View source for Anhui Suzhou Xu Xin fraudulent cat adoption abuse case

[[Category:June 2025]]
[[Category:August 2025]]
[[Category:Long-term_Incidents]]
[[Category:Cats]]
[[Category:Weixin]]
[[Category:Douyin]]
{{Infobox Case
| case_name = Suzhou cat adoption and abuse case
| location = Suzhou, Anhui, China
| date_discovered = August 2025
| perpetrator = Xu Xin (徐鑫)
| case_status = Publicly exposed; perpetrator reportedly "educated" by police but remains unrepentant.
| species = Cats
| type_of_abuse = Physical harm
| date_of_incident = As early as June, 2025 - August, 2025
| image = Xu Xin holding a plastic bag containing a dead cat.jpg
| caption = Xu Xin holding a plastic bag with a dead cat inside.
| aftermath = Online outrage and condemnation
}}
{{Infobox Person of Interest
| name = Xu Xin (徐鑫)
| status = Perpetrator
| involvement = Accused of fraudulently adopting over ten cats under the alias "Xu Kaixin" and is suspected of abusing and killing them. He was captured on elevator surveillance video disposing of what is believed to be a cat's body in a trash can.
| pii_status = ID, Phone, and address on record
| title = Fraudulent adopter and cat killer
| image = Xu_Xin_head.png
| age = 29 (at time of incident)
| caption = Xu likely being confronted
}}
The '''Suzhou cat adoption and abuse case''' involves a man named '''Xu Xin''' (徐鑫) from Suzhou (宿州), Anhui, who was publicly exposed in August 2025 for allegedly perpetrating a fraudulent cat adoption scheme.<ref name="WeiboExpose">{{cite web |author=彩色地球守护人 |title=#警惕安徽宿州一男子骗领养猫# (Warning: A man in Suzhou, Anhui is fraudulently adopting cats) |website=Weibo |date=2025-08-23 |access-date=2025-08-25}}</ref><ref name="WeChatComplaint">{{cite web |author=Multiple rescuers |title=Complaint regarding long-term fraudulent adoption and cat abuse by a resident of Yongqiao District, Suzhou City |website=WeChat |date=2025-08-23 |access-date=2025-08-25}}</ref> He is accused of deceiving more than ten rescuers into giving him their cats, which are now all missing and presumed to have been abused or killed.<ref name="WeiboExpose" /><ref name="WeChatComplaint" /> The case is supported by elevator surveillance footage showing Xu disposing of what is believed to be a cat's body.<ref name="WeiboExpose" /><ref name="WeChatComplaint" /> According to circulated reports, he has been "educated" by police but remains unrepentant, prompting a public complaint calling for stricter legal action.<ref name="WeChatComplaint" />

== Modus operandi ==
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Chat log screenshots: Xu and rescuers; rescuers discussing their suspicions">
File:Xu Xin case related chat log.jpg
File:Xu Xin case related chat log2.jpg
File:Xu Xin case related chat log3.jpg
File:Xu Xin case related chat log4.jpg
File:Xu Xin case related chat log5.jpg
File:Xu Xin case related chat log6.jpg
</gallery>Xu Xin allegedly used Douyin and WeChat accounts under the alias "徐开心" to contact animal rescuers.<ref name="WeiboExpose" /><ref name="WeChatComplaint" /> To gain their trust, he would agree to all terms of the adoption agreement, such as providing scientific care and regular feedback, and would ask the rescuer to deliver the cat directly to his residence.<ref name="WeiboExpose" />
[[File:Xu Xin likely being confronted.jpg|none|thumb|Xu Xin likely being confronted by rescuers.]]
However, once the cat was in his possession, he would reportedly become evasive or uncontactable.<ref name="WeiboExpose" /> When confronted, he would claim the cat had been "lost" but refused to cooperate in any search efforts.<ref name="WeiboExpose" />
[[File:Xu Xin case August 15 tabby cat pic.jpg|none|thumb|The tabby cat adopted and subsequently killed by Xu on August 15.]]

== Documented incidents and evidence ==
[[File:Xu Xin case evidence.jpg|none|thumb|"Surveillance footage captured him disposing of the cat’s body; large amounts of cat fur were left in the bathroom, and bloodstains remained on the room’s walls."]]
The fraudulent adoptions took place between June and August 2025.<ref name="WeiboExpose" />
[[File:Xu Xin fraudulent adopter since as early as June 28.jpg|none|thumb|"Since June 28, he has fraudulently adopted at least three cats and continues to do so frequently. More than ten victims have been identified, indicating a large number of fraudulent adoptions."]]
* '''Before June 28:''' Xu adopted three cats, including one pregnant cat, after which he cut off all contact with the original owners.<ref name="WeiboExpose" />
[[File:Xu Xin case August 10 tabby cat.jpg|none|thumb|"On August 10, he fraudulently adopted a tabby cat and subsequently became unreachable."]]
[[File:Xu Xin case August 11 tabby cat.jpg|none|thumb|"On August 11, he fraudulently adopted a tabby cat, after which he became unreachable and the cat’s whereabouts remain unknown."]]
[[File:Xu Xin case August 15 tabby cat.jpg|none|thumb|"On August 15, he adopted a Maine Coon cat (editor’s note: actually a tabby cat resembling a Maine Coon). The cat was killed the same day, and elevator surveillance footage captured the disposal of the body."]]
* '''August 10, 11, and 15:''' He fraudulently obtained several more cats, and provided no updates on their well-being.<ref name="WeiboExpose" />
[[File:Xu Xin leaving with dead cat.jpg|none|thumb|Xu Xin in an elevator, carrying a dead cat in a plastic bag.]]
* '''August 16:''' At 10:13 PM, elevator surveillance video captured Xu carrying a bag, suspected to contain a cat's body, and disposing of it in a downstairs trash can. The cat was believed to be the tabby cat he had adopted on August 15 through Douyin.<ref name="WeiboExpose" /><ref name="WeChatComplaint" />

== Police response and public demands ==
According to a widely circulated complaint, Xu Xin was "educated" by police for his actions.<ref name="WeChatComplaint" /> However, he was described as remaining unrepentant, and on August 22, cat fur suspected to be from abused animals was reportedly found at his residence.<ref name="WeChatComplaint" />
[[File:Xu Xin case related Weixin warning.png|none|thumb|Rescuers sharing warning messages regarding Xu Xin.]]
In response to the perceived lack of sufficient action, activists circulated a formal complaint demanding that police investigate Xu for "Intentional Destruction of Property" and "Creating a Disturbance" under Articles 49 and 26 of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law.<ref name="WeiboExpose" /><ref name="WeChatComplaint" /> The complaint called for the maximum penalty of 15 days detention and a fine, and requested that authorities issue a written warning to prohibit him from acquiring any more animals.<ref name="WeChatComplaint" />

== Online accounts ==
Xu Xin allegedly used the following accounts for his activities:<ref name="WeiboExpose" /><ref name="WeChatComplaint" />
* '''WeChat 1:''' 徐开心 (ID:<code>xuxin1996521</code>)
* '''WeChat 2:''' XX (ID:<code>wxid_34fzb5lad46w22</code>)
* '''Douyin:''' 徐开心 (ID:<code>43102909540</code>)

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://archive.org/details/anhui-suzhou-xu-xin-fraudulent-adopter-cat-killer-elevator-surveillance Xu Xin (徐鑫) carrying a dead cat in elevator footage - Archive.org]