The animal caused nearly $14,000 worth of damage. An unexpected “punishment” was devised for the cat.

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As reported by the South China Morning Post, a pet cat named Jingoudiao—whose name sounds quite exotic to us—embarked on an exploratory journey around the home and managed to find the worst and most dangerous spot in the apartment. The result? A fire caused by the cat led to damage worth 100,000 yuan, nearly $14,000. How did the cat start the fire? It accidentally switched on the induction stove with its paws.

The pictures are illustrations

How the Cat Started the Fire—and Escaped Unharmed

The cat’s owner, Dandan, was alerted by colleagues who called to tell her that her house was on fire. She rushed back to her empty apartment in Sichuan Province, southwest China, only to discover that her cat was responsible for the blaze that destroyed the entire upper floor. Firefighters eventually found the “culprit” hiding inside a cabinet, covered in ash from head to toe but miraculously unharmed.

Luckily, the British Shorthair cat escaped the accident without injury. Surprisingly, the owner tried to turn the incident into something positive. She changed her social media account name to “The Most Dangerous Cat in Sichuan” and began posting videos of her pet. She even involved a firefighter, asking him to give fire safety advice to the cat.

The humorous reaction and the adorable videos attracted over 8 million viewers, meaning the cat essentially began to “work off” the financial damage it caused. Despite the humor, Dandan admitted she feels guilty, recognizing that it was her responsibility to lock the stove’s control panel.

The kitchen is dangerous territory for cats

This isn’t an isolated incident!

Before you smile and move on, stay with us for a moment, because there’s something important you should know: this could happen to you, too! Cats around the world behave exactly like Chinese ones. They jump on anything and knock things over without considering whether it might cause harm. It’s not just the risk of turning on the stove—you also have to consider the danger of a hot iron being knocked over or a curling iron causing serious damage.

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A house fire could easily cost the life of a pet left inside. And it’s terrifying to even think about what could happen if the residents are home during such an accident. This is why, as a pet owner, it’s especially important to take all necessary safety precautions. Lock the stove, put cooling appliances like irons or curling wands out of your pet’s reach, and make sure nothing dangerous is left plugged in.

Make sure your cat doesn't have access to anything dangerous while he/she is alone

Make Sure Your Cat Can’t Access Anything Dangerous While You’re Away

Beyond the risk of fires, you shouldn’t allow your pet to jump onto the stove at will, because the surface can stay dangerously hot long after use—hot enough to cause serious burns.