A scene from a television series showing a black cat twitching on the ground has caused an uproar in Thailand.
Interested viewers of the Thai drama “The Empress of Ayodhaya” have asked what happened to the animal to make its performance so convincing, with some suggesting the possibility of mistreatment and abuse.
Despite the show’s producers trying to reassure audiences about the cat’s safety, a boycott campaign is still gaining traction on social media.
Authorities said they are investigating allegations of animal cruelty.
In a controversial scene, a woman makes her cat drink tea to check if it has been injected with poison. A moment later, the cat lay moaning and writhing on the ground until it “died”.
Social media users, including public figures, quickly took to social media to express their anger over the possible mistreatment of the cat.
Those concerns have now cast a shadow over the drama being marketed as one of the biggest Thai dramas of the year.
“The Empress of Ayodhaya” tells the story of tensions within the royal family of the Ayutthaya period, inspired by the story of a 16th-century Siamese queen.
Thai TV channel One31 and program director Sant Srikaenlaw said the cat was anesthetized under the supervision of experts. Sant added that the cat had regained consciousness and promised to take it for a checkup.
The show’s producers also posted pictures and videos of the cat to prove that it was safe and healthy.
This did little to assuage public outrage.
The Veterinary Council of Thailand, which warns about the dangers of using animal tranquilizers, said it would take action regarding the incident. Meanwhile, Thailand’s Department of Livestock said it has begun investigating allegations of animal cruelty, and requested the cat be examined to ensure it was not harmed.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Monday issued a statement condemning the practice of stunning cats for entertainment, describing the practice as “reckless, dangerous and cruel”.
“The public is justifiably outraged, especially knowing that today, anything is possible with CGI, AI and animatronics,” the statement said. “If you can’t make a TV show without risking the lives of animals then you’re doing it wrong.”
