Carcinogenic cat? Japanese city warns locals to stay away from feline after chemical accident

Fukuyama, Japan - Locals in a city in western Japan have been told not to approach or touch a missing cat that fell into a vat of dangerous chemicals and then scampered off into the night.

A cat fell into a vat of toxic chemicals, leading to local authorities in the Japanese city of Fukuyama to warn people not to touch or go near it.
A cat fell into a vat of toxic chemicals, leading to local authorities in the Japanese city of Fukuyama to warn people not to touch or go near it.  © Collage: Unsplash/Vladyslav Cherkasenko & 123RF/askorobogatova

An employee at a metal plating plant in Fukuyama arrived for work on Monday morning to find feline paw prints leading away from the container, the firm said.

Grainy security camera footage released by the company shows the furry fugitive fleeing from the factory, apparently unharmed.

The vat – 10-feet deep – contained hexavalent chromium, which is carcinogenic and can cause skin inflammation.

Cat's amazingly sweet reaction to owners coming home has TikTok smitten
Cats Cat's amazingly sweet reaction to owners coming home has TikTok smitten

"We immediately alerted police, the Fukuyama city and neighbors near our factory," a representative from the company told AFP, without wishing to be named.

"The incident woke us up to the need to take measures to prevent small animals like cats from sneaking in, which is something we had never anticipated before," he said.

City authorities told locals to avoid touching the animal and to inform police immediately if they come across it.

No sightings had been reported as of Tuesday afternoon.

Cover photo: 123RF/askorobogatovaCollage: Unsplash/Vladyslav Cherkasenko & 123RF/askorobogatova

More on Cats: