400 cats rescued from cat meat trade in Vietnam

Police in Vietnam have rescued more than 400 live cats during a major operation targeting the country’s cat meat trade.

The rescue took place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city, where officers raided a property and found dozens of cages containing hundreds of cats. Police also discovered around 80 dead cats stored in containers filled with ice.

Since the rescue, at least 40 cats have been reunited with their owners. Police have asked people who recently lost cats to visit the temporary rescue center to identify their pets and assist with the investigation. Animal welfare groups say many families have come looking for missing cats.

Some rescued cats did not survive

Veterinarians and volunteers have been caring for the rescued cats at a temporary shelter set up by police. Animal welfare organizations said several cats died after the rescue because of the poor conditions in which they were found. No exact number has been released.

Some of the rescued cats were pregnant and have since given birth to kittens while in care. Volunteers and veterinary teams have been working around the clock to treat injured and sick animals.

Nine people arrested

Local media reported that nine people were arrested as part of the investigation. Authorities said cat meat was being sold for around 70,000 Vietnamese dong, or about $2.70, per kilogram.

The consumption of dog and cat meat remains legal in Vietnam. However, sellers are required to have documents showing where the animals came from.

Animal welfare groups estimate that thousands of cats are stolen and trafficked for the meat trade in Vietnam every month.

In recent years, some cities have started working with animal welfare organizations to reduce the consumption of dog and cat meat. Following South Korea’s ban on dog meat in 2024, Vietnamese officials also announced plans to strengthen legal protections for pets and their owners.