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.
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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.
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.