In Japan, the whole city is on high alert because of a cat, what is the matter?

A city in Japan is on high alert because of a cat. The cat fell into a tank of dangerous chemicals before disappearing late one night.

Authorities in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, said they have stepped up patrols and warned residents not to approach the cat, which was last seen in security footage leaving a plating factory on Sunday.

A cat was exposed to a cancer-causing chemical

Authorities said claw marks discovered by a worker on Monday revealed a 3-meter-deep tank of hexavalent chromium, a cancer-causing chemical that can cause rashes and swelling if touched or inhaled.

An official at Fukuyama City Hall said a search of the area had not yet found the cat and it was unclear whether it was alive.

Akihiro Kobayashi, manager of the Nomura Mackie Fukuyama factory, said that when employees returned to work over the weekend, a sheet covering the chemical white paint was found partially torn. He said crews have been searching for the cat ever since.

Kobayashi said factory workers generally wear protective clothing and no health problems have been reported among the workers.

Exposure to hexavalent chromium can be fatal

Hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, is perhaps best known as a carcinogenic chemical starring Julia Roberts in the 2000 film Erin Brockovich.

Based on a real-life legal case, the drama focuses on a titular activist's fight against a utility company that is accused of polluting the water in a rural California community, causing cancer levels and deaths among its residents.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this substance is harmful to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system.

The CDC states on its website that exposure to hexavalent chromium can harm workers. The level of exposure depends on the dose, duration, and work being performed.

Cat may die soon: expert

Experts have expressed doubt that cats can survive long after exposure to this substance.

“My guess is that the cat unfortunately has died or will soon die from chemical burns,” said a researcher specializing in chemical risk assessment at Sweden's Karolinska Institute.