasions said it gives him a 'sense of self-worth'. Another man, Zhou, who also provides hugs, believes his work helps others, adding that many clients struggle with appearance anxiety or work stress. As of April, he had given 34 hugs, earning 1,758 yuan (US$240). Zhou always makes sure to put on make-up, perfume, and style his hair to offer the best experience. He says he does not want to make a living from hugging, saying that charging a fee helps maintain emotional distance. Some women also say they feel safer paying for hugs to avoid potential boundary issues. The trend has sparked discussions online, with opinions divided. One online observer said: 'Man mums offer a gentler, more comforting embrace than typical masculine types.' Another person was not so sure of the trend: 'Do not disguise physical desire as healing. Try doing volunteer work instead.' 'Why hug strangers when you could hug your parents or close friends?' a third person asked. Su Dan, a lawyer from Hunan Gangwei Law Firm in central China, warned that some people may use paid hugs as a cover for sexual harassment. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
'Singapore has become noticeably dirtier' - SG netizens say it was cleaner 10 years ago
ACCORDING to a report by US-based Eagle Dumpster Rental, Singapore topped the global list for its spotless streets — a reputation closely tied to its strict anti-littering laws and well-maintained public spaces. But over on Reddit, locals are painting a different picture. In a now-viral post on r/askSingapore, one user claimed hygiene standards in the city-state have been slipping — citing a rise in visible litter at bus stops, sheltered walkways, and void decks. 'I notice a lot more litter at bus stops, along sheltered walkways and in void decks. Usually tissue paper, drink containers and plastic trash,' they wrote. 'Of course, I'm not saying our streets were ever totally spotless. But I think it's time we reinforce the anti-littering campaign and step up education in schools and neighbourhoods. No point being a cleaned city rather than a clean one by habit.' The post struck a chord, with many netizens echoing the sentiment — some even comparing today's Singapore to its past image. 'As a Vietnamese, 15 years ago I heard Singapore was the cleanest city in the world. I visited twice. But after living here for the past year, I can say it's definitely dirtier now,' one user shared. 'There's more random litter than there used to be. Littering is so odd to me — do you not have even a gram of pride for your country?' another commented. Beyond the streets, others turned their attention to public toilets — especially in food courts and MRT stations. 'It's indeed getting dirtier... especially toilets,' one person wrote. 'I don't understand why coffee shop and hawker centre toilets can be so filthy. Like why? And not to forget MRT toilets too.'
