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A cat that fell into a vat of toxic chemicals sounds like the beginning of a superhero origin story, but that situation has sparked a minor panic in a city in Japan where residents have been told to keep a sharp eye out for the animal in question.
You might think a company that relies on toxic materials to produce its products would keep a pretty tight lid on its operations, but the Nomura Plating factory in Fukuyama, Japan was unable to stop a cat from wandering into its facility earlier this week.
According to The Washington Post, workers at the factory realized something was amiss on Monday morning when they noticed a set of yellow footprints next to a vat of hexavalent chromium (a.k.a chromium 6, which the outlet notes is the same substance that sparked the environmental saga chronicled in the movie Erin Brockovich).
After reviewing the security footage, they determined the culprit was a feline that was captured entering and exiting the factory in the middle of the night and determined it fell into the chromium vat at some point during its visit.
The city’s health officials quickly issued a warning to residents who have been told to keep a lookout for a cat exhibiting “abnormal behavior” stemming from the risks that come with being exposed to the yellow-brown substance it’s likely covered in, advising them to avoid coming in contact with the animal if they do encounter it.
The consequences of ingesting hexavalent chromium include “abdominal pain, diarrhea, and heart failure” in addition to other organ failure, and workers wear a fair amount of protective gear when they’re in the vicinity of the substance.
Officials acknowledged there’s a chance the cat has already passed away, but they’re not taking any chances until they’re able to definitively determine its fate.