Introduction:When you're enjoying the healing time of close interaction with furry friends at a cat café, have you ever considered the potential risks? A customer in Guangzhou was bitten by a British longhair cat during an interaction and, after seeking medical treatment, demanded over 3,000 yuan in compensation for medical and emotional distress from the business. However, the shop refused to pay, citing that it had "fulfilled its duty to inform." This incident has not only sparked public discussion about safety responsibilities in cat cafés but also serves as a reminder to every coffee lover to be aware of their rights and protective measures while immersing themselves in the charm of feline companions.
Recently, an incident occurred at a cat café in Guangzhou where a customer was bitten by a cat in the store, leading to a dispute over liability between the consumer and the business. While interacting with a British longhair cat, the customer’s right hand was accidentally bitten, leaving a visible wound on the back of the hand. Although the staff immediately disinfected the wound with iodine tincture, the customer found that the wound continued to bleed after returning home and subsequently went to the hospital to get a rabies vaccine upon the advice of family members.
After the incident, the customer and their family went to the cat café to negotiate compensation, requesting a total of over 3,000 yuan for medical expenses and emotional distress. The family stated that just the first day’s medical costs amounted to about 700 yuan, estimating that the total cost for five days of treatment would exceed 3,500 yuan. However, the shop owner did not accept this compensation request, and the communication between the two parties reached a deadlock. Even police mediation failed to resolve the disagreement.
According to on-site observations, the cat café had a prominent "Store Notice" sign at the entrance, clearly stating, "Please do not tease the cats when feeding them, as accidents may easily occur," and listing clauses such as "The cats have been vaccinated against rabies. If you are accidentally scratched or bitten and need a vaccine or experience allergies or other issues, this shop cannot be held responsible." Staff also revealed that the involved cat is generally gentle in temperament and does not actively attack customers, but sudden incidents are still difficult to prevent.
Further investigation found that the involved customer had entered the café that day by purchasing a group package through a third-party platform, and the package information had already stated in advance that "there are certain risks associated with contacting pet cats." In addition, the staff confirmed that when the customer entered the store, they repeatedly reminded them of the "Store Notice" and related precautions, and verbally informed them: "If you get injured, we will disinfect it for you. If you’re still afraid and need to go to the hospital, you’ll have to cover the cost yourself. If you agree, you can come in."
The cat café operator stated that they had actively communicated with the customer and their family after the incident, but the compensation demand of 3,000 yuan for medical expenses plus emotional distress was too high, especially since the customer was an adult and all risks had been clearly explained before entering. The café manager further explained that they were not unwilling to handle the matter, but the compensation amount demanded by the other party did not align with the facts, placing excessive pressure on the business. At the same time, the manager also mentioned that the cat that bit the customer is usually stable in temperament and should not be regarded as "vicious," nor should the business be entirely blamed for poor management.
However, the customer’s side insisted that since they chose to patronize the cat café, the business should provide basic service safety guarantees and should not entirely shift the risk onto the consumer. "Whose responsibility is it if such an aggressive cat is allowed to be petted? It’s not yours?" questioned the customer’s family, who believed that the business was lacking in both risk control and post-incident handling attitudes.
As the two parties were unable to reach a consensus, the cat café operator has stated that they will no longer negotiate with the involved individual and suggested resolving the dispute through legal channels. This incident also serves as a reminder to all coffee and feline lovers that when choosing a cat café, in addition to paying attention to the environment and service quality, one should also pay attention to whether the shop has clear risk disclosures and safety measures to protect their own rights.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
