Messages of support have been pouring in from netizens for a pet ginger cat, which broke loose from its carrier, bit its owner and was thought to have halted a Bangkok to Yala train for seven hours.
New information shared online by passengers in the same compartment has, however, since revealed that the disruption was not caused by the animal but was actually due to two separate locomotive faults, which took more than six hours to repair.
During this time, passengers, including the cat, were stranded in a stifling second-class carriage with just fans circulating hot air.
The cat’s bid for freedom is believed to have been triggered by the extreme heat, combined with the stress of a long journey and prolonged confinement.
Other passengers said that the cat was not aggressive at the beginning of the journey, but suffered stress and possible heatstroke.
When the owner opened the carrier to help it cool down, the animal reacted instinctively, scratching and biting before scrambling under a seat.
The owner suffered some significant injuries, with bite wounds to the hand which bled profusely.
Three railway staff came to assist, using a bedsheet to recapture the irritated feline within about 20 minutes.
The animal was then cooled down, while first aid was administered to the owner. Both the owner and the cat were later able to continue their journey and reached their destination safely.
Initial reports claimed that the cat caused the seven-hour delay, but passengers in the same carriage later took to social media to refute this.
They also defended the owner, saying that they had prepared thoroughly, including an electric fan, cooling towels and water for the pet.
The clarification has prompted many netizens to express sympathy for the cat, noting that it was not responsible for the lengthy delay, but had simply reacted to stressful and overheated conditions.
