Shanghai court to rehear case of cat-related badminton injury

A Shanghai court has announced a retrial of a controversial case involving a man injured after landing on a stray cat while playing badminton.

The Minhang district people's court issued the decision on Wednesday, following a February judgment that ordered a cat feeder to compensate the injured player over 240,000 yuan ($33,219). The initial verdict sparked heated online debate, with some questioning the severity of the punishment.

According to court documents, the plaintiff, surnamed Wu, sustained a minor disability after fracturing his ankle during a badminton game in April 2023. He claims to have landed on a stray cat that was regularly fed by the defendant, identified by his surname Xiao.

Wu filed a lawsuit against both the badminton facility operator and Xiao, seeking compensation for medical expenses, legal fees, and other costs. While the badminton facility contested Wu's account, Xiao admitted to feeding the cat but denied responsibility for its actions. He argued he wasn't present at the time of the incident and couldn't control the stray animal.

The court's announcement, posted on its official WeChat account, stated that a collegiate bench will be formed to conduct a retrial in accordance with the law. The results will be made public promptly.

The badminton court, located in a park, reportedly no longer has stray cats or feeding facilities present. Court staff haven't observed any cats since joining last July and expressed concern for employees who care for strays.

quanzhanfu@chinadaily.com.cn