The owner of a restaurant in Sheung Wan says her two beloved cats were taken away by a frequent customer last December and never brought back.
For Kee Restaurant, a cha chaan teng known for its pork chop dishes, has been missing its endearing feline duo–Ah Loi and Ah Bo–for eight months.
Mrs Lo, the restaurant owner, told HK01 that a customer, who regularly visited the eatery and whom she had known for years, offered to take the cats under her care when Lo had to undergo quarantine. The cats could stay with her at her house until the pandemic eases, the customer said.
As the customer was a familiar face at the restaurant and often played with the cats whenever she visited, Mrs Lo agreed.
But months ago, when Mrs Lo called her to ask for her pets back, she was unwilling to return the cats. She said that the cats were sick or injured, claiming that the restaurant owners mistreated them.
Ah Loi, the elder cat, has been Mrs Lo’s company for over 20 years, while Ah Bo joined the family eight years ago. The orange tabby cat duo has since become the cha chaan teng’s mascots, often photographed outside the eatery’s entrance by the restaurant’s customers.
Mrs Lo, who misses her pets dearly, said she felt that she was tricked into entrusting the cats to the customer’s care. Having not seen the cats since last year, diners at the cha chaan teng often wonder where the pets are, she added.
“Once, about 30 customers asked about the cats in a day,” Mrs Lo said.
Worried about her cats’ well-being, Lo told HK01 she is considering reporting the incident to the police.
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