Maoming Jiang Xu fraudulent cat adoption abuse case
| Maoming Jiang Xu fraudulent cat adoption abuse case | |
|---|---|
|
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| Key Details | |
| Location | Maoming, Guangdong, China |
| Species Involved | Cats |
| Type of Abuse | Physical harm/online distribution of abuse content |
| Timeline | |
| Date of Incident | Until August 26, 2025 |
| Date Discovered | August 26, 2025 |
| Date Closed | — |
| Status & Outcome | |
| Case Status | Perpetrator reportedly released without charge |
| Perpetrator | Jiang Xu (江叙) |
| Aftermath | Online outrage and condemnation |
| Fraudulent adopter and cat killer | |
|---|---|
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| |
| Name | Jiang Xu (江叙) |
| Age | 27 (at time of incident) |
| Occupation | Unemployed |
| Known Identifiers | ID and Phone(s) on record |
| Status | Released |
| Involvement | Accused of fraudulently adopting cats, torturing and killing them, and distributing the graphic videos on Telegram. He is reportedly a dropout or on a leave of absence from the Department of Mathematics at Sun Yat-sen University. |
| Punitive Measure | — |
The Maoming Jiang Xu fraudulent cat adoption abuse case is an animal cruelty incident that occurred in Maoming, Guangdong, China in August 2025.[1] The case involves Jiang Xu (江叙), a 27-year-old unemployed man reported to be a dropout or on a leave of absence from the Department of Mathematics at Sun Yat-sen University (中山大学).[2] He was arrested on August 27, 2025, but was reportedly released shortly after without facing punishment, sparking further public outrage.[2] He is accused of fraudulently adopting cats, torturing them to death, and distributing the violent videos on overseas platforms like Telegram.[3] The case gained significant attention and a multi-departmental police response, reportedly due to Jiang's use of Chinese national leaders' names in a derogatory manner in connection with his crimes.[4]
The incident and exposure
- Before Jiang's exposure and arrest, Weibo user 鸭圣婆 posted about the case on Weibo based on a tip from a netizen.
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On the afternoon of August 26, 2025, Jiang Xu used his online accounts to fraudulently adopt a pet cat from a local resident.[4] That same afternoon, he tortured and killed the cat, reportedly by cutting it in half with a lever-operated guillotine, and created a graphic video of the act.[1][4] He then distributed the video on the messaging platform Telegram.[4]
- Two kittens tortured and killed by Jiang
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That evening, the original rescuer and other netizens discovered the video, identified the cat, and realized what had happened.[4] The rescuer immediately posted a public call for help on social media, which quickly led to a large-scale "online manhunt" by netizens to identify the perpetrator.[1][3]
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After being exposed, Jiang contacted the original rescuer and threatened her, stating that "exposing this is not good for either of us," in an attempt to have her delete the post.[4]
Police investigation and arrest
After compiling seven pages of evidence, including chat logs and the graphic videos, several rescuers filed a formal report with the police on the evening of August 27, 2025.[4] The police response was reportedly swift and multi-departmental.[4] Officers from two different local police stations, as well as leaders from public security (治安), cyber security (网监), and national security (国保) divisions, became involved.[4]
Within an hour of the report being filed, Jiang Xu was located and arrested.[4] He was detained, and his phone was confiscated, which reportedly revealed his involvement in an "overseas reactionary group."[4]
Release and Controversy
On August 30, 2025, information circulated on WeChat alleging that Jiang Xu had been released without any punishment.[2] According to these sources, the handling police officers stated that Jiang should be "given a chance," citing his depression as a mitigating factor. This decision triggered a new wave of public anger, with activists and netizens questioning why Jiang's mental health was considered while the trauma inflicted upon the cat owners and volunteers who witnessed the abuse was not.[2]
The release led to widespread speculation that Jiang's parents, who allegedly work at the Agricultural Bank of China, may have used their influence or financial means ("钞能力," lit. "money power") to secure his release. Netizens also pointed out an apparent contradiction in the authorities' handling of the case: while Jiang was released despite the extreme animal cruelty, police seemed to ignore other videos where he allegedly insulted national leaders.[2] In response, activists began circulating a local Maonan district phone number (0668-110), urging the public to call and demand an explanation for Jiang's release.[2]
Online activity and political provocations
A central aspect of the case was Jiang Xu's use of politically charged and derogatory names for his online accounts used to distribute the abuse videos.[4]
- He used the Telegram username mao zedong in what was described as an "anti-China, reactionary" online group known for sharing graphic content.[4][3] This was seen as a grave insult to the late Chairman Mao Zedong and a violation of laws protecting the honor of national heroes.[4]
- In another video, he allegedly insulted the current national leader, President Xi Jinping, by comparing his own appearance to the President's while committing acts of violence, asking, "Am I more handsome, or is Xi Jinping more handsome?"[4]
After his initial exposure on August 26, he changed his Telegram username from "mao zedong" to "猫 爱咪" (Cat Aimi).[3]
Legal analysis
The public complaints and legal analyses circulated by activists and experts argued that Jiang's actions violated numerous Chinese laws, extending far beyond animal cruelty.[4][3] The alleged violations include:
- Insulting and Slandering Others (Article 246, Criminal Law; Article 42, Public Security Administration Punishment Law)[4]
- Infringing on the Honor of Heroes and Martyrs (Article 299, Criminal Law) for his use of Mao Zedong's name.[4]
- Intentional Destruction of Property (Article 49, Public Security Administration Punishment Law) for killing the fraudulently adopted pet cats.[4]
- Spreading Violent Information (Article 12, Cybersecurity Law).[4]
- Illegal International Internet Access (Article 6, Provisional Regulations on the Management of International Networking) for using a VPN ("翻墙") to access Telegram.[4]
Additional information
Jiang Xu allegedly used the following accounts for his activities:[3]
- WeChat: jxsysu (ID:
caranimon) - Xiaohongshu 1: 小红薯 68AEB647 (ID:
877593983) - Xiaohongshu 2: 用户名jISO方便xjsk or 用户名jlSO方便xjsk (ID:
95595011658)
- Xianyu: 胖嘟嘟的巧克力熊
- Telegram: mao zedong (before August 26), 猫 爱咪 (after August 26)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 鸭圣婆.(2025-08-26). "Post regarding the fraudulent adoption of a tuxedo cat", Weibo. Retrieved 2025-08-28from https://weibo.com/1788857141/Q1EmIjmM2
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 WeChat message.(2025-08-30). "New developments regarding Jiang Xu's release", WeChat. Retrieved 2025-08-30
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 帮毛孩子找到回家的路.(2025-08-28). "咸鱼上骗领养的虐猫蛆找到了，广东茂名江叙你的好日子头到了！ (The cat-abusing maggot who scammed adoptions on Xianyu has been found, Jiang Xu of Maoming, Guangdong, your good days are over!)", WeChat Official Account. Retrieved 2025-08-28
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 Rescuers' group chat.(2025-08-28). "Internal discussion and complaint regarding Jiang Xu's arrest and crimes", WeChat. Retrieved 2025-08-28