WEB DESK: In Fukuyama, a city in western Japan, residents have been cautioned against approaching or handling a missing cat that fell into a vat of hazardous chemicals and subsequently disappeared into the night.
An employee at a metal plating plant in Fukuyama discovered feline paw prints leading away from the container when arriving for work on Monday morning, the company reported.
Security camera footage released by the firm depicts the furry escapee fleeing from the factory, seemingly unharmed. The vat, measuring three meters (10 feet) deep, contained hexavalent chromium, a carcinogenic substance known to cause skin inflammation.
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“We immediately alerted police, the Fukuyama city and neighbors near our factory,” stated a company representative to AFP, requesting anonymity. “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,” he added.
Local authorities advised residents in Japan to refrain from interacting with the animal and to promptly notify police if encountered.
