Stray cat on badminton court lands man $33,000 judgment

A Shanghai court has ruled that a badminton facility and the feeder of a stray cat are jointly responsible for a man's injury sustained when he accidentally stepped on the animal during a game.

The man, identified by his surname Wu, was awarded 240,198.2 yuan ($33,334) in compensation after the court determined the stray cat caused him to fall and fracture his ankle. The incident occurred in April 2020 at a badminton facility in Minhang district.

According to court documents, Wu was playing badminton when he landed on the cat while attempting a jump smash. The fall resulted in fractures to his right ankle and fibula, leaving him with a minor disability.

Wu sued the badminton facility operator and the man who regularly fed the cat, identified by his surname Xiao. He sought a total of 351,062.72 yuan ($49,223) to cover medical expenses, legal fees, and other costs.

The badminton facility contested Wu's account, denying the presence of a stray cat and suggesting the injury could be work-related due to the badminton activity being company-organized.

Xiao, while admitting to feeding the cat, denied being present at the time of the incident and argued he shouldn't be held liable as he couldn't control the stray animal.

The court, after reviewing witness testimonies and evidence, concluded Wu's injury resulted from stepping on the cat. It ruled that Xiao, as the caretaker, bears responsibility for the animal's actions under legal provisions concerning animal ownership.

The Feb 2 judgment orders Xiao to compensate Wu over 240,000 yuan within 10 days. The badminton facility is required to cover any remaining amount if Xiao fails to do so, with the option to seek reimbursement from Xiao later.