"Caused Tens of Millions in Damage but Too Cute"... 'Fire-Starting Cat' Explodes in Popularity in China

Owner Jokes "Even Cats Have to Work to Pay Off Debt"

A pet cat that started a fire by turning on the induction stove in the kitchen while its owner was out has unexpectedly gained popularity and become a social media star in China.

Recently, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a cat which caused a fire in an unattended home, resulting in damages worth around 20 million won, has gained explosive popularity due to its cute appearance. The cat's name is 'Jingguudiao,' and it is a British Shorthair breed.

A cat turned on the induction stove and caused a fire while the owner was away.
[Image source=SCMP]

The incident occurred on the 4th of last month. Dandan, who lives in Sichuan Province, China, was playing mahjong with acquaintances near his home when he received a call from the apartment management staff informing him that there was a fire at his house. Rushing home, he found out that the cause of the fire was his pet cat. The cat, playing in the kitchen, accidentally turned on the induction stove by stepping on it while wandering around.

At the time of the fire, firefighters found the cat hiding inside a cabinet. The cat was covered in ash all over its body but was not injured. However, the fire caused financial damage amounting to 100,000 yuan (approximately 19 million won).

The next day, owner Dandan revealed the story through a live broadcast on his Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok) account. Jokingly, Dandan said, "I plan to make the cat work to pay off the debt," and even attached a paper label reading 'arsonist' to his pet. The video gained over 8 million views and became very popular.

Additionally, Dandan had a video call with a firefighter, requesting, "Please teach my pet cat fire safety rules." The firefighter joked, "This is the first time I've been asked to teach safety rules to a cat," and added, "We urged the dog at our fire station to care about safety issues, but it was no use."

[Image source=Weibo]

Dandan also posted an apology letter online featuring his fingerprint and his pet cat's paw print. In the letter, Dandan took responsibility for not turning off the rice cooker’s power and pledged to be more careful about fire safety in the future. He also urged others to pay attention to fire safety.

Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "My cat keeps flushing the toilet, so I have to pay a lot for water bills," and "I also have a mischievous cat wandering around my house."

Meanwhile, Dandan changed his SNS account name to 'The Coolest Cat in Sichuan' and continues to share stories about the mischief caused by his pet cat.