Clever cat almost lands SA couple under lockdown in China in hot water

Two young South Africans who took the unusual decision to return to China last month almost ended up in jail thanks to their wickedly clever cat.

We have all heard the excuse “the dog ate my homework”, but trying to explain to irate Chinese guards via a translator that your cat opened the door to your locked-down apartment is a whole different ball game, as Mia Solomon and Carl de Wit found out on their return to China.

Solomon, 25, is a Capetonian and her partner De Wit, 29, is from Port Elizabeth. They love their teaching jobs in Chengdu, the “Panda capital” in Sichuan province,  and headed back there in March despite China being the origin of the Covid-19 disease.

While infections in the rest of the world took hold, infections in China appeared to be better controlled and they wanted to get back to their lives together.

Solomon has worked in China for a year and De Wit for almost six years.

 “We’re both happy living here and we were excited to get back to our home away from home. They’ve dealt with (Covid­-19) for long enough to be able to have an idea of what to do so we felt fine coming back,” Solomon told DispatchLIVE.

Both teachers were required to undergo mandatory quarantine before returning to work.

Solomon said the Chinese were fastidious in their battle against the infectious disease.

They were met by people in hazmat-type suits at the airport and it took hours to get through passport control. Countless forms later and they were whisked away to a hotel for testing and three days of quarantine.

When they tested negative, they were bused to the front gate of their apartment block.

“This is where things got a little tricky for us because we had to spend another 11 days in home quarantine in our fourth-floor flat. You are forbidden from even opening your door unless instructed to.”

Something resembling crime scene tape had been stuck to their door. If it is moved and there is any sign that the door has been opened without permission there are serious legal repercussions.

But Solomon said quarantine was made easy by guards who brought up groceries and online purchases and took out the trash before sealing them back in.

“The guards were even nice enough to bring us our cat, who our friends had been looking after for the two months we were away.”

Their Chinese cat, Baijiu — pronounced “bye-joe” — is named after a traditional drink made in China containing up to 50% alcohol.

“If witblits and surgical spirits had a love child — that’s what it would taste like,” quipped Solomon.

And Baijiu is nothing if not spirited.

On Sunday morning the couple shot out of bed, awoken by guards shouting in Mandarin. The door to their apartment was wide open. A translator for the guards demanded to know why.

Faced with an open door, broken seal and angry guards, the couple finally clicked — Baijiu! 

The delinquent had frequently opened bedroom doors by leaping up and hanging on the handle. But the heavier front door had never been a target and they seldom bothered to lock it. He was clearly the culprit.

“Now came the task of telling authorities in another language that our cat is smart enough to open doors and that was the reason our quarantine had been violated.”

To their surprise, the guards believed them and simply insisted they track down Baijiu, as it is suspected a cat’s fur could work as a surface for the virus if touched by an infected person.

He was found snoozing under the stairway, unaware of the consequences of his actions.

“He had been home for barely one day and already almost got us detained.”

They were let off with a stern warning and have since then carefully locked their door. They are forbidden from going onto the balcony and have to keep their curtains closed — but it is still better than imprisonment.

She describes people in China as patient, helpful and incredibly efficient.

“We feel well looked after. People back home think we are mentally unstable to choose to be here right now. But the truth is I feel a lot safer here than I do back home. There’s no crime, things work quickly and efficiently, medical care is affordable for everyone, there are no water shortages, no load-shedding, and you lack for nothing.”

The couple has five days left of quarantine — provided their cat can keep it together.

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