Screenshot of the police statement released by Haikou police in South China's Hainan Province on its Weibo account on May 22, 2025.

Three individuals have each been sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention and fined for spreading false rumors about cat abuse and inciting public opinion, according to a statement released by Haikou police in South China's Hainan Province on Thursday.

On Monday, a car in Haikou was observed dragging a cat while in motion, with one end of a rope tied to the cat's paw and the other attached to the vehicle's underside, domestic news outlet ThePaper reported.

The car sped through the neighborhood, prompting bystanders to report the incident to the police. Authorities located the vehicle and detained the driver, however the cat had unfortunately died, according to the report.

Following the incident, online rumors accused the driver of intentionally abusing the cat, sparking public outrage.

The Haikou police on Thursday released a statement, saying that three individuals have each been sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention along with fines for spreading false rumors about cat abuse and inciting public opinion, in accordance with relevant laws.

According to the statement, a 30-year-old man surnamed Shi, after viewing related videos and images online, fabricated unfounded rumors about someone "abusing cats" without any factual basis, disseminated false information on social platforms while disclosing the driver's personal details

A 25-year-old woman surnamed Ran organized others to chant slogans denouncing the individual in front of public security authorities and livestreamed the event by using false information, the statement said.

A 31-year-old woman surnamed Chen arbitrarily disseminated citizens' personal information online to manipulate public opinion, according to the police statement.

The statement noted that all three individuals' actions have caused significant harm. Investigations into other individuals potentially involved in illegal activities related to the case are underway.

Earlier, local police confirmed in an official statement on Tuesday — supported by released footage — that the incident was accidental, with no evidence of intentional animal abuse by the driver.

Additionally, the Hainan Small Animal Protect Association reported that the dragged cat had died, and no signs of abuse were found on the cat's body, according to the Beijing News.


Global Times