Nanning kitten stomping incident
The Nanning kitten stomping incident, also known as the stomping of the kitten "Huashi", was a widely publicized case of animal cruelty that occurred in Nanning, Guangxi, China, on December 1, 2020. In the incident, a man was recorded by a security camera deliberately and without provocation stomping to death a four-month-old kitten named "Huashi" that was resting outside a storefront.[1]
| Nanning kitten stomping incident | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Key Details | |
| Location | Nanning, Guangxi, China |
| Species Involved | Cats |
| Type of Abuse | Physical harm |
| Timeline | |
| Date of Incident | December 1, 2020 |
| Date Discovered | December 2, 2020 |
| Date Closed | — |
| Status & Outcome | |
| Case Status | — |
| Perpetrator | Possibly a shop owner nearby |
| Aftermath | Widespread online condemnation, calls for animal protection laws. |
| Cat killer | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Name | — |
| Age | — |
| Occupation | Possibly a shop owner nearby |
| Known Identifiers | — |
| Status | Perpetrator |
| Involvement | Stomped a four-month-old kitten to death. |
| Punitive Measure | Perpetrator found by police; reportedly apologized and paid 200 RMB in compensation. |
The incident garnered massive public attention after being reported by the state-run media outlet People's Daily on its Weibo account. The post received over 7 million views, more than 35,000 likes, 6,000 comments, and 1,700 shares, with the vast majority of comments condemning the man's cruelty. Subsequent developments, including the identification of the perpetrator by police, were closely followed by netizens.[1]
The Incident
According to the official Weibo post and surveillance footage released by People's Daily on December 2, 2020, the incident took place on December 1. The footage shows a man walking past a fruit store and noticing a small kitten (later identified as "Huashi") resting near the entrance. He then approaches and kicks the kitten four consecutive times. After the assault, the man stood by for approximately half a minute, watching the kitten struggle in agony. Before leaving, he kicked it one final time, apparently to check if it was dead.[1]
Aftermath and Public Reaction
Perpetrator's Arrest and Outcome
Following the video's release, outraged netizens quickly began an online manhunt to identify the man. According to multiple local social media users, the perpetrator was soon located by the Nanning police and taken to a police station for questioning.[2][3]
Later reports from users following the case stated that the man apologized to the kitten's owner and provided financial compensation. The compensation amount was allegedly 200 RMB.[4][5]
Perpetrator's Justification
In a video posted by Weibo user "绿城小飞棍", the perpetrator is seen surrounded by police and onlookers, where he attempted to justify his actions by claiming he attacked the kitten because it was defecating on the roadside.[6] This explanation was widely rejected by the public, with many commentators arguing that the violent response was completely disproportionate and unjustified.
About the Victim Kitten, "Huashi"
According to a netizen familiar with the situation who commented on the People's Daily post, the slain kitten's name was "Huashi" (花狮, lit. "Flower Lion"), and he was only four months old. He was the "store cat" for a fruit shop at the Dongge-Sixian intersection in Nanning. Huashi was described as being very friendly with people, intelligent, and well-loved by the local residents and neighboring shopkeepers.[2]
The user also shared a poignant detail: on the morning of the incident, a neighboring shop owner had brought half a fish for Huashi, but he was killed before he had a chance to eat it. Another cat at the shop, named "Qiuqiu" (球球), was unharmed as it had been sleeping inside at the time.[2]
Social Discussion and Calls for Legislation
The fact that the perpetrator faced no significant legal consequences beyond a small payment fueled a widespread public discussion about the need for a comprehensive animal protection law in the People's Republic of China. Many animal rights activists and netizens argued that the lack of legal protection for animals is a primary reason such acts of cruelty occur without serious repercussions. The Weibo account "南宁流浪猫" commented, "Without the protection of relevant laws, small animals remain in grave danger... We call for the swift introduction of an animal protection law!"[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 People's Daily.(2020-12-02). "【残忍！#男子连续飞踹路边小猫#】", Sina Weibo. Retrieved 2025-08-31from https://weibo.com/2803301701/JwBMbus23
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 钱来钱来好多钱从四面八方来.(2020-12-02). "Comment under the People's Daily Weibo post", Sina Weibo. Retrieved 2025-08-31from https://weibo.com/2803301701/JwBMbus23
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 南宁流浪猫 (Nanning Stray Cats).(2020-12-02). "凶手已经抓到了，也上了警局…", Sina Weibo. Retrieved 2025-08-31from https://weibo.com/1735686260/JwEFRu8LM
- ↑ 钱来钱来好多钱从四面八方来.(2020-12-02). "Comment under the "南宁流浪猫" Weibo post", Sina Weibo. Retrieved 2025-08-31from https://weibo.com/1735686260/JwEFRu8LM
- ↑ 郁川青主.(2020-12-02). "Reply under the "南宁流浪猫" Weibo post", Sina Weibo. Retrieved 2025-08-31from https://weibo.com/1735686260/JwEFRu8LM
- ↑ 绿城小飞棍.(2020-12-02). "即使拉屎有必要连续几脚猛地踢吗？", Sina Weibo. Retrieved 2025-08-31from https://weibo.com/5091002309/JwElb8EwM