Recently, in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, there has been a city-wide "manhunt" for a poisonous cat, with warnings issued: Do not touch any cat that appears unusual!
Around 7 a.m. on March 11th, during routine checks, employees at the Nomura Electroplating Fukuyama Plant discovered a yellow-brown paw print in a container filled with chemicals, suspecting that a cat had fallen in and then escaped.
Subsequently, surveillance footage was reviewed, confirming that on the previous evening, March 10th, at around 9:30 p.m., a cat had fled from the factory, leaving behind a trail of yellow footprints.
According to the factory, the container measures 2 meters in length, 2.2 meters in width, and 3.4 meters in height. It is filled with electroplating solution containing hexavalent chromium, a carcinogenic substance.
Hexavalent chromium is easily absorbed by the human body and can enter through respiration or skin contact.
In 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified hexavalent chromium as a Group 1 carcinogen.
In 2019, hexavalent chromium compounds were added to the list of toxic and hazardous water pollutants.
Once this substance enters the human body, it causes skin irritation and various respiratory issues, while also leading to other health problems such as kidney and liver damage, and even lung cancer. In severe cases, it can result in death.
Workers handling these chemicals on a regular basis are required to wear specialized masks and rubber gloves.
According to the footage released, the unfortunate cat managed to escape alive.
To mitigate the harm, the factory promptly notified the police and nearby residents, urging anyone who spots the distressed cat not to touch it and to report it immediately!
Local authorities also visited the nearby elementary school to provide professional guidance, advising students not to approach the cat.
As of now, the whereabouts of the cat remain unknown!
Experts speculate that the cat is most likely deceased.
Although cats have fur for protection and their bodies may not suffer immediate severe burns, their habit of grooming themselves makes it easy for the substance to enter their bodies, potentially causing internal burns from the chemical.
The incident has sparked widespread panic.
Firstly, animal lovers are furious;
They criticize the factory for inadequate management, allowing the cat to escape alive only to potentially face such agony! Swelling of the respiratory tract could lead to suffocation, not to mention various ulcers—it's hard to imagine what it must have endured.
The factory, however, defends itself: We've never had anything like this happen before, nor did we anticipate such a situation.
Furthermore, they promise to take appropriate measures in the future to prevent small animals from sneaking in.
Max Ultraman: Monster Universe - Cat Demon
In conclusion,
The online community had diverse opinions on the matter.
Comic enthusiasts remarked, "This is like a real-life version of Resident Evil. Normally, a cat falling in would die instantly. But this cat hasn't been found yet. There's only one possibility: it's mutating into a cosmic monster cat."
Animal lovers empathized, saying, "That poor little cat must be suffering. Let's hope it's found soon and given a humane death."
Some netizens, undeterred by the gravity of the situation, remarked, "I've seen an anime start like this, and later it grew tentacles and destroyed a country."
"When it reaches 500 feet tall and threatens Tokyo, please let me know!"
Of course, many others simply quipped, "Japan planted the fruit, let them enjoy it slowly!"
