More than 400 cats destined to be slaughtered and sold for meat for as little as £2 per kilogram have been reunited with their owners following a police raid in Vietnam.
Raid Uncovers Horrific Conditions
Police and animal charities discovered 45 cages containing approximately 400 live cats, along with four ice-filled foam containers holding around 80 dead cats in Ho Chi Minh City. The suspects admitted to trapping and caging cats across southern Vietnam for slaughter over the past three years. About 20 live cats were also recovered at a separate location, according to police, who stated that a kilogram of cat meat sold for around 70,000 Vietnamese dong (approximately £2).
Heartbreaking Reality of the Trade
Phuong Pham, country director of Humane World for Animals in Vietnam, said: 'The sad truth about this trade is that thousands of cats every month are being stolen, trafficked, and slaughtered for meat across the country. Thankfully, these survivors escaped.' Several of the rescued cats were pregnant, leading to kittens being born in police custody this week, she added. However, for some, the raid did not come quickly enough, with several cats dying from the harsh conditions they were trapped in.
Chris Gindelhumer of the nonprofit Vietnam Cat Welfare, who is helping care for the rescued animals, said he 'saw quite a lot of tears in the last few days.' He added: 'It's really beautiful to see how many Vietnamese families are coming, looking for their cats. But it's also heartbreaking because many families were looking for their cats and didn't find them.' Vets and volunteers are working around the clock to save the remaining cats, Gindelhumer said.
Legal and Cultural Context
Eating cat meat is legal in Vietnam, as is dog meat, though vendors must have permits to validate the animals' origins. Not long after South Korea's 2024 ban on dog meat, Vietnamese officials said the government plans to rebuild parts of the legal system to better protect pets and the rights of their owners. An Pham, a master's degree student and avid cat lover in Ho Chi Minh City, commented: 'This event surprised a lot of people and has raised awareness among many to stop consuming cat meat.'
