How Does Liability Work in a Cat Café Coffee Dispute?

A customer in Guangzhou was bitten by a British Longhair cat at a cat café, then received a rabies vaccine and sought more than 3,000 yuan in medical costs and emotional distress compensation. The shop refused, saying group-buy packages and in-store notices had disclosed the risks and that an adult customer should not leave the business fully liable. Police mediation failed, so the case remains unresolved.

The dispute turns on duty of care: the customer argues the café did not do enough to protect guests, while the owner points to posted warnings. Since no agreement was reached, liability would likely be decided by negotiation or a civil claim. For anyone visiting a coffee cat coffee venue, checking notices and choosing a well-run shop reduces both risk and conflict.

Recently, a customer was bitten by a cat in a cat café in Guangzhou. After seeking medical treatment, the customer demanded more than 3,000 yuan in medical expenses and compensation for emotional distress from the business, but was refused by the owner. The business claimed that it had clearly informed customers of the risks in its group-buy package and in-store notices, and that since the customer was an adult, the shop should not bear full responsibility; the customer side believed that the business had failed to fulfill its duty of safety protection. Both sides held their own views, and negotiations reached a deadlock. The incident has attracted widespread attention. How exactly should liability be divided when someone is scratched or bitten by a pet in a cat café? As coffee lovers, how can we protect our own safety while enjoying the pleasure of petting cats and drinking coffee? Front Street Coffee reminds you that choosing a reputable cat café and understanding the relevant notices is the best way to better enjoy time interacting with cats.

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Recently, according to a report by Guangdong TV's Touch News, a customer in Guangzhou was bitten while interacting with a cat in a cat café, then went to the hospital to receive a rabies vaccine and demanded compensation from the shop for medical expenses and emotional distress, but the owner explicitly refused.

It is understood that while playing with a British Longhair cat in the shop that day, the customer accidentally got bitten on the right hand, leaving a clear wound on the back of the hand. After the incident, staff used iodophor to give the customer preliminary disinfection, but on the way home the customer found that the wound was still bleeding. After being reminded by family members, the customer went to the hospital for a rabies vaccine.

Afterward, the customer, accompanied by relatives, came to the coffee shop to negotiate compensation, but communication did not go smoothly. The customer then called the police. After police arrived and mediated, the two sides still failed to reach an agreement.

The relative of the person involved told reporters that they demanded the shop compensate for medical expenses as well as emotional distress caused by the injury. "The first day's medical expenses alone cost more than 700 yuan. Calculated over five days, that comes to 3,500 yuan."

When reporters visited the cat café involved, they saw a conspicuous "Entry Notice" sign at the entrance, stating terms such as "Please do not tease the cats when feeding, as accidents can easily occur" and "The cats have been vaccinated against rabies. If accidental scratches require vaccination or allergic reactions occur, we cannot be held responsible." The reporter tried to interact with the cat that had bitten someone and found that its temperament was still fairly gentle and it would not actively attack people.

A cat café employee said in an interview that the customer had used a group-buy package from a third-party platform that day, and the package details had already clearly noted and informed that contact with pet cats carries certain risks.

After the customer arrived at the shop, the staff also repeatedly emphasized the "Entry Notice" on the wall and the precautions for interacting with cats, and explained in advance: "If you get injured, we will disinfect it for you. If you are still worried and need to go to the hospital, you will have to pay for it yourself. If you agree, you can come in."

The cat café operator told reporters that after the incident, they had explained the situation to the injured customer and family members, but the other party believed the shop's attitude was passive and uncooperative regarding follow-up compensation.

The shop manager said helplessly that it was not that they did not want to handle it, but that the other party's claim amount was too high. "He said more than 3,000 yuan and also compensation for emotional distress, and compensation because his daughter could not go to school. I said your amount is too large, and your daughter is also 18 and an adult. Everything here was clearly explained. So under these circumstances, if you demand such high compensation, the burden on us as a business is also very heavy."

However, the customer side did not accept the shop's explanation, believing that after the customer entered the shop to consume, the business provided services but did not guarantee the customer's most basic safety. "A cat this aggressive is being let people pet it. If that's not your responsibility, whose is it?"

Because the two sides could not settle the dispute, the cat café operator has refused to negotiate further with the person involved and suggested that the other party protect their rights through legal channels.

Image source: internet screenshot

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.