Russia’s RZhD rail giant has apologised to the owners of a cat who died after being thrown off a company train by a conductor in freezing temperatures.
The ginger and white cat, named Twix by its owners is suspected of having died from frostbite.
“We sincerely regret that the cat Twix died”, the state-owned RZhD said, vowing to change its regulations.
Footage seen showed a train conductor unceremoniously throw the ginger-and-white cat into the snow in Kirov, located east of Moscow, on January 11.
The train conductor is reported to have mistaken the male cat for a stray hiding in the train.
Unbeknownst to him, the cat had escaped from its travel crate. Passengers reported seeing it strolling down a carriage.
Hundreds of volunteers started searching the railway station area in Kirov.
The cat was eventually found dead on Saturday, and later identified by its owners.
Vast areas of Russia were hit by a cold spell at the time, with temperatures as low as -30C reported in Kirov.
More than 70,000 people have now signed a petition calling for a criminal investigation to be opened against the female conductor, after local authorities refused to do so.
A separate petition – signed by more than 300,000 – is asking for the female conductor, who has not been publicly identified, to be sacked.
One of Twix’s owners told state media he intended to pursue the matter through the courts.
