Chengdu serial kitten adoption abuse case
The Chengdu serial kitten adoption abuse case is a long-term case of fraudulent animal adoptions and abuses in Chengdu, Sichuan, involving a woman named Yu Yue Lin (余越林). For over a year, Yu has been accused of deceiving rescuers to adopt dozens of young kittens, many of which subsequently died or disappeared. The case gained wider attention within online animal welfare communities between April and July of 2025, as activists began compiling evidence and circulating warnings to prevent further victimization.[1]
| Case Details | |
|---|---|
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| Key Details | |
| Location | Chengdu, Sichuan, China |
| Species Involved | Cats |
| Type of Abuse | Physical harm |
| Timeline | |
| Date of Incident | Since 2024 |
| Date Discovered | Likely April 2025 |
| Date Closed | — |
| Status & Outcome | |
| Case Status | Suspect identified and questioned |
| Perpetrator | Yu Yue Lin (余越林) |
| Aftermath | Sparked outrage among cat rescuers |
| Serial kitten abuser/killer | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Yu Yue Lin (余越林) |
| Age | 25 (as of June 2025) |
| Occupation | Possibly a teacher |
| Known Identifiers | ID and Phone(s) on record |
| Status | Suspect |
| Involvement | Fraudulently adopted dozens of kittens for over a year using deceptive methods, such as pretending to be a child. Repeatedly refused to return the kittens or disclose their status and continued adoption activities despite multiple police warnings. |
| Punitive Measure | Has been the subject of multiple police complaints filed by rescuers. Formally warned by police on June 7, 2025 that any further offenses would result in detention. |
Background
The alleged perpetrator is Yu Yue Lin (余越林), a woman born in 1999 residing in Chengdu. In an effort to expose her activities and warn other rescuers, activists on social media platforms like WeChat and Xiaohongshu circulated information they had gathered, including her full name and previously used contact details. She was known to use multiple online aliases and social media accounts to perpetrate the adoptions.[1]
Modus operandi
Yu Yue Lin primarily targets young kittens (奶猫), including unweaned kittens who still require their mother's milk. A key part of her method is to use a deceptive, child-like tone in online chats to present a naive and innocent persona, thereby lowering the rescuer's guard.[1]
After successfully obtaining a kitten, she allegedly refuses to return it or provide any information on its well-being. When questioned, she has used various excuses for the animals' disappearance, as seen in circulated chat logs:[1]
- On February 27, she claimed: "My grandpa said I couldn't keep it alive, so I gave it to an experienced lady."
- In another undated chat, she said: "Miss, I showed my grandpa when I got home, and he said it was too small to survive, so I gave it to an experienced lady this afternoon, I'm so sorry."
- In a different chat, she offered a different excuse: "Miss, my parents won't let me keep cats anymore, or should I send it back to you?"
According to an online poster circulated on July 10, Yu admitted that many cats had died in her care, but she blamed the deaths on her grandfather giving them away or on her own inability to care for them properly.[1]
Timeline of known incidents
The following is a partial list of alleged incidents compiled by activists as of July 10, 2025.[1]
- February 18, 2025: Adopted three kittens (one orange, two orange-and-white). Their status is unknown.
- March 29, 2025: Adopted a white kitten with a black spot on its head.
- April 1, 2025: The kitten from March 29 was rescued from Yu's home after she allegedly bathed it. The kitten died shortly after being rescued.
- April 3, 2025: Adopted a tabby kitten and a blue kitten.
- April 8, 2025: The two kittens from April 3 were rescued from her possession. Their condition was reported to be poor. On the same day, a widespread warning about her activities was posted in a WeChat group.
- Undated Incidents: At least three other kittens were adopted from different rescuers. A check on her home found that a blue cat and a calico cat were missing, while a black-and-white "tuxedo" kitten was still with her.[1]
- Photos of unclear origin, seem to be taken near Yu's alleged residence:
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Police involvement and legal status
Multiple rescuers have filed police reports against Yu Yue Lin over the course of her activities. In one instance, a rescuer who successfully retrieved their kitten stated they had called the police late at night, which resulted in a police visit.[1]
On June 7, 2024, the Xi'an Road Police Station in Chengdu issued a formal warning to Yu, stating that any further offenses would result in detention. Despite this warning, she was known to have fraudulently adopted at least two more kittens shortly before the July 10 report was compiled.[1]
A complaint against her was circulated online, calling for the maximum legal penalty. It cited Article 49 (intentional destruction of property) and Article 22 (aggravating circumstances) of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law, recommending a punishment of 15 days of administrative detention and a 2000 yuan fine.[1]
Additional information
As of July 2025, Yu Yue Lin was reportedly using the following active social media accounts:[1]
- An account on the platform Xiaohongshu with the following details:
- Name: Dreamboat
- Xiaohongshu ID:
762123156
- An account on the platform Weixin with the following details:
- Name: 笨狗
- Weixin ID:
xtz112000