A court in eastern China has cancelled the planned auction of a cat that was to be sold to help repay its owner’s debts, and the animal has now been adopted by a cat lover.
The three-year-old Chinese Li Hua cat, reportedly named “Coal Ball,” was removed from the auction platform on August 23 after creditors withdrew their request, though no official reason was given. The auction, which had been scheduled on Alibaba’s Judicial Auction Platform for September 3, had attracted over 450,000 views and more than 5,000 bidders. Each bidder had paid a 50-yuan deposit, which has since been refunded.
Under Chinese law, pets such as cats and dogs are considered personal property. If not a protected species, they can be seized and auctioned to cover unpaid debts. In this case, the cat’s owner had defaulted on nearly four million yuan (US$560,000) in bank loans. In 2022, the court seized all of the owner’s assets, including the cat, valued at 714 yuan (US$100).
Prior to the auction, the cat was housed in a pet shop, where boarding fees had risen to over 20,000 yuan (US$2,800). According to the pet shop owner, the male cat was vaccinated, unneutered, in good health, and had a sweet temperament.
The unusual auction sparked a flurry of attention on Chinese social media. Observers expressed relief that the auction was cancelled, noting that the cat now has the opportunity to live in a loving home.
A Beijing-based lawyer, Chang Sha, noted that courts generally require bidders to demonstrate their ability to provide proper care. If an animal welfare organization submits a fostering plan, the court may allow the animal to be placed in temporary care until a permanent home is secured.
This is not the first instance of animals being auctioned to cover debts in China. Earlier this year, a Shenzhen court auctioned 100 tonnes of live crocodiles after the owning company failed to meet its financial obligations.
