In an unexpected turn of events, a woman in Sichuan, China, returned home from playing mahjong to find her loft severely damaged by fire, all due to her cat‘s accidental mischief. The incident, which took place on April 4, resulted in approximately 100,000 yuan (S$19,200) in damages after her cat, Jingoudiao, inadvertently turned on an induction cooker.
The South China Morning Post reported that after being alerted by the property management about the fire, the woman discovered that her golden British Shorthair cat had triggered the blaze by stepping on the cooker’s touch panel. Fortunately, the cat was found safe, hiding in a cabinet upstairs, albeit covered in ash.
Turning the ordeal into a narrative on Douyin, China’s equivalent of TikTok, the woman humorously branded her cat as the “arsonist” responsible for the fire. She has leveraged the incident, encouraging viewers to donate by watching live-streaming sessions featuring Jingoudiao, who is now working off its “debt.” According to ET Today, these videos have garnered over eight million views, captivating netizens with the cat’s charm despite the chaos it caused.
Further acknowledging her part in the incident, the woman posted a letter of apology on social media on April 13, complete with her fingerprint and her cat’s paw print. She admitted her negligence for not turning off the power to the induction cooker and reminded her followers to exercise caution to prevent kitchen fires.
This unusual story highlights the unforeseen dangers of household appliances while also showcasing how social media can turn an unfortunate event into a viral sensation.