12 March 2024 , 22:04
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People in a Japanese city are being told to stay away from a cat that fell into a vat of poisonous chemicals.
It comes after a factory worker discovered small yellow paw prints on the ground leading away from the container. In security footage, a cat could be seen sprinting across the factory floor. Now officials have asked the public to avoid the cat at all costs, and to contact police with any sightings.
It's understood that the cat got curious and fell into a vat of the carcinogenic chemical hexavalent chromium, which is a highly acidic orangey liquid. The paw marks were discovered by a member of staff when they arrived for work at the Nomura Plating Fukuyama Factory, according to local outlet Asahi.
In a statement, Fukuyama's city's environmental team told locals not to touch the "abnormal" feline. They added that the kitty may have died as a result of the incident. The factory claimed that the tank was initially covered with a sheet but that the animal may have found a way of getting under it.
The AFP news agency cited a company spokesperson saying: "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."
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The chemical, hexavalent chromium, causes skin irritation, breathing difficulties, and even blindness. Staff are asked to wear masks and rubber globes even while working near it. Officials confirmed that there hasn't been any reported sightings of the cat since Tuesday.