Man Finds "Skinny Tabby Kitten" in Sewage, But Veterinarian Stops Him: "It's Not a Cat"

A passerby discovered a weak tabby kitten in a sewer, drenched and barely alive. A kind-hearted individual rescued the kitten with the intention of adopting it. However, upon taking it to the veterinary clinic for examination and vaccinations, they were informed that the kitten could not be kept as a pet because it is a precious protected species.

After the villagers reported the situation, staff from the forestry department quickly arrived at the scene. They speculated that the civet kitten might have accidentally fallen into the sewer while foraging for food at night and was later found after managing to escape. Preliminary examinations revealed no external injuries on the kitten.

According to Li Qing from the Agricultural and Rural Development Service Center in Tongxin Town, Ning'er County, the civet had been trapped in the sewer for about two days without food, and the cold environment had worsened its health condition. The forestry staff cleaned the kitten and helped it regain body temperature through sunlight exposure and warmth. They also fed it meat twice, which improved its mental state gradually.

Subsequently, the civet kitten was transferred to a wildlife rescue center for more detailed care and observation. Data indicates that civets belong to the Viverridae family and typically weigh between 2 to 4 kilograms as adults. The rescued civet weighed only 0.4 kilograms and was not yet fully grown.

Civets primarily consume animal-based foods along with some plant matter. They are solitary nocturnal animals that require very specific living conditions, usually inhabiting shrub layers in low mountain forests or large-leaved forests, as well as tree hollows or rock crevices.

According to reports from China media, a passerby in Menghaitian Village, Tongxin Town, Ning'er County, Yunnan Province, found a drenched and lethargic tabby kitten in a sewer. The compassionate rescuer intended to adopt the kitten but was informed by a veterinarian that it was not an ordinary stray cat. Following this revelation, wildlife research units were called in for identification. After blood tests and visual inspections, it was confirmed that this stray cat is actually a nationally protected species known as the "Small Indian Civet". Civets, also referred to as fragrant cats or musk cats, mainly inhabit Southeast Asia and South Asia, including regions of southern China, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. They primarily feed on mice, insects, frogs, birds, and fruits.

The civet is nocturnal and rests during the day in tree hollows or rock crevices. Currently, this civet has been placed in a local wildlife rescue station in Yunnan where its physical and mental health is gradually improving. Once it grows up and regains its health, consideration will be given to releasing it back into the wild.