On March 20, 2026, the Xixian New Area Public Security Bureau in Xi'an said police had found online cat-abuse videos and improper remarks on March 19 and opened an investigation. The police notice said Hu, a 31-year-old man, bought a regulated crossbow online, harmed stray cats to seek attention, and later posted two downloaded cat-abuse videos in online groups. He was given administrative detention. Earlier reporting by Red Star News described group chats, a crossbow photo, and comments about shooting cats with crossbow bolts; those public reports were later corroborated by the police notice.

From a cat-lovers group to an abuse group

Red Star News reported on March 20 that a netizen surnamed Zhang had joined a group called an "XX cat lovers exchange group," expecting a normal pet-keeping discussion. He instead found suspected cat-abuse content. A member using the nickname "Have a good sleep!" repeatedly posted videos of cats being abused; the report said screenshots showed 361 members in the group.

Zhang and several friends later found the same account in another group. According to the report, the user repeatedly claimed to abuse cats, said he owned a crossbow, said he would shoot cats with crossbow bolts, and posted a photo of himself holding the weapon. That image is one of the clearest visual records of the case beyond the police notice.

Police confirmed the harm

On March 20, the Xixian New Area Public Security Bureau in Xi'an issued a police notice. It said that on March 19 police discovered online cat-abuse videos and improper remarks that had caused negative social impact, and began an investigation.

The notice said Hu, male, 31, bought a regulated crossbow online to seek stimulation and attention, used it to harm stray cats, and then posted two downloaded abuse videos in online groups. Under China's Public Security Administration Punishments Law, he was placed under administrative detention, while clues about the purchase of regulated equipment remained under further handling.

From netizen reports to public action

Earlier Red Star News reporting said a video on the account's profile carried a location near a residential area in Weicheng District, Xianyang. Zhang and his friends reported the matter to the local police station. On March 20, Red Star News cited an informed source saying police had received a public report on March 19 and were investigating.

The case moved from netizens preserving evidence, to media reporting, to police investigation and public notice. This matters because animal-harm cases often remain hidden in closed online groups. Without people keeping evidence and reporting it, the pain suffered by stray cats could have disappeared inside those groups.

Why this is not ordinary online speech

The cruelty in this case was not limited to the circulation of several videos. The police notice confirmed that Hu bought a regulated crossbow and used it against stray cats. A crossbow is not a toy; it can cause real injury to animals and people. Pointing such a tool at defenseless cats and then using the images to draw attention shows contempt for both life and public safety.

Stray cats have no owner watching over them and no human language with which to report harm. That is why public records are necessary. The small animals treated as "stimulation" or material for group attention were living beings capable of pain and fear; they should not be trapped inside circles of abusers and spectators.

Timeline

• March 19, 2026: Xixian New Area police discovered online cat-abuse videos and improper remarks and opened an investigation.
• March 20, 2026: Red Star News reported the group-chat clues, crossbow photo, and public report; the Xixian New Area police issued a notice the same day.
• After the notice: Hu was given administrative detention for buying a regulated crossbow online, harming stray cats, and posting related videos; clues about the purchase of regulated equipment remained under further handling.

Public Sources

• Police notice by Xi'an Xixian New Area Public Security Bureau, preserved by Huashang.com. Supports the core police-confirmed facts: time, suspect, regulated crossbow, harm to stray cats, posted videos, and administrative detention.
• Red Star News: netizen posted cat-abuse videos and claimed to own a dangerous crossbow. Supports the earlier group-chat clues, crossbow photo, public report, and investigation background.
• Red Star News follow-up via Sohu News. Connects the later police notice with the earlier netizen and media clues.
• Wang Jupaian post on X sharing the police notice and discussion. A long-visible overseas-platform record showing the case also circulated on X.