The cat in question is believed to have fallen into a vat filled with dangerous chemicals at a metal plating factory in the city of Fukuyama – and then escaped.
Workers at the plant found small paw prints leading away from the container when they arrived at work on Monday. Surveillance footage confirmed that the cat escaped the nighttime bath unharmed. But since then, no one has seen a glimpse of the cat.
The authorities warn
If you see it, you should not touch it or approach the animal, the authorities now warn. The three meter deep tub that the cat fell into contains hexavalent chromium, which is carcinogenic and can cause skin inflammation.
The facility must now take measures to ensure that small animals, such as cats, cannot sneak into the area.
Hexavalent chromium is used to make, among other things, stainless steel and corrosion protection.